Guide

.17 HMR Ammo 2026: Varmint and Small Game Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 5, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 18 current .17 HMR loads on Federal's, Remington's, CCI's and Hornady's own product pages on November 5, 2026: 3 from Federal, 3 from Remington, 9 from CCI and 3 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 4 makers, not every .17 HMR load sold.

Grouping follows the usage label Federal, Remington and CCI print on their own pages. Hornady is listed in its own table, because Hornady prints no usage label. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Varmint loads

These are the loads Federal and CCI label Varmint on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page. CCI sells several of them in more than one box size, and each box size has its own item number.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 5)
Federal Varmint & Predator Hornady V-Max	17 HMR	P771	17 gr V-Max®	2,530 fps	242 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Federal Varmint & Predator Speer TNT	17 HMR	P770	17 gr Speer TNT Jacketed Hollow Point	2,530 fps	242 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI A17	17 HMR	949CC	17 gr Tipped Varmint	2,650 fps	265 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	200	Available
CCI A17	17 HMR	950CC	17 gr Tipped Varmint	2,650 fps	265 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability
CCI TNT	17 HMR	53	17 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	2,550 fps	245 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI TNT Green	17 HMR	951	16 gr Speer TNT Green Hollow Point	2,500 fps	222 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI V-Max	17 HMR	49	17 gr V-Max®	2,550 fps	245 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI VNT™	17 HMR	923CC	17 gr VNT	2,650 fps	265 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	125	Available
CCI VNT™	17 HMR	959CC	17 gr VNT	2,650 fps	265 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available

Small game loads

These are the loads Federal, Remington and CCI label "Small Game" and "Small Game, Target Shooting". Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 5)
Federal BYOB	17 HMR	770BTL250	17 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	2,530 fps	242 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	250	Available
Remington Magnum Rimfire	17 HMR	20023	17 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	2,550 fps	245 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington Magnum Rimfire	17 HMR	20025	20 gr Jacketed Soft Point	2,375 fps	250 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington Premier Magnum Rimfire	17 HMR	28464	17 gr AccuTip-V	2,550 fps	245 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI Full Metal Jacket	17 HMR	55	20 gr Full Metal Jacket	2,375 fps	250 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI Gamepoint	17 HMR	52	20 gr Jacketed Soft Point	2,375 fps	250 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, such as Varmint Express Rimfire NTX, Varmint Express Rimfire V-MAX and Varmint Express Rimfire XTP. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, and the test barrel is the one the table names.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 5)
Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire NTX	17 HMR®	83171	15.5 gr NTX® Varmint Express® Rimfire	2,525 fps	219 ft-lb	24 in	50	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire V-MAX	17 HMR®	83170	17 gr V-MAX® Varmint Express® Rimfire	2,550 fps	245 ft-lb	24 in	50	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire XTP	17 HMR	83172	20 gr HP XTP® Varmint Express® Rimfire	2,375 fps	250 ft-lb	24 in	50	Not listed on maker page

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 5, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Loads in our tables run from 15.5 gr to 20 gr. The lightest is Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire NTX (83171) and the heaviest is 4 loads at 20 gr, including Remington Magnum Rimfire (20025). The fastest listed muzzle velocity is 2,650 fps, shared by CCI A17 17 gr (949CC), CCI A17 17 gr (950CC), CCI VNT™ 17 gr (923CC) and CCI VNT™ 17 gr (959CC), with test barrels as listed in the tables. The highest listed muzzle energy is 265 ft-lb, shared by CCI A17 17 gr (949CC), CCI A17 17 gr (950CC), CCI VNT™ 17 gr (923CC) and CCI VNT™ 17 gr (959CC), with test barrels as listed in the tables. Because test barrels differ or are not listed, compare across makers with care.

The makers label loads for game, varmints or target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 18 loads, 15 list no test barrel, 3 list 24 in. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal, Remington and CCI. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI says all standard rimfire rifle test barrels shall be 24 inches long, and that exterior ballistic data for all rimfire rifle cartridges is based on that length.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the .17 HMR, and we have not charted one. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges. The closest we have are .22 WMR barrel length data, for the .22 WMR (another magnum rimfire, but a different cartridge and bullet diameter), so do not read those numbers as .17 HMR data.

.17 HMR: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "17 HORNADY MAGNUM RIMFIRE [17 HMR]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1-R2026, its rimfire standard (approved May 8, 2026). The cartridge drawing was issued 06/25/2002 and revised 02/06/2025. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 26,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 260 in psi/100). Cartridge overall length runs from 1.330 in minimum to 1.365 in maximum. Case length is 1.064 in (−.008), and bullet diameter is .1725 in (−.0035). The drawing shows 6 grooves and a twist of 1 in 9.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). SAAMI reference velocities are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not clearly pair each bullet weight and type with its velocity. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.1 PDF. The .17 HMR MAP row is also on our SAAMI maximum average pressure table (Z299.1, 26,000 psi / 260 psi/100).

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: we opened 6 Winchester .17-caliber rimfire pages on Nov. 5 (S17HMR1, S17HMR1LF, X17HMR1, S17W20, S17W25 and X17W15PLF) and every one said "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no Winchester figures to copy.
Federal: item AE17H20TVP (American Eagle Varmint & Predator) is listed as 17 Hornet on its page, a different cartridge, so it is left out.
CCI: item 950CC (A17, 50 rounds) carries a "50% off Discontinued Products" banner and no stock status on its page. We copy the figures and the page's "Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability" line and no price.
Other makers: we did not check Aguila, Armscor, Fiocchi, Sellier & Bellot or other .17 HMR makers, and Speer prints no .17 HMR load of its own on the pages we checked, so none are in the tables.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we did not verify its product pages.
Barnes, Browning, Norma and others: not checked this round, so none are in the tables.
Federal: Federal's loads were found through its sitemap and caliber pages, so a load missing from those would not be here.
Hornady: loads come from Hornady's product sitemap, so a load missing from that sitemap would not be in the table.
Test barrels and stock status: Federal, Remington and CCI pages list no test barrel, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.
SAAMI: reference velocities for this cartridge are Not yet verified (PDF layout is ambiguous), so none are copied.

Rifles and handguns for .17 HMR

The .17 HMR is a rimfire rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 15.5 gr to 20 gr. Some makers warn that certain loads are for bolt-action rifles or that a firearm maker should be consulted before use in a semi-automatic, so read each maker page and your owner's manual. For new guns, see new rimfire guns of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal, Remington and CCI show availability on their own product pages. Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .22 WMR ammo, .22 LR ammo, .22 ARC ammo, .243 Win ammo, 5.56/.223 ammo, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .17 HMR?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 26,000 psi for the 17 HMR, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1-R2026 (the table shows 260 in psi/100).

What grain is .17 HMR ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 15.5 gr to 20 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your firearm is set up to shoot.

How fast is .17 HMR ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,375 fps to 2,650 fps, and muzzle energies from 219 ft-lb to 265 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.

Do you list prices or stock for .17 HMR ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 5, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

.17 HMR Ammo 2026: Varmint and Small Game Loads From the Makers

Varmint loads

Small game loads

Hornady loads

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

.17 HMR: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles and handguns for .17 HMR

Where to buy

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Varmint loads

Small game loads

Hornady loads

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

.17 HMR: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles and handguns for .17 HMR

Where to buy

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report