There's a lot of controversy over the 17hmr as a predator caliber, it will definetly kill all those critters, but head shots would, IMO, be the best choice on the bigger critters and the 17hmr is accurate enough to do just that with the right shooter behind the trigger. Lots of folks have killed the yote with em but I've read of lots that ran off after the shot, not to be recovered, also. I've also seen a dead bobcat, shot at 40yds through the lungs, died on the spot, the Vmax bullet just liquified the cat's lungs. It does the same thing and then some to squirrels if you hit em in the body, don't plan on eatin em if you do. At longer ranges the Vmax and the TNT hp to a greater extent, are less destructive of little critters, just a small entrance wound and bit larger exit due to the bullet slowing and has less chance of explosive results. A 100yd shot on a yote would probably do, but there's always that chance it won't with the 17gr bullets, the 20gr XTP and GamePoint may be a different story, though. They haven't been available long enought for folks to do much huntin, so the jury is still out on that one. There's lots more info at rimfirecentral.com if you care to check em out, lot's of experienced opinions there.
