First commercially successful .17-caliber centerfire cartridge. Pushes a 25-grain bullet to 4,020 fps — among the flattest-shooting commercially available cartridges of its era. Excellent for prairie dogs and other small varmints.
Type: Rifle
Introduced: 1971, United States
Parent case: .223 Remington
Standardization: SAAMI
Bullet diameter: 0.172" (4.37 mm)
Case length: 1.796" (45.62 mm)
Overall length: 2.15" (54.61 mm)
Max pressure: 52,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Small Rifle
Typical twist rate: 1:9
Muzzle velocity: 4000–4500 fps
Muzzle energy: 710–900 ft-lbs
Effective range: 300 yd
Common bullet weights: 20, 25 gr
Primary use: Varmint, Target
Production status: Active
Also known as: 4.3x45mm
History: Introduced by Remington in 1971, the .17 Remington was the first .17-caliber centerfire to reach commercial production. The tiny, ultra-fast bullet created explosive terminal effect on small animals at moderate range. The cartridge's small bore fouled quickly and required frequent, thorough cleaning to maintain accuracy. The .17 HMR (2002) and .17 Hornet (2012) later brought .17-caliber…
Notable firearms: Remington Model 700, Sako L461
Similar cartridges: .17 HMR, .17 Hornet, .204 Ruger