The 17 HMR works fine on coyotes at shorter ranges and using the non-plastic tipped bullets and proper shot placement. For me, this means the head on a coyote. The 17 HMR is plenty accurate enough for this type of shot placement out to 100 yards or so for certain. With this being said, about the only time I would use it would be in a location where I was caliber restricted or in the woods. If they let you use a larger caliber and you own one larger then I can't justify using a 17 HMR.
Mine is also the Savage and the only mod to it was installing a rifle basix trigger to it. When there isn't a wind blowing I can shoot groups as good as most peoples deer rifles can at 100 yards. Sub MOA easy. The thing shoots very well.