Ammo Reports Team
At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
| Cartridge | 17 HMR |
| Product Line | Varmint Express Rimfire |
| Primary Use | Varmint hunting in lead-restricted areas |
| Bullet Type | NTX polymer tip, non-traditional core |
| Bullet Weight | 15.5 gr |
| Case | Brass (rimfire – action-length class not applicable) |
| Primer | Rimfire – neither Boxer nor Berdan |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | ~$25–27 / box (~$0.50 per round) |
| Closest Competitors | Winchester Varmint LF 17 HMR 15.5 gr NTX · CCI TNT Green 17 HMR 16 gr Lead-Free HP |
Official Specs
Verified manufacturer specifications for this exact factory load. Missing values were not calculated.
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,525 fps | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| Muzzle Energy | 219 ft-lbs | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| Bullet Weight | 15.5 gr | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| Bullet Type | NTX polymer tip, non-traditional core | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| BC G1 | .115 | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| BC G7 | — | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Manufacturer SKU | 83171 | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| UPC | — | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Case Material | Brass | Current Hornady manufacturer data |
| Primer | Rimfire – neither Boxer nor Berdan | Rimfire cartridge design |
| Reloadable | No – not conventionally reloadable | Rimfire cartridge design |
Not verified: G7 BC, UPC. These fields remain blank where applicable.
Ballistics Table
Official Hornady data from a 24-inch test barrel. Hornady publishes muzzle, 100-yard, and 200-yard values with a 100-yard zero. Blank cells were not published.
| Distance (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) | 10 mph Wind Drift (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2525 | 219 | -1.5 | — |
| 50 | — | — | — | — |
| 100 | 1830 | 115 | 0 | — |
| 150 | — | — | — | — |
| 200 | 1291 | 57 | -10.0 | — |
| 250 | — | — | — | — |
| 300 | — | — | — | — |
Variants
This page covers only Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire 17 HMR 15.5 gr NTX polymer tip, non-traditional core, SKU 83171. Different bullet weights, bullet designs, product lines, or SKUs are separate factory loads.
Best Uses
- Manufacturer-designated fit: Varmint hunting in lead-restricted areas.
- Lead-restricted use: Verify that the exact SKU is approved under the current rules where you hunt.
- Firearm fit: Use only in a firearm correctly marked for 17 HMR and follow the firearm maker’s ammunition guidance.
Why 15.5 gr – The Lead-Free Weight
Hornady identifies this exact 83171 load as a 15.5 gr NTX with a non-traditional core material for areas that restrict traditional bullets. The current official G1 BC is .115, and the published muzzle velocity is 2,525 fps.
Reliability Notes
AmmoReports has no approved structured field submissions for this exact SKU yet. Manufacturer figures above are controlled test data; actual results can vary by firearm, barrel, lot, and conditions. For semi-automatic firearms, follow the ammunition and firearm manufacturers’ current instructions.
Competitors
| Published AmmoReports Load | Weight | Bullet | Official Muzzle Velocity | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Varmint LF 17 HMR 15.5 gr NTX | 15.5 gr | Lead-free polymer tip | 2,550 fps | Different factory load – compare in the same rifle |
| CCI TNT Green 17 HMR 16 gr Lead-Free HP | 16 gr | Speer TNT Green Hollow Point, lead-free | 2,500 fps | Different factory load – compare in the same rifle |
Each link above goes to the exact published AmmoReports page for that manufacturer, cartridge, product line or bullet, and weight.
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $24–27 per box of 50 (US market, 2025–2026)
- Per-round cost: approximately $0.48–0.54
- Lead-free premium: expect to pay $3–5/box more than equivalent lead-core loads — this is typical across all calibers where non-toxic options exist
- vs. CCI 16 gr Lead-Free: pricing is comparable; CCI typically runs $1–2/box less than Hornady in this category
- Fair price benchmark: under $26/box is reasonable for a lead-free specialty load; above $28/box without supply constraints 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.
- Ammunition Depot — add link
- MidwayUSA — add link
- Brownells — add link
- Palmetto State Armory — add link
FAQ
What exact factory load does this report cover?
This report covers Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire 17 HMR 15.5 gr NTX polymer tip, non-traditional core, manufacturer SKU 83171.
Are the ballistics in this article official manufacturer data?
Yes. Published manufacturer values are shown unchanged, and distances the manufacturer does not publish are left blank.
Does 17 HMR use a Boxer or Berdan primer?
Neither. 17 HMR is a rimfire cartridge. The priming compound is located in the rim rather than in a separate centerfire primer.
Can the fired 17 HMR case be reloaded?
17 HMR cases are not conventionally reloadable. The rimfire priming system is not designed for normal Boxer-primer reloading.
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) ·
