in the day BEFORE 223-22lr conversions
(ie, for about 10 years) the 22 mag rimfire had a niche, but there's really no reason to have sonic crack in a canned gun, and only have 350 ft lbs, instead of 1000 ft lbs or more. There's also no reason to spend 15c a shot instead of 2c, for either training or stockpiling ammo. Yes the .22 mag hits about 2x as hard as does a .22lr, but it's still pretty feeble for use on deer, or men, or even on big dogs. the 223 is far better for such uses, and the .22lr is far better for most small game, especially in the canned, subsonic format, and for cheap speed practice in "normal times".
I had a single shot bolt Colt, with a scope, as a 17 year old kid. think I gave $40 for it. My first score was at 130 paces, with solids, on a chuck.

She went down, but flopped around a lot, if she'd been within 10 ft of her den, she'd probably have gotten down into it.