we've got 4x scopes on both our .17hmr and our .22wmr and a good scope for long shots at small targets is important. A squirrels head is about size of a walnut and not easy to hit in a very tall cottonwood tree but the higher magnification scopes really help bring clarity and field of view right up close for pin point shot placememt. Ever try to see a walnut at length of a football field? A good scope and your gun is quite capable of hitting it with a good zeroing in and rock steady practiced shooting. They also gather a bit more light in early morning and closer to sunset,, another important feature.
Get a good higher powered scope than what they are trying to sell you, and have fun with that pea shooter.
Jim

When I lived in Alberta we used to shoot gophers a lot. The 17hmr was my dedicated gopher rifle and it wore a 6-24 power scope. On a day with no wind I could easily shoot to 200 yards. It was a heavy rig but we we didn’t do much walking.

The higher power the less field of view, so consider what power you are going to use the most. For coyotes I think 7x is the most you would use with that round, but you might appreciate having 9x available for smaller targets at it's max effective range. You could put a 12x on it but might be spending more $ for capability you won't use much or at all.

Never take firearm advice from a guy working a gun counter at a big box store ever. I run a 5-25×50 on my 17hmr. It all depends on how your using your rifle, it has nothing to do with caliber.

people who like more magnification tend to be more stationary shooters.


if you make a number of running shots or have to make quick shots on game that are there for a couple seconds then gone lower magnification with a wider field of view makes sense

different game scoping a dog hill looking for movement from 150 yards rested vs a wood chuck that runs out into a field road your walking down at 50 yards stands and looks at you for half a second then starts to run off again

I like 4x12 or 3.5 x 15 on about everything now a days. Usually just leave them on 9 or 10 power until I need more.
After running all my rifles that way ,,, it works me as a redneck range finder. For the most part all I use a real rangefinder for is big game.
I got 17 hmr and a 17 wsm like them both.

I have a 3 x 9 on my .17 HMR. The best shooting gun I have ever owned and works great on everything up to coon and fox but I certainly do not consider it ideal for coyote. Does not mean you can not kill coyotes with it but IMO, there are much better choices if coyote is your main target. Your opinion and mileage may vary.

Come back in a year or so and lets us know what you think of it as a coyote gun.

I have a 3x9x40 on my 17hmr. I been shooting squirrels off my garden and deer feeders at about 50 to 100 yards all week. I wish i had about 12x at 100 yards on squirrel heads. I would say a 3x9 is about as small as you want to go if you plan on shooting small things far away. I have shot this rifle easily out to 200 yards and its accurate enough to need as much magnification as you want to put on it. Its also important to get a decent quality scope so that at the higher magnification its clear on those small critters.