.17 HMR Ammo
.17 HMR ammo for prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and long-range rimfire varminting. How it compares to .22 LR, the wind sensitivity problem, and the best loads for distance shooting.
Price History
Best Prices Now
$/rd = listed price + estimated shipping. Sorted by true cost.
| Product | $/rd | |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HM2 – Hornady Mach 2 – 17 Grain V-max Ammo – 83177 Best 17gr · V-max · brass | $0.23 | Buy → |
| 1000 Round Case – 17 HMR Winchester 20 Grain XTP Ammo – X17HMR1 20gr · XTP · brass | $0.25 | Buy → |
| 2000 Round Case – 17 HMR FMJ 20 Grain CCI Ammo – 0055 20gr · FMJ · brass | $0.27 | Buy → |
| 2000 Round Case – 17 HMR Hornady 17 Grain V-max ammo – 83170 17gr · V-max · brass | $0.28 | Buy → |
| 2000 Round Case – 17 HMR Hornady 20 Grain XTP Hollow Point Ammo – 83172 20gr · HP · brass | $0.28 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR CCI TNT 17 Grain Hollow Point Ammo 0053 17gr · HP · brass | $0.31 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR 20 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Remington Magnum Rimfire Ammo – R17HM2 20gr · jacketed soft point · brass | $0.31 | Buy → |
| 1000 Round Can – 17 HMR Hornady 17 Grain V-Max Ammo – 83170 – Packed in M19A1 Canister 17gr · V-Max · brass | $0.32 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR Hornady 17 Grain V-Max Ammo – 83170 17gr · V-Max · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR 17 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Remington Magnum Rimfire Ammo – R17HM1 17gr · JHP · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR 17 Grain Accutip-V BT Remington Premier Magnum Rimfire Ammo – PR17HM1 17gr · Accutip-V BT · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR Federal V-Shok 17 Grain TNT HP Ammo – P770 17gr · HP · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR CCI 17 Grain Poly V-Max Bullet Rimfire Ammo – 0049 17gr · poly v-max · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR Hornady 20 Grain XTP Hollow Point Ammo – 83172 20gr · XTP Hollow Point · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR FMJ 20 Grain CCI Ammo – 0055 20gr · FMJ · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| Winchester - Varmint HV - 17 HMR - 17 Grain - Poly Tip V-Max - 50 Rounds 17gr · Poly Tip V-Max · brass | $0.33 | Buy → |
| Hornady - Varmint Express - 17 HMR - 20 Grain - XTP - 50 Rounds 20gr · XTP · brass | $0.35 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR VNT CCI 17 Grain Polymer Tip Target Varmint Ammo – 959CC 17gr · polymer tip · brass | $0.37 | Buy → |
| 500 Round Brick – 17 HMR 15.5 Grain NTX Hornady Ammo – 83171 15gr · NTX · brass | $0.37 | Buy → |
| 17 HMR – Hornady 17 Grain HMR V-Max – 500 Rounds 17gr · V-Max · polymer | $0.38 | Buy → |
Best .17 HMR by Use Case
Varmint Hunting
This is why .17 HMR exists. A 17gr V-MAX at 2,550 fps (from a 24" barrel) is flat enough that a 100-yard zero holds inside a 1" vital zone from 0 to 135 yards. Prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and prairie rats to 200 yards. Hornady V-MAX 17gr is the standard — explosive fragmentation on impact. CCI Varmint 17gr V-MAX and Federal V-Shok 17gr are loaded to similar specs.
- · Hornady V-MAX 17gr
- · CCI Varmint 17gr V-MAX
- · Federal V-Shok 17gr HP
Pest Control
At moderate distances, .17 HMR is effective on larger pests: groundhogs, tree squirrels, rats at 75–150 yards. The flat trajectory and minimal ricochet risk from varmint bullets make it practical where a .22 LR might require holdover or where you need the shot to stay on the target animal rather than skipping on hard ground. Keep shots inside 150 yards for reliable results.
- · Hornady V-MAX 17gr
- · CCI 20gr TNT HP
- · Remington Premier 17gr AccuTip-V
Small Game
For squirrels and rabbits where pelt damage is acceptable, 17gr V-MAX or HP is effective at typical .17 HMR ranges. For table-worthy small game where you want to preserve the animal, the 20gr FMJ or CCI 20gr JSP reduces explosive fragmentation at the cost of some range capability. Keep expectations realistic on body shots past 100 yards — fragments spread.
- · CCI 20gr FMJ
- · Hornady 17gr V-MAX (pelt damage acceptable)
- · Federal 17gr Game-Shok HP
Target & Precision Rimfire
.17 HMR's flat trajectory makes it interesting for rimfire precision shooting to 200 yards. CCI and Hornady loads produce 0.5–0.75 MOA groups from quality bolt-action rifles in calm conditions. The limitation is wind — light 17gr bullets drift significantly in any crosswind. Not the competition standard (.22 LR match ammo dominates NRL22), but useful for informal precision practice.
- · Hornady V-MAX 17gr
- · CCI Varmint 17gr V-MAX
Common Questions
What is .17 HMR?
.17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) was introduced in 2002 as a joint project between Hornady and CCI. The idea was simple: take the .22 Magnum case, neck it down to .172 caliber, and load a very light, fast bullet to get a flat-shooting rimfire that could reach out to 200 yards on varmints.
The 17gr V-MAX bullet at 2,550 fps produces a trajectory that embarrassed .22 LR and .22 WMR for long-range work. At 150 yards, it drops about 3 inches with a 100-yard zero. At 200 yards, about 10 inches. For a rimfire cartridge, that’s dramatically flatter than anything that preceded it.
The catch showed up in the wind. A 17-grain bullet moving at 2,550 fps sheds velocity quickly and drifts noticeably in even a moderate crosswind. By 200 yards in a 10 mph crosswind, you’re looking at 4-6 inches of drift — more than a prairie dog’s head. The cartridge performs brilliantly on calm days and struggles in wind. That’s a real limitation for anyone who varmint hunts in the open plains.
The ballistic case
| Load | Muzzle Velocity | 100yd Velocity | 200yd Velocity | Drop @ 200yd (100yd zero) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17gr V-MAX | 2,550 fps | 2,069 fps | 1,649 fps | -9.9” |
| 20gr HP | 2,375 fps | 1,869 fps | 1,452 fps | -12.6” |
| 17gr FMJ | 2,650 fps | 2,100 fps | 1,630 fps | -10.2” |
At 100 yards, the 17gr V-MAX is still moving at over 2,000 fps — more than enough for reliable expansion on small targets. By 200 yards, it’s at 1,650 fps, which is still above what most hollow-point designs need to open.
The 20gr loads retain energy better at distance (more mass), but lose the flat-trajectory advantage that defines the cartridge. Most shooters use 17gr loads.
.17 HMR vs. .22 LR: understanding the trade-off
These cartridges serve different purposes. Comparing them on price alone misses the point.
| .17 HMR | .22 LR | |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle velocity (rifle) | ~2,550 fps | ~1,235 fps |
| Drop @ 100yd (50yd zero) | ~1.2” | ~4.4” |
| Wind drift @ 100yd (10mph) | ~1.8” | ~2.3” |
| Wind drift @ 200yd (10mph) | ~6.5” | N/A (subsonic) |
| Cost per round | ~$0.25–0.45 | ~$0.05–0.12 |
| Reloadable | No | No |
| Firearms | Limited | Extensive |
Choose .22 LR when: you want cheap high-volume shooting, short-range plinking, training, competition (NRL22 runs .22 LR), or a rifle that will run 5,000 rounds a year at low cost.
Choose .17 HMR when: you want to shoot varmints at 100-175 yards with minimal holdover, you’re shooting in calm conditions, or you want the flattest-shooting rimfire available.
The price premium is real — .17 HMR costs 4-6x what bulk .22 LR costs. For a dedicated varmint gun that stays in the truck, that’s an acceptable trade-off. For a rifle you’re running 500 rounds a week through, it isn’t.
The wind problem in practice
This deserves more attention than most .17 HMR guides give it.
At 100 yards in a 10 mph crosswind, .17 HMR drifts about 1.8 inches. That’s manageable. At 150 yards in a 10 mph crosswind, it’s about 4 inches. At 200 yards in a 15 mph wind — common on the plains where prairie dog towns typically sit — you can be looking at 8-12 inches of drift. A prairie dog’s body is 2-3 inches wide.
The practical maximum range for varminting in most real-world conditions is 125-150 yards, not the 200+ yards the ballistics charts suggest. The charts assume calm conditions. Plan for the wind you’ll actually have.
.22 LR shooters often don’t think about this because they’re not shooting far enough for wind to matter. .17 HMR shooters discover it quickly.
Semi-auto restriction
Most .17 HMR loads are restricted to bolt-action, lever-action, and single-shot rifles. Some earlier semi-automatic .17 HMR firearms (notably certain Ruger 10/22 conversions) had reliability and safety issues. The high pressure and rim design of the cartridge makes semi-auto function challenging. Check manufacturer specifications before using any semi-auto platform.
Brand guide
Hornady V-MAX 17gr — the cartridge standard. Ballistic tip, reliable fragmentation, consistent. ~$0.30–0.45/rd.
CCI Varmint 17gr V-MAX — loaded to similar specs as Hornady; slightly different lot-to-lot variation. ~$0.28–0.42/rd.
Federal V-Shok 17gr HP — hollow point without ballistic tip; slightly less consistent expansion but reliable. ~$0.25–0.40/rd.
Remington Premier 17gr AccuTip-V — Remington’s equivalent to V-MAX. ~$0.30–0.45/rd.
CCI 20gr TNT HP — heavier bullet, better energy retention, useful for larger varmints. ~$0.28–0.42/rd.
CCI 20gr FMJ — for small game where you want to minimize pelt damage. ~$0.25–0.38/rd.
Price guide (2025–2026)
| Category | Good deal | Fair | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 17gr V-MAX | $0.26–0.38/rd | $0.38–0.50/rd | $0.60+/rd |
| 20gr HP/FMJ | $0.25–0.36/rd | $0.36–0.48/rd | $0.58+/rd |
.17 HMR supply is generally stable. Unlike .22 LR, it rarely gets panic-bought in large quantities.
Firearms chambered in .17 HMR
Bolt-action:
- Ruger American Rimfire 17 HMR — affordable, adjustable, reliable
- Ruger 77/17 — classic bolt-action, walnut stock, excellent accuracy
- CZ 457 17 HMR — precision rimfire platform, interchangeable barrel
- Tikka T1x 17 HMR — excellent trigger, competitive at rimfire precision events
- Savage A17 — semi-auto (one of the few reliable ones); use only loads rated for semi-auto
- Marlin XT-17 — budget bolt-action, good value
Lever-action:
- Henry Golden Boy 17 HMR — octagonal barrel, attractive finish; manual action avoids semi-auto concerns
Handguns (limited):
- Some multi-barrel derringer-style firearms chamber .17 HMR; not a primary use case
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