Lindcott Armory Rimfire · SAAMI
.17 WSM
The most powerful rimfire cartridge available.
- Caliber
- 0.172″ · 4.369 mm
- Introduced
- 2012
- Case
- Rimfire
- Primary use
- Varmint, Small Game
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2012
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Winchester
- Manufacturer
- Winchester
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 7.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimfire
- Max pressure
- 33,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 250 yd
- Max range
- 500 yd
- Recoil
- 0.5–0.9 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 2,600–3,000 fps · 18 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .17 WSM 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 ⌀ | 5.00 | 0.197 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 6.83 | 0.269 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 20° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 6.83 | 0.269 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 8.46 | 0.333 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.68 | 0.066 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 3.54 | 0.139 | ≈ |
| Case length | 30.48 | 1.200 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 40.39 | 1.590 | ~ |
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 WSM is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 18 active loads across 5 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 19 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savage | B.MAG | 20 | V-Max | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Winchester | V-MAX | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Federal | V-MAX | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| CCI | HP | 20 | HP | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Hornady | Varmint Express V-MAX | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Federal | V-Shok | 20 | V-Max | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Winchester | Varmint HV | 20 | V-Max | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Winchester | Varmint HV | 25 | PTS | 3,000 | 500 | — |
| Federal | Varmint HV V-MAX | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Winchester | Super-X | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Hornady | Varmint Express | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Federal | Varmint & Predator | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| Winchester | Super-X V-MAX | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| CCI | Gamepoint | 20 | SP | 3,000 | 400 | — |
| CCI | V-MAX | 20 | V-MAX | 3,000 | 400 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Firearms chambered in .17 WSM
11 models in the database chamber .17 WSM. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Introduced by Winchester in 2012 based on a nail gun blank case. The highest-pressure and highest-velocity production rimfire cartridge. Positioned as the ultimate rimfire varmint cartridge.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .17 WSM use?
- .17 WSM typically uses a 1:9 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .17 WSM?
- .17 WSM uses a 0.172″ (4.369 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .17 WSM still in production?
- .17 WSM is active; typical availability is common.
- What is .17 WSM used for?
- .17 WSM is primarily used for varmint, small game.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .17 WSMarchived
- StandardSAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawingsarchived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 18 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →