The 17 HMR is the newest rimfire cartridge that has quickly gained a following amongst target shooters and varmint hunters.
17 HMR accuracy is second to none at 200 yards, thanks to its flat trajectory and minimal recoil, which will give any small game animal nightmares.
Due to its small size, the 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire has limited hunting and long-range capabilities.
However, choosing the best 17 HMR ammo will help you maximize the potential of your 17 HMR target and hunting rifle.
For target shooting, we recommend CCI 17 HMR 20-grain FMJ because they’re reasonably priced, cycle reliably in a bolt-action rifle, and are highly accurate.
When hunting small critters like raccoons, prairie dogs, and other varmints, we’ve found the best 17 HMR round to be Hornady 17 HMR 17-grain V-MAX due to its high muzzle velocity, reasonable price, and the V-MAX bullet.
Best 17 HMR Round for Varmint Hunting
Hornady 17 HMR 17-Grain V-MAX
Specs
- Bullet Weight: 17gr
- Casing Type: Brass
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,550 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 245 ft-lbs
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Reliable
- Reasonably Priced
- Consistent 200-yard groups
Cons
- Low availability*
Why We Chose It
Hornady is the company behind the 17 HMR, so they should manufacture the best ammo for it. Also, Hornady is a brand trusted by many shooters of various calibers because they make high-quality ammo.
Sometimes rimfire rounds don’t fire; that’s rarely the case with the Hornady 17 HMR 17gr V-MAX. They’re very reliable rounds and cycle smoothly through semi-automatic rimfire rifles.
The price isn’t the lowest, but it’s reasonable considering the ammo quality. The biggest drawback is that so many people stock up on these rounds it’s often difficult to find.
If you’re planning to go varmint hunting and most of the prairie dogs or coyotes are right around the 200yd mark, then you’ll be shooting a bullet with a flat trajectory, which means better accuracy.
The polymer-tipped V-MAX bullet is one of the best hunting bullets on the market, which is why you see several ammo manufacturers using this bullet.
Honorable Mentions
The Winchester 17 HMR 15.5gr Polymer-Tipped is a lighter bullet so that the wind will affect it more, and it’s more expensive. However, I especially like that these bullets are lead-free, so you don’t risk accidentally lead-poisoning other animals that might come across your bullet that’s been fired.
The lighter 15.5gr bullet would be an excellent choice for squirrel hunting, as it’s less likely to damage the meat.
Federal 17 HMR 17gr Polymer-Tipped is a favorite of many varmint hunters because of its consistency. Federal Premium produces high-quality ammo that competes on price, velocity, and accuracy.
Winchester 17 HMR 20gr JHP is the best 17HMR ammo for coyote hunting because the bullet is a little heavier, so it will pack more of a punch than lighter bullets. However, in recent years, many shooters have noticed the reliability of Winchester ammo decline.
Best 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire Ammo for Target Shooting
CCI 17 HMR 20-Grain FMJ
Specs
- Bullet Weight: 20gr
- Casing Type: Brass
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,375 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 250 ft-lbs
Pros
- Reliable
- Fast
- Flat trajectory
- Trusted brand
Cons
- Pricey for rimfire ammo
Why We Chose It
The full metal jacket (FMJ) 20-grain bullet resists wind drift slightly more than lighter bullets, but all 17 HMR bullets are prone to wind drift because they’re so lightweight.
CCI is a trusted brand in the rimfire cartridge space, and they make reliable ammo that feeds well into most firearms.
Because the bullet is heavier, you’ll see the velocity is slightly slower, but these rounds are still very fast, which helps maintain the flat trajectory out to 200yds; the 17HMR is known for in most instances.
CCI is proud of its ammo, and that’s also reflected in the price. Although rimfire ammo is relatively cheap, these rounds are on the higher end of 17 HMR ammunition.
Honorable Mention
Firearms manufacturers such as Savage Arms used the CCI 17 HMR 17gr Polymer Tip for testing when they developed the Savage A17, and it’s still what is recommended by Savage to be used in their firearms.
Due to the lighter 17gr bullet, the muzzle velocity of these rounds is clocked at 2,650 fps, much faster than the 20gr FMJ from CCI.
These are also excellent rounds for varmint hunting thanks to the polymer-tipped hollow point, so if you plan to go plinking and hunt varmints, you can easily accomplish both when using these rounds.
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