Lindcott Armory Rimfire · SAAMI
.17 HMR
Flat-shooting rimfire varmint cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.172″ · 4.369 mm
- Introduced
- 2002
- Case
- Rimfire
- Parent
- .22 WMR
- Primary use
- Varmint, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2002
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Hornady
- Manufacturer
- Hornady Manufacturing
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimfire
- Max pressure
- 26,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 0.3–0.6 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady V-MAX Varmint Express 17 gr, 2,650 fps, BC 0.125 G1 · 25 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 2648 | 265 | -0.9″ | — |
| 25 yd | 2552 | 246 | 0.0″ | -0.1 |
| 50 yd | 2456 | 228 | +0.5″ | 0.9 |
| 75 yd | 2362 | 211 | +0.6″ | 0.8 |
| 100 yd | 2268 | 194 | +0.4″ | 0.4 |
| 125 yd | 2176 | 179 | -0.2″ | -0.2 |
| 150 yd | 2087 | 164 | -1.3″ | -0.9 |
| 175 yd | 1998 | 151 | -3.0″ | -1.6 |
| 200 yd | 1912 | 138 | -5.1″ | -2.4 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open .17 HMR ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 4.37 | 0.172 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 4.83 | 0.190 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 6.04 | 0.238 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 25° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 6.08 | 0.239 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 7.26 | 0.286 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.27 | 0.050 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 3.49 | 0.137 | ≈ |
| Case length | 26.87 | 1.058 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 34.26 | 1.349 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .17 HMR is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 122 active loads across 23 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 122 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady | V-MAX Varmint Express | 17 | V-MAX | 2,650 | 265 | 0.125 G1 |
| Hornady | V-MAX Varmint | 17 | V-MAX | 2,550 | 245 | 0.125 G1 |
| Hornady | Varmint Express | 17 | V-MAX | 2,550 | 245 | 0.125 G1 |
| Hornady | NTX LeadFree | 15 | NTX | 2,750 | 252 | — |
| Browning | BPR | 17 | V-Max | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| Remington | Premier | 17 | AccuTip-V | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| Federal | V-Shok TNT HP | 17 | HP | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| Remington | AccuTip-V BT | 17 | AccuTip-V | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| Speer | TNT HP | 17 | TNT HP | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| Norma | Eco-Strike | 17 | FMJ | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| Armscor | HP | 17 | HP | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| CCI | Poly-Tip V-MAX | 17 | V-MAX | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| CCI | A17 | 17 | V-MAX | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| CCI | HP | 17 | JHP | 2,650 | 265 | — |
| RWS | Rimfire | 17 | V-MAX | 2,650 | 265 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Firearms chambered in .17 HMR
12 models in the database chamber .17 HMR. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Introduced by Hornady in 2002 as the first successful .17 caliber rimfire. Rapidly became most popular rimfire varmint cartridge. Based on necked-down .22 WMR case.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .17 HMR use?
- .17 HMR typically uses a 1:9 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .17 HMR?
- .17 HMR uses a 0.172″ (4.369 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .17 HMR still in production?
- .17 HMR is active; typical availability is common.
- What is .17 HMR used for?
- .17 HMR is primarily used for varmint, target.
- What is .17 HMR based on?
- .17 HMR is derived from the .22 WMR case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 122 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →