I was in Gander Mountain today looking at rimfire rifles because my old 22 mag marlin is lookin alittle run down. I was talking to the clerk, who is a shooting buddy of mine, about it and he told me that I should go with the 17 hmr because the 22 magnum was obsolete. I mainly hunt with four different cartridges: 22 LR, 22 mag, 12 gauge, and my trusty 50 cal.muzzleloader. I've had both a 17 hmr and 17 remington for periods of more than a two years and hunted with each. I just didn't feel like the 17 hmr had the power for my tastes when it comes to foxes and coyotes. I've had this old 22 magnum marlin for 14 years and its been my know around gun. I carry it in my truck on the farm so that in the event I am able to sneak up on a coyote (and I have) then I'll shoot em. So yall can imagine my suprise when my buddy told me it was obsolete.Does anyone know if marlin still makes a good ole 22 mag bolt action? Give me your thoughts on the 22 magnum being "obsolete".

I bought a Marlin 925 .22 Mag Bolt Last summer its a good shootin little gun. I like it but for coyotes im gettin a .243 or a .223.

ive had a 17 hmr for 2 yrs and absolutly love it. the 17 hmrhas a distinct advantage over the 22 wmr in velocity, trajectory, and accuracy. if your shooting larger game with the 17 you might want to get the 20grn. XTPs. they act more like a big game bullet than a varmit bullet. if your shooting beyond 100 yrds i would definatly go with the 17 hmr.

Marlins still makes the .22 mag. I think your friend was mistakenwith the 17hmr rageas making the 22 mag obselete. The 22 mag is still popular although the 17 is what is hot right now.

The folks that call the 22 mag obsolete are likely the ones that say the same thing about the 30-30.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/22WinMagnum/982VS-cf.aspx

I beleive this what you are looking for.
This model is the more expensive one, the blued with walnut stock retails for about $235

Far from obsolete, it just has some new competition.

exactly what Lubricious said!

Nothing against your friend/clerk but most any type salesman(car,sporting goods,ect.) are full of bovine feces!They ride waves and fads to sell the new and improved anything to folks that don't know what they want or need.You want a 22 mag. I bet you can find one,it served you well in the past and a newer one will also!Marlin has them,Henry has them,their out there.I thought about a mag for my son but he's hard on ammo so he's getting the long rifle Henry Golden Boy.

i have a marlin 22mag for 35 years now and it shoots just as good now as it did when it was new.i have a 17hmr and it is as much fun to shoot as the 22mag is.i would say the 17 is a little light but with a good head shot they are both fine