It may be my imagination but the .22 mag does seen to hit the larger critters with quite a bit more authority than the .17 HMR. One large badger took a .40 grain HP from the .22 mag under the chin and it lodged under the skin between the shoulders after passing through about 6" of badger severing the spine along the way - picture perfect expansion. I doubt any readily available .17 HMR bullets could hold together like this on larger varmints.
The .22 mag also seems to impress big jacks and marmots a bit more than the HMR.
Hence the idea some of us have gotten into our little pea brains that the WSM would be a lot more interesting if it was driving .223s.
