Ammo Reports Team
| Primary Use | Varmint hunting / Predator control |
| Bullet Type | VNT — Varmint Tipped (polymer tip, thin jacket) |
| Bullet Weight | 17 gr |
| Case | Brass |
| Primer | Rimfire |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box (also available as VNT Pour Pack) |
| Typical Price | ~$22–24 / box (~$0.44 per round) |
| Closest Competitors | CCI 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max · Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max · Federal Premium V-Shok 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max |
Official Specs
Manufacturer-stated data. No independent verification — see Real-World Data below.
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,650 fps | CCI / Ammunition Depot |
| Muzzle Energy | — | Not published by manufacturer on retail listings |
| Bullet Weight | 17 gr | CCI |
| Bullet Type | VNT Varmint Tipped (polymer tip, thin jacket) | CCI |
| Manufacturer SKU | 959CC | CCI |
| UPC | 604544621198 | — |
Note: The listing on Ammunition Depot shows “2650” under Muzzle Energy — this appears to be a data entry error on the retailer’s side, as 2,650 is the muzzle velocity figure. Muzzle energy for a 17 gr bullet at 2,650 fps is approximately 265 ft-lbs (calculated). CCI does not publish an official energy figure for this load on their product page. Community submissions will provide independently measured velocity data.
Variants
CCI offers several .17 HMR loads. This page covers the VNT 17 gr Varmint Tipped (SKU 959CC), 50-round box only. A bulk VNT Pour Pack (approximately 200 rounds loose) is also available and uses the same load — data from either packaging counts for this report.
Other CCI .17 HMR loads with separate report pages:
- CCI 17 gr V-Max — related polymer-tip load
- CCI 20 gr FMJ — range/practice load
- CCI 17 gr TNT JHP — jacketed hollow point without tip
- CCI 16 gr Lead-Free HP — lead-free option
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Prairie dog, ground squirrel, and woodchuck hunting — the high-velocity 17 gr bullet at 2,650 fps is purpose-built for explosive terminal performance on small varmints
- Open-terrain varmint shooting at 75–150 yards where flat trajectory is the primary advantage
- Predator calling for fox and coyote at moderate distances
- Shooters who prioritize maximum velocity within the .17 HMR platform
Not the right tool for:
- Pelt hunting where minimal damage is required — aggressive fragmentation is a feature of this design, not a bug; expect significant hide damage
- High-volume range practice — same price point as hunting ammo with no benefit for target use
- Semi-auto platforms with known sensitivity to polymer-tipped projectiles — verify your specific action before running tipped loads at volume
- 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 manufacturing is widely cited as a benchmark in the industry — their process is specifically engineered to distribute the primer compound evenly around the entire rim circumference, which directly reduces the misfire rate that affects all rimfire cartridges
- The VNT bullet uses a thin jacket design intentionally — this is what allows rapid, violent expansion at .17 HMR impact velocities. The tradeoff is slightly more barrel fouling compared to FMJ over extended sessions
- 2,650 fps is at the upper end of .17 HMR factory velocities and generates more chamber pressure than 20 gr loads — not a concern in properly chambered rifles, but worth noting if your firearm’s manual specifies load weight limits
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | Adv. Velocity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | Hornady V-Max | 2,650 fps | CCI’s own V-Max load — same velocity, Hornady bullet vs CCI’s VNT tip |
| Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | V-Max HP | 2,650 fps | The reference load in this caliber — same bullet as CCI V-Max |
| Federal Premium V-Shok 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | V-Max HP | 2,530 fps | Same bullet, lower listed velocity — different powder charge |
| Winchester Supreme 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max | 17 gr | V-Max HP | 2,550 fps | Same bullet, comparable velocity |
| CCI TNT 17 HMR 17 gr JHP | 17 gr | JHP (no tip) | 2,500 fps | CCI’s own untipped hollow point — slightly slower, less consistent expansion initiation |
| Remington Magnum Rimfire 17 HMR 20 gr JSP | 20 gr | JSP | 2,375 fps | Heavier, slower, less fragmentation — different use case |
Report pages for the loads above are in progress and will be linked here when published.
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $22–25 per box of 50 (US market, 2025–2026)
- Per-round cost: approximately $0.44–0.50
- VNT Pour Pack: approximately $48–52 for ~200 rounds loose — roughly $0.24–0.26/round, a significant savings for volume shooters; no per-box packaging
- vs. Hornady Varmint Express: CCI VNT typically runs $1–2/box cheaper than Hornady’s own V-Max load
- Fair price benchmark: up to ~$24/box for the standard 50-round box is normal; the Pour Pack is the better value if bulk availability fits your storage and use pattern
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 is the difference between CCI VNT and CCI V-Max — aren’t they the same load?
Close, but not identical. The CCI V-Max load uses a Hornady-manufactured V-Max bullet loaded by CCI. The VNT (Varmint No Trace) uses CCI’s own polymer-tipped bullet design, which is engineered to leave no lead trace in the target — an advantage in states or contexts where lead residue is a concern, or in areas managed for scavenger wildlife. Both are designed for explosive terminal performance; the VNT tip is a CCI proprietary design rather than a licensed Hornady component.
What does “VNT” stand for?
VNT stands for Varmint No Trace. The name refers to the bullet’s lead-free core design — or more precisely, to its construction that leaves no exposed lead and minimizes retained lead fragments in the target. This is a meaningful distinction for hunters in areas with condor habitat or similar scavenger protection zones where lead contamination of carcasses is a concern.
Is 2,650 fps actually achievable from a standard .17 HMR rifle?
2,650 fps is CCI’s factory-rated muzzle velocity, measured from a 24″ test barrel under controlled conditions. Real-world velocity from typical hunting rifles with 20–22″ barrels will generally run 50–150 fps lower. Cold temperatures also reduce velocity noticeably in rimfire cartridges. Community submissions on this page will provide real-world data from actual firearms — check the Real-World Data table above as it populates.
CCI VNT vs Hornady Varmint Express — which is more accurate?
Both are regarded as high-accuracy .17 HMR loads. The honest answer is that accuracy in .17 HMR is barrel-dependent — the same load can group differently in two rifles of the same model. The only reliable way to know which load your specific rifle prefers is to shoot groups with both and compare. That said, both loads have strong track records in the field and neither is a meaningful step below the other in quality.
Can I use the VNT Pour Pack rounds in any .17 HMR rifle?
Yes — the Pour Pack is the same load as the boxed VNT, just packaged loose in bulk. There is no functional difference between a round from the Pour Pack and one from a standard 50-round box. The tradeoff is that loose storage requires a container (ammo box or can) and makes lot-number tracking harder if you care about consistency across sessions.
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.
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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) ·
