The HMR is not a very good penetrator. Some people swear by it, but if you run a few penetration tests, you'll likely end up questioning it.
Not true.
As with any caliber, it depends on bullet construction. No different than with a deer rifle.
I've put down sick 1,200lb cattle with 17 HMR FMJs. Bullets went entirely throught the brain pan and logged in the first vertibrae.
17HMR HP slugs have no problem with penetation on most game.
17g Vmaxes at under 50 yards? Yeah too explosive for anthing but lung shots on Coyotes. As the range increases though , expansion becomes more moderate and penetration goes up - (just like using Balistic tips etc in a big game caliber). Due to a better balance of expansion vs pentration , the 17HMR actually kills better with the Vmax slugs as range increases (out to about 200 yards). My range limit on Coyotes would be 150 yards. And ,I would rather slip it behind the shoulder in the lungs.
With properly constructed bullets a 17 HMR will do anything on a coyote a 22 mag will do .
But a good .223 makes both of then look pretty pathetic on Coyotes.
