Thread: 17 HMR ammo

I know I've got a lot of questions ...

What's the standard benchmark ammo that everyone uses, sort of "buy a brick and you can't go wrong" ?

Are they all made in the same factory with different branding ?

Pros and Cons of 17gr vs 20gr ?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Bagheera

I know I've got a lot of questions ...

What's the standard benchmark ammo that everyone uses, sort of "buy a brick and you can't go wrong" ?

Are they all made in the same factory with different branding ?

Pros and Cons of 17gr vs 20gr ?

Thanks

Most of it's CCI manufactured, the exception is Winchester ammo (which by reputation is worse). I doubt there's any universally great options given the variation in rifles and batches of even the same ammo, but I reckon 17gr TNT HP gives you better odds than most.

Hornady 17gr V-max for me always has shot well in the 17 hmr rifles I've used.

Like anything rimfire, it's all about what suits your particular rifle. Therefore, buy a box of everything that is available to you, and test it through your rifle. Select the best performer, and then buy as much of the same batch number as you can afford at the time. In order to get the same batch, you need to buy the samples, test, and buy your bulk in as shorter time as possible.

The farmer I shoot for buys my ammo and grabs whatever is on the shelf.
I've used Hornady, CCI, Federal and currently Winchester.
All 17gr ballistic tip. Apart from the different colored plastic tip I can't tell any difference.
For my purposes, rabbits it all works well.

Thanks for the quick info, before breakfast !
I thought the same thing @hotbarrels I’d need to test then stock up quickly. Ive had trouble doing that with airgun pellets. Im thinking i might run it in with a box or two of soemthing standard then do a bit of a trial. Sounds like theres not really a “premium” brand like Eley Lapua or RWS are for 22LR. But CCI might have the best ling term availability ?

Is anyone using 20 gr ? I put a17 vs20 gr into a ballistic app and it sad no difference in wind drift . What ?
Do apps even model 17HMR well ?

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks for the quick info, before breakfast !
I thought the same thing @hotbarrels I’d need to test then stock up quickly. Ive had trouble doing that with airgun pellets. Im thinking i might run it in with a box or two of soemthing standard then do a bit of a trial. Sounds like theres not really a “premium” brand like Eley Lapua or RWS are for 22LR. But CCI might have the best ling term availability ?

Is anyone using 20 gr ? I put a17 vs20 gr into a ballistic app and it sad no difference in wind drift . What ?
Do apps even model 17HMR well ?

I always have a magazine full or Hornady 20gr on me when out chasing pests........so far they have accounted for 2 reds and 2 fallow (head shots)
Havent tried them on goats yet.
They shoot to within a 1/4" as the 17gr at 100m out of my T1X.......

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks for the quick info, before breakfast !
I thought the same thing @hotbarrels I’d need to test then stock up quickly. Ive had trouble doing that with airgun pellets. Im thinking i might run it in with a box or two of soemthing standard then do a bit of a trial. Sounds like theres not really a “premium” brand like Eley Lapua or RWS are for 22LR. But CCI might have the best ling term availability ?

Is anyone using 20 gr ? I put a17 vs20 gr into a ballistic app and it sad no difference in wind drift . What ?
Do apps even model 17HMR well ?

Accuracy over bullet performance will always win the day with the .17HMR. I have one that prefers 17gr, and one that prefers 20gr. I have used HP as well, but accuracy wasn't quite as good.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks for the quick info, before breakfast !
I thought the same thing @hotbarrels I’d need to test then stock up quickly. Ive had trouble doing that with airgun pellets. Im thinking i might run it in with a box or two of soemthing standard then do a bit of a trial. Sounds like theres not really a “premium” brand like Eley Lapua or RWS are for 22LR. But CCI might have the best ling term availability ?

Is anyone using 20 gr ? I put a17 vs20 gr into a ballistic app and it sad no difference in wind drift . What ?
Do apps even model 17HMR well ?

I have found that a decent rifle is not fussy in this calliber. Both17& 20 grn shoot well with only about half inch difference at 100m.Ruger not so much.If you are chasing absolute accuracy,try several different brands,otherwise rabbits cant tell the difference.