Reb,

I was actually referring to the .22mag there in a joking manner. In the "old days" it gave folks that extra punch beyond the regular .22, but it was also quiet if you know what I mean.

And yes, the good old .22 long rifle would be great for squirrels. But, the way i hunt is sort of a smorgasboard. I might be doing a 30 yard shot on a squirrel one minute, then dealing with a crow at 200 plus yards the next. And there's always a chance that a coyote or fox may comesomewhere in between. So, I really like the .17 rim for my particular circumstances.For folks that want to stick with the .22mag or go with something bigger, more power to 'em. But god i love my little .17