Jarrett,
years ago I purchased a CZ American in .17 HMR. Tack driver like most other makes. However, I would never shoot the V-Max ammo for the reasons listed already. Too fragile. Winchester offers a 20gr bullet load at 2375fps, GAMEPOINT. It has a thicker jacket than most of the other bullets choices that are offered. I have used it on trapped coyotes and the bullet holds together pretty well. If you want to squirrel hunt with it you will see less damaged meat with poor bullet placement.

I've seen coyotes killed with a .17 at 200, but as mentioned above, if your shot placement is not on then the animal will get away. That goes just the same for any centerfire rifle, and to deny it is just malarkey. I would say, having owned several, that if you want a .17 for your girls to use. Then get one, they will enjoy shooting it, I've noticed several times with several shooters that sometimes it isn't the recoil that frightens a new shooter but the sound of the bang that gets to them and makes them flinch (they all had ear pro on). I will add, however, that if your sole purpose is shooting coyotes then get a .223 or something similar, it has more recoil but is manageable for a small frame (my son has shot my Mossberg MVP varmeter quite a few times and he is 8 now). If you are concerned with retrieving the coyotes then get a .223, but if its just shooting them for control and you don't care if they run off then a .17 can work (I am good friends with a rancher whos wife rides with a .17 and she shoots coyotes all the time).

I use a 17 HMR as a woodchuck thumper around the farm. I prefer the 20gr CCI Gamepoint as it seems to anchor them better than the V-Max. If I was forced into using it on coyotes it would be head shots only for sure and only at ranges I knew I could make that kind of shot.

I have killed a big pile of groundhogs with my .17 HMR with the Hornady VMax cartridge. They make a very distinct sound on impact....splaaattttt! Unless I make a bad shot, they do not go anywhere but they do raise the surrender flag and wave it for a bit. Entry holes only on good hits. I prefer head shots but chest works well also.

I will have to try some of the 20 grain Gamepoints.

22 mag better than the 17 if you want to stay with a rim fire

Even with the 17- 20gr bullets that's still 1/2 of the weight of most .22 LR bullets. I had a guy that wanted study skins of P-dogs most bullets either caused a lot of damage or just sent them back to the hole. The best round for collecting samples ended up being the FMJ HMR rounds and fatal T shot placement.

How bout the .17 Winchester super mag.

The 20 grain gamepoints rarely exit a large groundhog with a chest shot, a 22 mag will most of the time. There is little room for error with the 17HMR (or the big centerfire 17s either for that matter).

That's true. Still not a coyote gun but better at 75-100 yards like he mentioned.