RE: .223 or .17 hmr
I would say if you are shooting everything within 150 yards the .17HMR performs well. Over that distance the .223 is the way to go. I havent attempted to shoot anything bigger than groundhogs with my .17HMR and for the most part they are 100yards out. I have had people tell me you could kill a coyote with a .17 but I rather use something bigger to get a clean kill.