That darned "R" word again...reliability. Sorry, I don't know anyone who has/had a .22 WMR semi-auto, much less a reliable one.
I think I am in your boat.....automatic 22 mag is the answer to a question that......sorry but that was a stupid question.
It is more expensive, and still a bit harder to find.
It is louder, I know you young children follow the do as I say not as I do, but I never wear ears when shooting 22 l,s,lr out of a "normal" length rifle.....22 wmr....that hurts a bit. And my ears are shot form years of hanging around loud cars, gunz just sealed the deal.
In my experience you can FIND accurate 22 mag.....but it takes a bit of looking and perhaps a bit of fiddling.....the other rimfires.....krap, hard to find a 22 rimfire that will not be minute of pop can at 50.....unless it is a 10/22 (I keed I keed)
So you want that more oomph to shoot X,Y or Z......well if you are not going to turn it into a poof of feathers with a 17, might I suggest some of the center fire choices. You want coyote....IMHO you are an idiot shooting it with a rimfire....get 223 or something. I think we all can agree that rimfire ammo is not the most "high quaility" stuff out there....or perhaps consistent I should say. Last week I was shooting single shot 22 LR....click bang ting....over and over again.....then one click, foof, crickets.....*** was that. Looking it did leave the barrel, (despite what many of you think I ain't an idiot, just thick headed) but god knows where it went.
Now all that said I really like 22 WMR.....it is kinda fun....makes you feel like shooting something when you are really not shooting much more. They do not tear up my normal 22 targets but they sure do fly better....it is just a nifty round....that longer case....there is something about it.
But if I was wanting to put little 22 holes in just that spot.....IMHO there are better choices.