gopher: i do understand that the .172 will kill a coyote. . . if ya shoot it in the eye. .. but think about it, would ya rather work hard to call that one coyote in and it only comes in say 250 yds. . . .with a 10mph cross wind. . . . will that tiny little pill make it into the space between the ribs of that 50+pound coyote? and if it does. . . like howler said, are ya gonna be willing to track it down. . . .ya might have to put another round in it IF ya find it.. . . two bullets from a .172 versus one .204 shot !!

i can see the advantages of shoot squirrels with a 17, but something like a large coyote. . . . .ya'd have to bring 'em in close. . . . so why not use a scatter gun and really do sum damage instead of one tiny hole, ya got 30 tiny holes !!
yee haw ! ya could take the 'ole dog out to track down the WOUNDED coyote after ya shot it with your 17 HMR. . . . .