Brian Pfleuger said:
Even a woodchuck won't be "blown to smithereens" but it'll certainly blow big pieces out of just about anything smaller than a deer, depending on the bullet to a great degree. Woodchucks would probably be blow in half, or very nearly. Coyotes would probably have exit wounds in the 4" range. It depends to no small degree on shot placement and bullet construction.
That depends on what part of the country you live in.
In New York, Pennsylvania, etc., you're absolutely right. Those 'woodchucks' / groundhogs are pretty large, and will mostly just have big holes blown in them. Even the marmots are larger than many other areas.
But, across the Midwest and Western U.S., the term 'woodchuck' can be applied to everything from large ground squirrels, to marmots, depending on the area. Most of those 'varmint' species coming in at roughly the size of a large prairie dog / small raccoon.
Most marmots will be blown in half, or better.
Most prairie dogs end up as a few scattered body parts ("Red Mist!").
And, most ground squirrels either disappear ("Red Mist!"), or have a clean hole punched through them (not enough body mass for proper expansion).
The only animals that come to mind that don't tend to 'explode' (in my neck of the woods), are badgers and porcupines. The badgers might be really messed up, but their tough, loose skin tends to hold the body together. Porcupines are just tough SOBs. It takes a lot to make a porcupine a 'reactive target'.
(Standard disclaimer: Obviously, some animals may be off limits in your area. Don't do anything illegal, just because people in the next state are able to.
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