The .17 is working like a charm. I have actually taken all body shots, usually aiming right behind the front legs.It makes a good sized exit wound, but doesn't cause that much damage. Maybe its the bullet type i use, or I'm just lucky, since other folks state that they have had much more damage. I'm not too concerned about the rib cage anyway.The .17 is alsodeadly on crows that I run across while squirreling. I dropped one out of a tree top at about 240 yards one day.