Ammo Reports Team
| Primary Use | Varmint hunting / Predator control |
| Bullet Type | JHP — Jacketed Hollow Point (TNT design, no polymer tip) |
| Bullet Weight | 17 gr |
| Case | Brass |
| Primer | Rimfire |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | ~$20–22 / box (~$0.40 per round) |
| Closest Competitors | CCI VNT 17 HMR 17 gr · CCI 17 gr V-Max · Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max |
Official Specs
Manufacturer-stated data. No independent verification — see Real-World Data below.
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,550 fps | CCI / Ammunition Depot |
| Muzzle Energy | 245 ft-lbs | CCI / Ammunition Depot |
| Bullet Weight | 17 gr | CCI |
| Bullet Type | TNT JHP — Jacketed Hollow Point | CCI |
| Manufacturer SKU | 0053 | CCI |
| UPC | 076683000538 | — |
Note: CCI does not publish the test barrel length for this load on retail listings. 2,550 fps puts this load between the 20 gr loads at 2,375 fps and the fastest 17 gr polymer-tipped loads at 2,650 fps. Standard .17 HMR test barrel is 24″. Actual velocity from hunting-length barrels (20–22″) will be lower — see community submissions below.
Variants
This page covers the CCI TNT 17 HMR 17 gr JHP (SKU 0053), 50-round box only.
The “TNT” designation is CCI’s label for their jacketed hollow point design without a polymer tip insert. It should not be confused with the CCI VNT (Varmint Tipped) or the CCI V-Max (which uses a Hornady V-Max bullet). These are three distinct products. Other CCI .17 HMR loads:
- CCI 17 gr V-Max — Hornady V-Max polymer tip bullet
- CCI VNT 17 gr — CCI’s own polymer-tip “No Trace” design
- CCI 20 gr FMJ — range/practice load
- CCI 16 gr Lead-Free HP — lead-free option
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Varmint hunting where an open hollow point is preferred over polymer-tipped designs — some hunters find JHP more predictable on angled or close-range impacts
- Budget-conscious varmint hunters who want an expanding .17 HMR load at a lower per-round cost than tipped alternatives
- Shooters who prefer to avoid polymer tips for any reason (feeding concerns, personal preference, older action designs)
- Small predator and varmint control at typical .17 HMR hunting ranges (75–150 yards)
Not the right tool for:
- Maximum long-range performance — without a polymer tip, expansion initiation at lower impact velocities (longer distances) is less consistent than tipped designs
- Pelt hunting — JHP at .17 HMR velocities still produces significant terminal damage
- High-volume range practice — expanding ammo offers no advantage over FMJ for target use and costs more per round
- Self-defense — not designed or rated for it
Reliability Notes
Not enough data to draw conclusions. This section will be updated as submissions accumulate.
General notes from open sources:
- CCI’s rimfire primer consistency reputation applies here as with all CCI .17 HMR loads — even primer distribution around the rim is a manufacturing focus that reduces misfire rates
- Open hollow point designs like the TNT have a longer track record in .17 HMR than polymer-tipped bullets — the caliber predates widespread tipped rimfire adoption, and JHP was the original high-performance option at launch in 2002
- Without a polymer tip to protect the hollow cavity, open HP bullets can occasionally suffer tip deformation in magazine feeding in some rifles — not a widely reported issue with this specific load, but worth noting for semi-auto platforms; data from submissions will help clarify
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | Adv. Velocity | Price / box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI VNT 17 HMR 17 gr Varmint Tipped | 17 gr | Polymer Tip | 2,650 fps | ~$22–24 | CCI’s own tipped load — 100 fps faster, more consistent long-range expansion |
| CCI 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | Hornady V-Max | 2,650 fps | ~$21–23 | Polymer tip, same CCI brass and primer |
| Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | V-Max HP | 2,650 fps | ~$23–25 | The reference 17 gr tipped load |
| Federal Premium V-Shok 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | V-Max HP | 2,530 fps | ~$21–23 | Tipped, slightly slower than CCI |
| Remington Premier 17 HMR 17 gr JHP | 17 gr | JHP | ~2,550 fps | ~$20–22 | Direct competitor — same category, different brand |
| CCI 20 gr FMJ | 20 gr | FMJ | 2,375 fps | ~$21–23 | No expansion — range use only |
Report pages for the loads above are in progress and will be linked here when published.
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $19–22 per box of 50 (US market, 2025–2026)
- Per-round cost: approximately $0.38–0.44
- vs. tipped CCI loads: the TNT JHP typically runs $1–3/box cheaper than CCI VNT or V-Max — the clearest price advantage among CCI’s expanding .17 HMR options
- vs. Remington Premier JHP: comparable pricing, similar product category — direct apples-to-apples comparison; community velocity data on both pages will eventually show which runs faster from real-world barrels
- Fair price benchmark: under $21/box is a good deal for this load; above $23/box without supply issues is overpriced relative to alternatives
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.
- Ammunition Depot — add link
- MidwayUSA — add link
- Brownells — add link
- Palmetto State Armory — add link
FAQ
What does “TNT” stand for in CCI TNT?
TNT is CCI’s product line name for their jacketed hollow point bullets — it refers to the explosive terminal effect, not a specific design acronym. Unlike CCI VNT (Varmint No Trace), TNT does not carry a lead-free or no-trace claim. It is CCI’s traditional open hollow point offering across multiple rimfire calibers, predating the tipped designs that now dominate the .17 HMR market.
How does an open JHP compare to a polymer-tipped bullet at .17 HMR velocities?
At close to medium ranges (under 100 yards), the difference in terminal performance is minimal — both expand reliably at the high impact velocities .17 HMR generates. At longer ranges (125–150+ yards), where impact velocity has dropped, polymer-tipped designs like V-Max or VNT initiate expansion more consistently because the tip physically drives into the hollow cavity on contact. An open JHP relies on hydraulic pressure alone, which can be marginal at lower velocities. For most practical varmint hunting distances, the TNT performs well; at the far edge of the caliber’s range, tipped loads have an advantage.
Is this the same bullet as the CCI VNT just without the tip?
No — the VNT uses CCI’s proprietary “Varmint No Trace” bullet with a lead-minimizing construction and polymer tip. The TNT is a traditional copper-jacketed hollow point design. They share CCI’s brass case and primer system but use different projectiles with different terminal behavior profiles.
Why choose TNT over the tipped CCI loads if performance is slightly lower?
Three practical reasons: price (typically $1–3/box cheaper), availability (JHP designs have been around longer and tend to have more consistent stock), and feeding reliability in some older or tighter semi-auto actions where the polymer tip can occasionally cause feeding hesitation. For hunters shooting inside 100 yards who are cost-conscious, the TNT is a legitimate choice that delivers real performance without paying the tipped-bullet premium.
CCI TNT vs Remington Premier 17 HMR JHP — which is better?
Both are 17 gr open JHP loads at comparable velocities and price points — the most direct head-to-head comparison in the .17 HMR JHP category. CCI’s primer reputation gives them a general edge in misfire resistance. Whether one is more accurate in a given rifle cannot be answered without real-world testing. Check the Real-World Data tables on both pages as submissions accumulate for community-reported velocity comparisons.
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) ·
