The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) was introduced in 2002 by Hornady as a high-velocity, rimfire cartridge derived from the .22 Magnum case necked down to .17-caliber. Designed for precision and flat trajectory, the .17 HMR gained popularity among varmint hunters and target shooters for its good accuracy and hitting power out to 200 yards or more. Standard .17 HMR ammo typically fires a 17-grain V-MAX or TNT hollow point bullet at speeds around 2550 FPS, offering explosive impact on small game while maintaining low recoil.
Compared to other rimfire cartridges like the .22 LR or .22 WMR, the .17 HMR offers superior ballistic performance, including flatter trajectories and higher energy at extended distances. It’s good for shooting prairie dogs, ground squirrels, rabbits, and even coyotes under the right conditions. While not as powerful as some centerfire varmint rounds, its blend of affordability, velocity, and accuracy makes the .17 HMR an outstanding choice for precision-minded rimfire shooters. Popular manufacturers like CCI, Hornady, Winchester, and Federal produce a wide variety of loadings, from polymer-tipped hunting rounds to jacketed hollow points, making it easy to tailor your ammo choice to your specific shooting needs.
.17 HMR Ammo DEALS — CCI, Hornady, Remington, Winchester
Things to Know about .17 HMR Ammunition
Bullet Type & Weight: The standard bullet weight for .17 HMR is 17 grains, with options up to 20 grains for improved wind resistance and penetration. Polymer-tipped bullets expand rapidly on impact, while jacketed hollow points (JHP) offer deeper penetration.
Which is more powerful, .22 Mag or .17 HMR? While the .22 WMR (Magnum) may offer slightly more raw energy, .17 HMR delivers superior velocity and flatter trajectory, giving it better accuracy at long distances. For precision shooting, .17 HMR generally has the edge.
How does .17 HMR ammo compare to other rimfire cartridges? Compared to .22 LR or .22 WMR, .17 HMR shoots flatter, faster (typically 2500+ fps), and with greater accuracy at extended distances. It’s a top choice for rimfire shooters who demand high performance beyond 100 yards.
What is the effective range of .17 HMR? Good .17 HMR ammo is highly accurate up to 150–200 yards for small game and varmints. Some experienced shooters can push it beyond 200 yards with the right optics and wind conditions.
What is the best barrel length for .17 HMR rifles? A barrel length between 20–22 inches is optimal for .17 HMR, balancing velocity, maneuverability, and accuracy. Shorter barrels are lighter but may lose some velocity, while longer barrels offer slightly better ballistics at the cost of weight.
Is the .17 HMR good for beginners? Yes .17 HMR has low recoil, flat trajectory, and simple handling for new shooters. It’s an easy-shooting round that offers good performance with low recoil.
There is a new online ammunition search engine that lets you instantly compare ammo prices among major vendors. BulletScout.com offers instant pricing for all ammo types: Centerfire Rifle, Centerfire Pistol, Rimfire, and Shotgun. With the Bullet Scout search engine, you can quickly compare a wide array of ammunition options. This new online search engine can help ammo-buyers navigate fluctuating prices and limited availability. Importantly BulletScout.com let you instantly compare prices among dozens of vendors. And those listed prices also provide shipping cost comparisons.
TIP: When you do your first search, you will be prompted to sign up for a Newsletter. That is NOT required. Just click the “X” button at the top right of the Pop-up to close that window. Or you can select “Don’t Show Me This Again” at the bottom of the Newsletter enrollment prompt.
The search engine is fast and easy to use — just pick an ammo type, such as .223 Rem, .308 Win, .45 ACP, or .22 LR. Results will appear instantly, and then you can refine your search by Bullet Weight, Bullet Type/Material, and Box Round Count. You can even add your zip code, which can help find total costs, including shipping. NOTE: Unlike some other ammo price sites, Bullet Scout includes Shipping Fees.
If you want to shop for multiple calibers, you can also select for all rifle ammo, all pistol ammo, all rimfire ammo, or all shotgun ammo. You’ll find links at the bottom of the caliber choice columns for each ammo type, or click HERE:
Vast Selection of Ammo Brands in Bullet Scout Results
Currently BulletScout.com has 12 “featured” ammunition brands: Aguila, Armscor, Barnes, Blazer, Federal, Fiocchi, Magtech, PMC, Remington, SIG Sauer, Speer, and TulAmmo. But, thankfully, search results are NOT limited to just those dozen brands. So understand that you will be able to find more than just those 12 featured ammo brands. Our test searches confirmed that BulletScout.com search results will include ammo produced by CCI, Winchester, Browning, Hornady, Speer, Sellier & Bellot, Prvi Partizan, Wolf, Ammo Inc., Frontier, Saltech, Igman, MaxxTech, STV and many other brands.
Here are initial results for a search for .223 Remington Ammunition:
Here are the 12 “Featured Vendors” currently highlighted in BulletScout.com. Please note that Bullet Scout search results are NOT limited to these 12 companies. NOTE: The search engine looks at many other ammo sellers as well, so you get a huge selection of seller options, with their offerings ranked by price, with the lowest prices at the top.
Shipping Costs Are Included in Listed Ammunition Prices
BulletScout.com incorporates shipping costs directly into its rankings, offering buyers a more accurate view of total costs. This site also has links for memberships for brands like Target Sports USA, which offer special discounts to subscribers. Plus, no more cross-checking SKUs — BulletScout.com groups identical ammo products together, making it easy to spot the best deal among multiple vendors.
In today’s competitive online ammo market, search engines are critical in helping consumers navigate fluctuating prices, limited availability, and countless vendor options. As shoppers increasingly rely on digital tools to make informed purchases, platforms like BulletScout.com are positioned to deliver real value through transparency and efficiency.
Target Sports USA is running a major contest now through November 1, 2024. The Grand Prize is a 2024 Ford F-150 4×4 Crew Cab truck with custom wheels, truck cover, lift-kit and more. The truck is worth $50,174 and the truck accessories are worth $5,484. Along with that Grand Prize, there are three other major prizes plus travel benefits:
Second Prize: QuietKat eBike worth $4800 plus $470 worth of 9mm ammo.
Third Prize: Camp Chef WoodWind 36 Pellet Grill worth $1200 plus $470 worth of 9mm ammo.
Fourth Prize: Camp Chef Flat Top 900 Grill worth $900 plus $470 worth of 9mm ammo.
Bonus Benefits: AMMO+ Day event Travel and Accommodations Package
Prize Pool aggregate value for the Grand Prize to Fourth Prize levels is $63,967.94. Combined with the estimated $12,000 travel expenses (for winners), the Total Prize Pool is worth $75,967.94.
The winner will be announced on November 16, 2024. You have until November 1, 2024, to enter for the chance to win a prize. All Target Sports USA AMMO+ members are automatically entered to win. Ammo+ membership is NOT required to enter the contest. You can also enter by submitting a written entry card. NO Purchase or Paid Membership is required. CLICK HERE for Contest Entry Rules.
Details of Grand Prizes and Travel Packages
The four confirmed eligible winners will attend a special AMMO+ Day Event and participate in a random drawing where each winner is to win one of the following prizes:
• One Grand Prize Winner is to be awarded a 2024 FORD F-150, 4X4 Styleside Crew Cab, WIL2, White Color exterior black interior colored pickup truck that includes a V6 Ecoboost engine with custom 17-inch Silver Steel Wheels, Rims, Tinted Windows, Weather-Tech Mats, a RealTruck TruXedo Sentry CT Tonneau Truck Cover and a Lift-Kit. Approximate KBB vehicle value is $50,173.94 with accessories valued at $5,484.00. Total Grand Prize Pool ARV is $55,657.94.
• One Second Prize Winner is to be awarded a QuietKat Apex Pro eBike MSRP $4,800.00 plus two cases of 9mm New Republic ammo valued at $470.00. Total Second Prize Pool ARV is $5,270.00.
• One Third Prize Winner is to be awarded a Camp Chef WoodWind 36 Pellet Grill MSRP $1,200.00 plus two cases of 9mm New Republic ammo valued at $470.00. Total Third Prize Pool ARV is $1,670.00.
• One Fourth Prize Winner is to be awarded a Camp Chef Flat Top 900 Grill MSRP $900.00 plus, two cases of 9mm New Republic ammo valued at $470.00. Total Fourth Prize Pool ARV is $1,370.00 (USD).
• The AMMO+ Day Event Travel and Accommodations Package:
In addition to the above Prizes, four AMMO+ Day Event Travel/Accommodations Packages are awarded with estimated value of $3,000 per winner (may vary based on winner locations).
Total Prize Pool for the Grand Prize to Fourth Prize levels is $63,967.94, plus estimated travel expenses at $12,000.00 makes the Total Prize Pool value $75,967.94.
Non-Member Mail-in Method of Entry (AMOE)
Enter by legibly hand printing on a 3”x 5” or 4″ x 6″ postcard or paper, in black or blue ink, your first name, last name, mailing address, city, state, zip, day and evening phone numbers with area code (to be used for winner notification), e-mail address (if available) and date of birth. Mail each postcard separately in a hand-printed first class stamped #10 business size envelope to: Compliance / Target Sports AMMO+ Day Truck Giveaway IV, P.O. Box 468, Stonington, CT 06378. NOTE: The return address on the envelope must also be hand-printed with the sender’s full name and address.
Target Sports USA, a major online ammo and shooting accessories vendor, celebrates Prime Day on September 19, 2022. The Prime event, which has featured daily specials, concludes on September 19 with a day of Ammo Deals. There is also a major prize — a new Ford F150 4X4 Truck worth $53,000! Target Sports USA created Prime Day to encourage ammo shoppers to become prime members. This entitles them to significant discounts, FREE shipping, and other benefits. SEE: TargetSportsUSA.com/t-ammoprime.aspx.
How to Win the PRIME DAY Ford F150 Truck Grand Prize
Four contestants will be randomly selected from entries all around the USA. Target Sports USA will give those four contestants an all-expense paid trip to tour its Connecticut warehouse and attend a party, where the PRIME TRUCK WINNER will be selected by drawing. The other three finalists will get thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. (See Prize Package Descriptions below).
How to Enter Contest: Those who sign up as new Target Sports USA Prime members ($95 per year) are automatically entered. You can also enter for FREE with a mail-in form. SEE CONTEST RULES.
What’s the Advantage of Being a PRIME MEMBER?
A Prime membership supplies extra discounts for shooting sports enthusiasts. For example, Target Sports USA Prime members get 8% off already great ammo prices, zero shipping cost, and a 3-hour priority alert notice about new or restocked items. The average Prime member yearly savings is $390.00.
Contest Prizes — Details and Values
PRIZES: The four (4) confirmed eligible Winners will attend the October 22, 2022, Prime Day Party Event, to participate in a random drawing, where each Winner is to win ONE of the following prizes:
• One (1) Grand Prize Winner is to be awarded a 2022 FORD F-150, 4X4 Supercrew, 2.7L V6 Ecoboost, Iconic Silver Metallic exterior and Black/Medium Dark Slate interior Pickup Truck. Approximate Kelly Blue Book (KBB) vehicle value is $53,000. Includes a Target Sports USA package of accessories and ammo at an Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) $2,000. Total Grand Prize Pool Value is $55,000.
• One (1) First Prize Winner is to be awarded a QuiteKat Electric Bike. (ARV $5,000). Plus, a Target Sports USA Prize Package of Accessories (ARV $2,000). Total First Prize Pool is ARV $7,000.
• One (1) Second Prize Winner is to be awarded a Target Sports USA Prize Package of Accessories and Ammo (ARV $2,000). Plus, a Target Sports USA $1,000 Gift Card. Total First Prize Pool ARV is $3,000.
• One (1) Third Prize Winner is to be awarded a Target Sports USA Prize Package of Accessories and Ammo (ARV $2,000). Total Third Prize Pool ARV is $2,000 (USD).
• Total Grand to Third level Prize Pool ARV is $67,000 (not counting travel awards).
The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) was introduced in 2002 by Hornady as a high-velocity, rimfire cartridge derived from the .22 Magnum case necked down to .17-caliber. Designed for precision and flat trajectory, the .17 HMR gained popularity among varmint hunters and target shooters for its good accuracy and hitting power out to 200 yards or more. Standard .17 HMR ammo typically fires a 17-grain V-MAX or TNT hollow point bullet at speeds around 2550 FPS, offering explosive impact on small game while maintaining low recoil.
