The .17 HMR is an amazing cartridge. I shot a "feral" cat last week with the 20 grain .17 HMR and it took the back side of it's head off. This cat weighed 11 lbs 12 oz. and was 32 inches from front to back paws. That being said I would be real leary of shooting a coyote unless it was less than 75 yards away and I had a solid head or heart/lung shot and I would definately use the 20 grain load. Fox at less than 100 yards or less. Any other smaller animal 150 yards or less. The .17 HMR looses punch power after 150 yards. I hit a 12" steel target at 400 yards with the .17 HMR but it didn't even dent the metal - just knocked the paint off!
Too bad you can't use a center fire rifle - than the .204 would be perfect. I'm getting 1.5 inch groups at 400 yards with my Ruger M77 with the grey stainless target barrel, and I'm not stretching that at all. The only thing I don't like about my .204 is it makes shooting anything else a let down!
Too bad you can't use a center fire rifle - than the .204 would be perfect. I'm getting 1.5 inch groups at 400 yards with my Ruger M77 with the grey stainless target barrel, and I'm not stretching that at all. The only thing I don't like about my .204 is it makes shooting anything else a let down!