JMOfartO:
Well, I'm old.. I'll be 69 in Dec, and have owned a 22 rifle or pistol of some description since I was 12 when my grandmother gave me a ss bolt action 22 cal. rifle for my birthday.
In the ensuing decades I pretty much put the 22 aside.. I got "into" centerfire pistols (never cared much for centerfire rifles, but that's just a personal preference).
I enjoyed casual target plinking with my 38's/9's/45's for a long, long time.. But then for a long, long time it was AFFORDABLE...
It's not now. At least not affordable for this senior citizen living on a fixed income.
Add pricey ammo, and poor eyesight and less than steady hands and it was obvious that my centerfire plinking days were gone.
Because of those facts I took another look at the lowly 22cal rifles I had loved so much as a young man..
Rimfire ammo, while not dirt cheap, is still pretty affordable.. I can use the Wally World bulk packs of 550 (Federals preferred) just fine in all my 22 cal firearms, and I can do that for around $20.00..
Or less than one box of 50 centerfire rounds.
So, I sought out some 22cal rifles that were d&t for a scope (or had a grooved receiver), and bought a couple.
I enjoyed plinking so much I bought a couple more, then a couple more... Well, you get my drift?
Like you, I don't kill anything unless it has rattles on the end of it's tail and scares me real badly.... If I have time to think, generally, I'll let a viper go on about his/her way when possible.
I enjoy some time shooting my SA22 with open sights, my 1996 Marlin 39A with a 3X9 scope, and my Winchester 63 with a 4 power scope.
Then, unexpectedly, thru the miracle of cataract surgery, my distance vision is once again 20/20.. So I added a couple of 22 cal rifles with peep sights (1975 39A, 1970 Marlin 39A Century Limited) and those are a joy to shoot..
So, I can shoot my various 22's with open sights, scopes, or peep sights.. Just depending on the mood..
And I can do so all day long, and longer, with one box of 550rds, all for less than $20.00..
Can't do that with a centerfire "anything"...
The paper targets are just as "dead" with small 22cal holes in them as they would be with 45ACP holes in them.. But my wallet might still have a buck or two left in it that wouldn't be present if I were not a fan of the lowly rimfire round.
Another consideration.
For those "survivalists", or "doomsday" types, a good 22 cal. rifle can put a lot of meat in the pot in a pinch, cheaply if bad times come a callin'..
I believe everyone is well served by having at least one good 22cal. rifle in the gun safe, no matter how much money they might have to blow on ammo.
Just personal opinion, no offense to those who might not see it my way.
Jesse
P.S. And I have a new puppy too as a companion when I'm shooting out back.. (Who surprisingly is not afraid of the noise of gunfire..)