.17 HMR

The .17 HMR — that’s Hornady Magnum Rimfire for the uninitiated — is what happens when engineers decide a .22 Magnum case just isn’t moving fast enough. Necked down to .17 caliber and stuffed with a tiny, aerodynamic bullet, this thing exits the barrel like a lightning bolt with a grudge. It was introduced in 2002 as a joint project between Hornady and Marlin, and the varmint hunting community collectively lost its mind. In the best way possible.

The standard .17 HMR load pushes a 17-grain V-Max bullet at around 2,550 feet per second — remarkable numbers for a rimfire. You’ll also find 20-grain loads running closer to 2,375 fps for slightly better wind resistance. Bullet diameter is .172 inches, and the cartridge runs on the same rim dimensions as the .22 WMR case it’s based on. Muzzle energy sits around 245 ft-lbs with the 17-grain load, which sounds modest until you watch what it does to a prairie dog.

Introduced in 2002, the .17 HMR was developed by Hornady in collaboration with Marlin and Ruger. The concept was straightforward: take the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire case, neck it down to .17 caliber, and see how flat you can make it shoot. Turns out, very flat. The cartridge filled a genuine gap in the rimfire market — something faster and more precise than the .22 WMR, but still quiet and economical enough to shoot all day. Adoption was fast. By the mid-2000s, virtually every rimfire manufacturer chambered a rifle for it.

Here’s where the .17 HMR earns its cult following. At 100 yards it’s still traveling over 1,900 fps, and it carries enough velocity to shoot remarkably flat out to 150 yards with minimal holdover. Wind is its main enemy — that tiny 17-grain bullet gets pushed around in a stiff crosswind more than heavier projectiles will. But on a calm day? It’s genuinely one of the most accurate rimfire cartridges ever made. Varmint hunters use it on ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and rabbits at ranges where a .22 LR would require a lot of guessing. The .17 HMR does not require guessing.

Varmint hunting is the primary calling. Prairie dogs, ground squirrels, rabbits, starlings — anything that qualifies as a pest and is under about 150 yards is fair game. The explosive fragmentation of the V-Max bullet means clean, decisive results. Target shooters also love it for small-bore rimfire competition, and it’s a fantastic training round for new shooters who want to learn wind-reading and precise trigger work without spending centerfire money. Small-game hunters use it too, though the destructive effect on pelts means furbearer hunters might want a different option.

Hornady, Federal, Winchester, and CCI all produce .17 HMR ammunition, so you’re not hunting for exotic stuff here. Hornady’s V-Max loads are the gold standard for varmint work. Federal offers their own polymer-tip loads with similar performance. CCI makes a decent hunting load as well. Prices run higher than .22 LR — expect to pay more per round — but it’s still rimfire money, not centerfire money. Availability has been generally solid outside of the ammo shortage years, and it’s a regular shelf item at any well-stocked gun store.

Arms East keeps .17 HMR rifles and ammunition in stock because we know what varmint hunters want. We carry the popular bolt-action and semi-auto platforms chambered in .17 HMR, along with a solid selection of Hornady V-Max, Federal, and CCI loads. If you’re tired of watching prairie dogs run after a near-miss with your .22, come talk to us. We’ll get you set up with something that doesn’t give them a second chance.