Description
The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) is the most recent development in rimfire cartridges. An excellent choice for long-range varmint hunting and casual plinking, the advantage of the .17 HMR is that it maintains a very flat trajectory – resulting in an extremely accurate cartridge. The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (17 HMR) was developed as a joint venture between Hornady, Marlin, and Ruger and was released in 2002. It is an incredibly lightweight rimfire cartridge that has a flat trajectory, high velocity, and is a favorite of varmint hunters and long-range rimfire shooters. 17 HMR Ammo Development
Hornady developed the 17 HMR by taking the 22 WMR case and necking it down to accept a .172” diameter bullet. Initial factory loads from Hornady sported a 17 grain Spitzer V-MAX bullet fired at 2,650 fps.
The 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR or 22 Mag for short) was a natural parent case for the 17 HMR, as it had stronger case walls and offered more case capacity than other rimfire cartridges of the day.
The 17 HMR was nothing short of an overnight success as the round accomplished what wildcatters had been doing for many years, replicating the ballistics of the obsolete 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum (the fastest rimfire cartridge in history).
Shooters adored the round so much that ammo sales for the new cartridge quickly outstripped production capacity. Thankfully, within 2 years of its release, Remington, CCI, and Federal all began offering their own lines of 17 HMR ammo to help keep up with demand. Today, 17 HMR ammo is also available from Winchester as well.
Although the 17 grain bullets are the most common, alternative loadings with 15.5 grain and 20 grain bullets are also available.
The 17 HMR is typically chambered in lever-action and bolt-action rifles as there were safety concerns about using the round in early semi-auto rifles, many of which were recalled. However, Savage Arms stepped up to the plate and released the Model A17 in 2015 to give 17 HMR fans a semi-automatic rifle that was completely safe to use.
Although the 17 HMR lacks the stopping power offered by the 22 WMR for larger pests, the Hornady round offers hunters approximately a 50% increase in effective range on small varmints like prairie dogs and groundhogs.
On average, the effective range for the 17 HMR against thin-skinned varmints is often cited being around 150 yards. Capable marksmen can extend that range to around 200 yards, but the bullet’s trajectory will suffer as it goes subsonic at 150 yards on average.
To read more about how the 17 HMR compares to the 22 WMR, check out this article: 17 HMR vs 22 Mag.
17 Mach 2 vs. 17 HMR
Due to the success of the 17 HMR, both in terms of sales and performance, Hornady introduced the .17 Hornady Mach 2 (or the 17 HM2), a modification of the original ammunition. This was rolled out in 2004, and was based on the .22 Long Rifle “Stinger” casing. Most bolt action rifles can be converted to a 17 HM2 with a simple barrel change.
The HM2 is a slower round than the 17 HMR and might not live up to its “Mach 2” name, depending on overall conditions. It’s also unlikely that a semi-automatic 22 LR rifle can be safely converted to use HM2 rounds without significant modification to the recoil system and bolt weight. Savage Arms offers their A17 semi-auto rifle in 17 HM2 and there are multiple bolt-action rifles available for the round.
17 HMR vs. 22 Long Rifle
Probably the most common comparison of rimfire rounds is between the .22 LR and 17 HMR. If you’d like to read a full article on this comparison, click here: 17 HMR vs 22.
If you want the Cliff’s Notes version, here’s the highlights:
The 17 HMR fires a faster, lighter projectile than the 22 LR. This means that the 17 HMR will have a flatter trajectory and longer effective range than the 22 LR.
The 22 LR is gentler on varmint meat, so if you plan on eating your quarry then the 22 LR is the better choice. However, if you like to explode small varmints, then the highspeed 17 HMR will provide hours of fun.
The 22 LR is cheaper than the 17 HMR, so most shooters prefer to use the 22 LR for plinking.
The 22 LR is the classic round to train new shooters with and is easy to find wherever ammo is sold. Finding 17 HMR ammo can prove to be more difficult, especially in times of ammo scarcity.
To summarize, the 22 LR is perfect for plinking and varmint control at shorter ranges. Typically, varmint hunters prefer to keep their shots 75 yards or less when using a 22 LR to ensure a clean kill. The 22 LR is cheap, easy to find, and has virtually no recoil, so it is amazing for training new shooters or for an afternoon of fun at the range.
On the other hand, the 17 HMR offers long-range varmint hunters a viable pest killing machine. Capable of shots out to 200 yards, the 17 HMR offers shooters a flat trajectory and increased effective range over the 22 LR. The 17 HMR is an extremely accurate round that is a bit more expensive and sometimes harder to find than the tried-and-true 22LR.
Cheap 17 HMR Ammunition
Several companies produce .17 HMR ammo today – including CCI, Federal, and Hornady. Winchester and Remington sell cartridges with polymer-tipped bullets, hollow point bullets, and soft point bullets. Manufacturers also offer rifles chambered for .17 HMR including Savage, Marlin, and Ruger. These rifles are primarily bolt action, but a few semi-automatic rifles (and even some revolvers) are made for this cartridge.
The .17 HMR is fun to shoot and a deadly accurate rimfire cartridge. It’s great for an experienced shooter who wants the challenge of extremely light bullets at extremely long ranges.
FAQ
What is 17 HMR ammo?
The 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) is a varmint hunting rimfire cartridge that fires a lightweight .17 caliber bullet. It was designed by Hornady in 2002 and offers shooters a flatter trajectory and longer effective range than the 22LR.
How big is a .17 HMR bullet?
The .17 HMR fires a 0.172 inch bullet. Most commercial variations of the round have projectiles that weigh between 15.5 and 20 grain with the 17-grain bullet being the most popular. These small bullets have a high velocity for rimfire cartridges for a flat shooting cartridge.
What is the effective range of the 17 HMR?
When it comes to small game and varmints, the .17 HMR cartridge has an effective range of about 150 yards. Although the rimfire round is still effective at 200 yards and beyond, the trajectory suffers after 150 yards as the round dips below supersonic speeds.
Who makes .17 HMR ammo?
17 HMR ammo is manufactured primarily by Hornady, CCI, Federal, Remington, and Winchester.
How much does 17 HMR ammo cost?
The price of ammo fluctuates depending on the manufacturer, potential supply chain issues, and the political climate. However, the 17 HMR and 22 WMR are typically very close in price.
What guns are chambered for 17 HMR ammo?
The 17 HMR is chambered in multiple rifles and handguns from manufacturers like Savage, Henry, Ruger, Marling, Browning, Winchester, and Bergara.
