Best .17 HMR Ammo: Varmint Loads Ranked by Use

Why .17 HMR ammo is simpler than it looks

Walk down the .17 HMR shelf and you'll see a dozen boxes. Almost all of them hold one of two bullet weights: 17 grains or 20 grains. The speeds cluster tightly too. CCI's catalog lists its 17-grain loads at 2,550 or 2,650 fps and its 20-grain loads at 2,375 fps.

So the real choice isn't weight or speed. It's what the bullet is built to do when it hits:

• Polymer-tipped (V-Max, VNT, A17 Varmint Tip): breaks up fast on small animals. The varmint standard.
• Jacketed hollow point (TNT, XTP): expands, but differently from a tipped bullet. A middle choice.
• Soft point (Gamepoint): controlled expansion, built to hold together better.
• Full metal jacket: no expansion. Small, clean holes.

Below are the loads worth starting with, sorted by job. The specs come from the makers' own pages. Accuracy is a separate matter. Every .17 HMR barrel has its favorites, so test two or three before you buy a case.

Best all-round varmint load: CCI or Hornady 17 gr V-Max

This is the load most .17 HMR rifles are sighted in with, and for good reason. Both CCI and Hornady list a 17-grain V-Max at 2,550 fps. CCI's page gives a BC of .128 and puts it at 1,915 fps and 138 ft-lbs at 100 yards. Hornady's page, from a 24-inch test barrel, shows 1,379 fps and 72 ft-lbs at 200 yards, with the bullet 8.5 inches low on a 100-yard zero.

The polymer tip does two things. It helps the bullet keep its speed, and it starts expansion the moment it hits. On prairie dogs and ground squirrels, that's what you want.

Skip it if: you plan to eat what you shoot. A fast-breaking tipped bullet can damage a lot of meat on a rabbit.

Best for the Savage A17 and other semi-autos: CCI A17

Semi-auto .17 HMR rifles had a rough start, and this load is part of the fix. CCI says it optimized A17 Varmint Tip for feeding and function in the Savage A17. It lists the 17-grain tipped bullet at 2,650 fps, 100 fps faster than its other 17-grain loads, with 2,000 fps and 151 ft-lbs at 100 yards. It comes in 200-round boxes and carries its own headstamp.

CCI is careful about the limits. It says the load also works in bolt-action .17 HMR rifles, but you shouldn't use it in other semi-automatics without first checking with the gun's maker. Take that seriously. Semi-auto .17 HMR actions are sensitive to ammunition.

Best for long shots at small targets: CCI VNT

CCI's VNT puts a Speer bullet with a very thin jacket and a polymer tip at 2,650 fps. CCI lists a BC of .125, with 1,986 fps and 149 ft-lbs at 100 yards. CCI markets it for varmints and for drilling targets at long range.

In practice, it's a close cousin to the V-Max loads with a bit more speed. If your rifle likes it, it's a fine pick for prairie dog towns. The 125-round pack is handy for high-volume days.

Best hollow point: CCI TNT

CCI's TNT uses a 17-grain jacketed hollow point at 2,550 fps. Its listed BC is lower, .100, and it drops to 1,757 fps and 116 ft-lbs at 100 yards on CCI's table. CCI pitches it for varmints with flat trajectory and explosive expansion.

The lower BC means it sheds speed faster than the tipped loads. That makes it a better fit for shots inside 100 yards. Some rifles group hollow points better than tipped bullets, so it's worth a box in a test.

Best for small game you plan to eat: CCI Gamepoint 20 gr

Here's where bullet weight matters. CCI describes Gamepoint as a small-game load whose dimpled soft point expands like a big-game bullet but causes minimal meat and hide damage. It lists a 20-grain jacketed soft point at 2,375 fps, 1,754 fps and 137 ft-lbs at 100 yards.

Note that energy at 100 yards is about the same as the 17-grain V-Max, even though it starts slower. The heavier bullet holds its speed reasonably well. For rabbits or other small game where legal, a soft point placed in the head or upper body is a better choice than a fast varmint bullet.

Hornady's 20-grain XTP is the other heavier option. Hornady lists it at 2,375 fps, 1,755 fps at 100 yards and 1,274 fps at 200, from a 24-inch barrel. It's a hollow point designed to expand in a more controlled way than a tipped bullet.

Best for furbearers: CCI 20 gr FMJ

Trappers and fur hunters have a specific problem: a fast expanding bullet can ruin a pelt. CCI's 20-grain FMJ is its answer. CCI says it "punches clean holes to minimize meat loss" and doesn't expand at all. It's listed at 2,375 fps and 140 ft-lbs at 100 yards.

The trade-off is obvious. A non-expanding bullet needs very precise shot placement. Use it only within the range where you can hit a small vital area every time. Check your state's rules for furbearers, which often set seasons, methods and calibers.

Quick comparison

How to pick for your rifle

Start with two tipped loads and one 20-grain load. Shoot several five-shot groups of each at 100 yards in calm weather. Our guide to reading wind at rimfire distances explains why calm matters so much: a 17-grain bullet drifts more than its speed suggests.

Once you have a winner, zero for it and stick with it. Switching loads can move your point of impact. If you hunt at long range, confirm your drop at 150 and 200 yards on paper rather than relying on any chart, including the makers'.

A scope with parallax adjustment helps a lot past 100 yards. Our piece on rimfire versus centerfire scopes explains why.

Safety and storage

The .17 HMR's small bullets can still travel far and ricochet. Pick shots with a solid earth backstop, avoid shooting toward water, rock or hard ground at a shallow angle, and know what's beyond your target. Store rifles unloaded and where children and unauthorized people can't get to them, and keep ammo stored separately where possible.

Browse the full range on Ammunition Depot's 17 HMR ammo page and check current price.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

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