17 HMR

The .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) is a rimfire cartridge Hornady introduced in 2002 by necking the .22 WMR case down to a 4.5 mm bullet. The light 17-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at roughly 775 m/s, so the trajectory stays flat across the whole working distance. For a hunter this is above all a fox, raccoon dog and corvid cartridge: recoil is minimal, the report is quieter than any centrefire, and a well-placed shot leaves the pelt almost untouched.

What this calibre is for

17 HMR ammunition covers small predators and vermin out to about 150 metres: foxes, raccoon dogs, crows and rodents. It is not a deer cartridge, but where the .22 LR runs out of speed and precision, this calibre keeps working with confidence. Waiting over bait at night, a fox usually appears at 80 to 120 metres, and the flat trajectory lets you hold dead on without any correction. The mild report disturbs the surrounding ground less, so you often get a second chance at the same bait site. Because recoil is so light, you see the bullet strike through the scope, which matters when you have to judge a hit in the dark right away.

Cartridge types in this category

The shelf holds three bullet constructions: polymer-tipped V-MAX, hollow point JHP and the GamePoint soft point. Each behaves differently on impact, so pick by quarry and purpose rather than by price. Below is each type as it appears in the actual product list.

V-MAX polymer tip bullets

Hornady V-MAX 17 gr (83170), CCI V-MAX Varmint 17 gr and Winchester Varmint HV V-MAX are the fastest loads in the category. On impact the polymer tip drives into the core and triggers violent expansion, dumping the energy at once. This is the first choice for crows and rodents, where an instant effect is the whole point.

Winchester Super-X JHP

The Super-X hollow point opens more gradually than a V-MAX and penetrates deeper. It is the all-round load for a hunter who shoots crows and foxes with the same box. The Super-X line has been in production for decades, so its behaviour is well known and predictable.

CCI GamePoint 20 gr soft point

GamePoint is the heaviest bullet in the category. The soft point construction holds its mass, drives deeper and tears less tissue, which makes it the load to reach for when the pelt has value. The 50-round box works both for zeroing and for a season over bait.

17 or 20 grains

The lighter 17 gr bullet flies faster and drops less, so it wins on longer shots at small targets. The heavier 20 gr bullet keeps more energy on the animal and penetrates deeper, which often makes it the better pick for a fox or raccoon dog inside a hundred metres.

How to choose

Choose the load by quarry, distance and what you want after the shot: an instant stop or an undamaged pelt. How accurately a given load shoots from your barrel only shows up on the range, so work through the decision in this order.

1. Name your main quarry: take a V-MAX for corvids and rodents, a GamePoint or JHP for fox and raccoon dog.
2. Be honest about your real shot distances: inside a hundred metres any type works, beyond that the 17 gr V-MAX pulls ahead.
3. Buy a box of two or three different loads and compare groups from your own rifle at a hundred metres.
4. Settle on one load and zero your scope for it, because different loads print to different points from the same barrel.
5. Stock the season from the same lot, so your zero does not shift mid-winter.

Practical advice in the field

Wind is the main enemy of this calibre: a crosswind pushes the 17 gr bullet visibly at 150 metres, so on a gusty night shorten the distance or wait for a lull. Zero the scope at a hundred metres and anything closer needs no correction at all. Never shoot through twigs or tall grass, because the light high-velocity bullet deflects or breaks up on the smallest obstacle. On a fox, aim for the head or the shoulder: a V-MAX in the chest leaves a small entry mark and the pelt keeps its value. Store the ammunition dry, and in winter carry the box in an inside pocket, since a rimfire priming rim is more sensitive to damp than a centrefire primer.

Hornady, Winchester and CCI

The category carries three American makers, and all three know this calibre from the inside. Hornady created it, so the 83170 V-MAX load is treated as the reference. CCI is the largest rimfire plant in the world, and its Varmint and GamePoint lines are valued for consistent quality within a lot. Winchester offers both the fast Varmint HV and the classic Super-X, so you can pick either bullet type from one maker.

Looking for other calibres for your rifle, see .22 ammunition, .222 Rem. ammunition, .223 Rem. ammunition and 22-250 ammunition. If you are unsure which load suits your rifle, write to us and we will advise.