My testimony
Living out in rural areas of KY around 1965, I bought a short throw lever action 22mag, my first gun and only rifle to this day, just wanted it to be more powerful than a 22lr, and not being into guns, I just wanted it. It was for everything you did not do with a shotgun.
I found I could hit lots of bulls eyes at 100 plus yards and cleaned out a lot of ground hog colonies that were tearing up corn crops. Shot lots of other varmints over the years, and Like I said I was not comparing it to anything but I thoroughly enjoyed shooting that thing.
It doesn't compare to the 222 and AR15 and various pistols my sons put into my hands for sure, but a few years ago I gave the 22mag to my son and one day he started shooting it and says he can't describe it logically but that, that gun is just plain fun to shoot. Heck I don't know my own mind on this. I just remember years of enjoying every time I had occasion to shoot it. I had a 6 power scope on it that worked quiet well and a trigger pull that I now know was terrible.
Looking at it from a cost of ammo perspective would have robbed me of all those years of enjoyment. Actually looking back on it, the cost of the ammo did not amount to squat but at the time I occasionally felt a slight doubt about how bright my choice was but now just feel silly for all that.
I think a large part of why that gun worked for me is the terrain. Out west or on more open country it would not have measured up to much degree.
