did you clearly ask your uncle if it were a .22lr etc...? or did he just say a 22?

many guys will say i used a 22 meaning a 22 caliber, which can be a .223, .22-250 etc...etc...

either way I'm sure its possible to take a coyote with a .22lr, though not ideal at all. I'm pretty sure a .22 has probably killed most creatures in NA at least once.....I personally have heard of either a moose or brown bear being shot and killed with one.