Ammo Reports Team
| Primary Use | Varmint hunting / Small game |
| Bullet Type | JSP — Jacketed Soft Point |
| Bullet Weight | 20 gr |
| Case | Brass |
| Primer | Rimfire |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box · 40 boxes per case (2,000 rounds) |
| Typical Price | ~$14–22 / box (~$0.28–0.44 per round) |
| Closest Competitors | Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 20 gr XTP · CCI Game Point 17 HMR 20 gr JSP · CCI 17 HMR 20 gr FMJ |
Official Specs
Manufacturer-stated data. No independent verification — see Submit Your Data below.
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,375 fps | Remington / TargetSportsUSA |
| Muzzle Energy | 250 ft-lbs | Remington / TargetSportsUSA |
| Bullet Weight | 20 gr | Remington |
| Bullet Type | JSP — Jacketed Soft Point | Remington |
| Manufacturer SKU | R17HM2 / 20025 | Remington |
| UPC | 047700495903 | — |
SKU note: This product appears under two codes — R17HM2 (TargetSportsUSA / current) and 20025 (Ammunition Depot). UPC 047700495903 confirms both refer to the same load.
Note: Remington does not publish test barrel length. Industry standard for .17 HMR is 24″. Community submissions will provide real-world velocity from actual hunting barrels.
Ballistics Table
Calculated. Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″ above bore. Estimated BC (G1): ~0.143.
This table is a calculated estimate, not manufacturer-published data. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature, altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzle velocity for comparison.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2,375 | 250 | +1.5 |
| 25 | 2,281 | 231 | +1.8 |
| 50 | 2,190 | 213 | +1.7 |
| 75 | 2,103 | 196 | +1.1 |
| 100 | 2,020 | 181 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 125 | 1,940 | 167 | -1.8 |
| 150 | 1,863 | 154 | -4.2 |
| 175 | 1,789 | 142 | -7.4 |
| 200 | 1,718 | 131 | -11.5 |
| 225 | 1,650 | 121 | -16.5 |
| 250 | 1,584 | 111 | -22.5 |
Key takeaway: trajectory stays manageable through 150 yards (only 4.2″ low), making holds straightforward at typical hunting ranges. At 250 yards the bullet still carries 111 ft-lbs — well above the practical minimum for varmints. The 20 gr JSP’s flatter drop curve vs 17 gr loads makes it the stronger choice in windy open terrain at 125–175 yards.
Variants
This page covers Remington Magnum Rimfire 17 HMR 20 gr JSP (R17HM2) only.
Remington’s .17 HMR lineup also includes:
- Remington Premier Magnum Rimfire 17 HMR 17 gr AccuTip-V BT (PR17HM1) — lighter, faster, polymer-tipped boat-tail
- Remington Premier 17 HMR 17 gr JHP — open hollow point without tip
The 20 gr JSP is Remington’s value-positioned hunting load for the caliber — straightforward construction, competitive pricing, adequate field performance.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Prairie dog, ground squirrel, and woodchuck hunting at 75–150 yards
- Fox and small predator control where controlled expansion and moderate penetration are preferred over explosive fragmentation
- Tube-fed lever-action .17 HMR rifles — JSP soft-nose profiles are safer in tubular magazines than pointed polymer-tipped designs; verify with your rifle’s manual
- Budget-conscious hunters who want an expanding .17 HMR load at lower cost than premium XTP or tipped alternatives
Not the right tool for:
- Pelt preservation — JSP at .17 HMR velocities still expands significantly
- Lead-restricted areas — lead-core construction
- High-volume range practice — no advantage over FMJ at this price point
- Self-defense — not designed or rated for it
Reliability Notes
Not enough structured submissions yet for aggregate data. Early field reports from retailer reviews are mixed — see below.
From verified purchaser reviews (TargetSportsUSA, 2025):
- “Solid rounds, nice shooting ammo” — positive general experience
- “Great Rem Mag rounds, solid function” — reliable cycling reported
- “Awful ammo does not group” — one negative report specifically citing accuracy issues
- “Great squirrel ammo” — positive field use report
These are unstructured retailer reviews — lot numbers, barrel lengths, and conditions are unknown. They are included for context only. Structured chronograph submissions in the table below will provide more meaningful data as they accumulate.
General notes:
- Post-2020 Remington production (Vista Outdoor acquisition) has shown mixed lot-to-lot consistency reports in the shooting community — lot number tracking in submissions is particularly useful for this load
- JSP profiles feed reliably in bolt-action and lever-action platforms; semi-auto cycling is generally reliable but less documented than for tipped loads
- Brass casing standard quality for Remington rimfire; not reloadable (rimfire primer)
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | Adv. Velocity | Price / box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Game Point 17 HMR 20 gr JSP | 20 gr | JSP | 2,375 fps | ~$14–16 | Direct competitor — same bullet type, same velocity, CCI primer reputation |
| Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 20 gr XTP | 20 gr | XTP HP | 2,375 fps | ~$23–25 | Same velocity, hollow point — more controlled expansion, higher price |
| Winchester Super-X 17 HMR 20 gr XTP (X17HMR1) | 20 gr | XTP HP | 2,375 fps | ~$13–15 | Same velocity, XTP bullet — active recall; verify lot before purchase |
| CCI 17 HMR 20 gr FMJ | 20 gr | FMJ | 2,375 fps | ~$21–23 | No expansion — range use only |
| Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | V-Max HP | 2,650 fps | ~$23–25 | Lighter, faster, explosive fragmentation — different use case |
Report pages for the loads above are in progress and will be linked here when published.
Price Reality
- TargetSportsUSA: ~$14.00 per box of 50 (~$0.28/round) · case of 2,000 rounds ~$560 (~$0.28/round)
- Ammunition Depot: ~$21–23 per box of 50 (~$0.43–0.46/round)
- Price spread: the same load lists at significantly different prices across retailers — TargetSportsUSA’s pricing reflects their direct-to-consumer model; Ammunition Depot’s higher price reflects standard retail margins
- vs. CCI Game Point JSP: functionally the same product category at comparable low-end pricing — CCI’s primer reputation gives it a slight edge at equal cost
- Fair price benchmark: under $16/box is excellent value; $20–23/box is standard retail; above $25/box is overpriced
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
- TargetSportsUSA — add link (lowest price observed ~$14/box)
- Ammunition Depot — add link
- MidwayUSA — add link
- Brownells — add link
FAQ
What is the difference between 17 gr and 20 gr in .17 HMR?
The 17 gr loads leave the muzzle faster — typically around 2,650 fps versus 2,375 fps for 20 gr. The 20 gr bullet is heavier, retains energy better at distance, and drifts less in crosswind. The ballistics table above shows the 20 gr carrying 111 ft-lbs at 250 yards with only 22.5″ of drop. For hunting at 100+ yards in open terrain with wind exposure, the 20 gr is a more consistent performer. For flat trajectory at closer ranges, 17 gr dominates in sales.
Remington 20 gr JSP vs CCI Game Point 20 gr JSP — which is better?
Both are 20 gr JSP loads at 2,375 fps — the most direct comparison in the 20 gr .17 HMR category. CCI has a stronger reputation for rimfire primer consistency, which translates to lower misfire rates. Remington’s post-2020 production quality is less uniformly documented. At equal pricing, CCI Game Point is the safer choice. At TargetSportsUSA’s ~$14/box, Remington becomes compelling for volume hunters where occasional lot variance is acceptable.
JSP vs XTP vs V-Max — what expands best for varmints?
Each expands differently for a different purpose. V-Max fragments explosively — maximum energy release on small varmints, minimal penetration. XTP expands in a controlled mushroom with significant retained mass — more penetration, predictable channel. JSP expands moderately between the two. For prairie dogs inside 100 yards: V-Max. For woodchucks and fox where penetration matters: XTP or JSP. For tube-fed magazines where tipped bullets are unsafe: JSP is the correct choice.
Does this load work in lever-action .17 HMR rifles with tubular magazines?
The soft-nose JSP profile is safer in tubular magazines than pointed polymer-tipped designs — no sharp tip-to-primer contact risk. This makes the Remington 20 gr JSP one of the practical expanding options for Henry Golden Boy and similar lever-action .17 HMR platforms. Always verify with your specific rifle’s manual before use.
How does .17 HMR compare to .22 LR at distance?
The ballistics table shows this load retaining 2,020 fps and 181 ft-lbs at 100 yards. Compare to .22 LR 40 gr at roughly 1,023 fps and 93 ft-lbs at the same distance. The .17 HMR holds roughly double the energy at 100 yards with a dramatically flatter trajectory. For dedicated varmint work past 75 yards, .17 HMR holds a clear performance edge. For casual plinking under 50 yards, .22 LR costs a fraction of the price.
Submit Your Data · Real-World Results
Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before
publishing.
Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity
and confidence level will appear here automatically.
| UPC # | Firearm | Barrel (in) | Avg Velocity (fps) | Shots | Temp (°F) | Chronograph | Lot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shot this load? Share your results — firearm type, barrel length, average velocity, shots fired, temperature. No account required.
All submissions are manually reviewed before appearing on this page.
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Results vary by firearm, barrel condition, ammunition lot, and environmental factors.
Submitted data is for reference only.
AmmoReports does not guarantee accuracy of user-submitted results.
Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) ·
