I dont dought that a 17 will drop a coyote with the correct shot placement and maybe a few shots, but I do have a little doubts about a complete pass through. But with a cci that may be completly possible. And I have no reason to believe HDW is making this up. But if someone is looking for a coyote/crow gun, they should just go with something bigger, like a 223 or 22 hornet.