Hornady Varmint Express 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max

Ammo Reports Team 9 17 HMR

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At a Glance

Feature	Details
Manufacturer	Hornady
Cartridge	17 HMR
Product Line	Varmint Express Rimfire
Primary Use	Varmint hunting
Bullet Type	V-Max polymer tip
Bullet Weight	17 gr
Case	Brass (rimfire – action-length class not applicable)
Primer	Rimfire – neither Boxer nor Berdan
Packaging	50 rounds per box
Typical Price	~$23–25 / box (~$0.46 per round)
Closest Competitors	CCI 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max · Winchester Supreme 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max · 17 HMR – Federal Premium V-Shok 17 gr V-Max

Official Specs

Verified manufacturer specifications for this exact factory load. Missing values were not calculated.

Spec	Value	Source
Muzzle Velocity	2,550 fps	Current Hornady manufacturer data
Muzzle Energy	245 ft-lbs	Current Hornady manufacturer data
Bullet Weight	17 gr	Current Hornady manufacturer data
Bullet Type	V-Max polymer tip	Current Hornady manufacturer data
BC G1	.125	Current Hornady manufacturer data
BC G7	—	Not found in verified official manufacturer sources
Manufacturer SKU	83170	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	2550	245	-1.5	—
50	—	—	—	—
100	1902	137	0	—
150	—	—	—	—
200	1379	72	-8.5	—
250	—	—	—	—
300	—	—	—	—

Variants

This page covers only Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max polymer tip, SKU 83170. Different bullet weights, bullet designs, product lines, or SKUs are separate factory loads.

Why This Load Matters

Hornady’s current data for item 83170 lists a 17 gr V-Max at 2,550 fps, not 2,650 fps. The load uses a 24-inch test barrel and a published G1 BC of .125.

Best Uses

Manufacturer-designated fit: Varmint hunting.
Lead restrictions: This load is not identified here as a lead-free option.
Firearm fit: Use only in a firearm correctly marked for 17 HMR and follow the firearm maker’s ammunition guidance.

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
CCI 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max	17 gr	Hornady V-Max polymer tip	2,550 fps	Different factory load – compare in the same rifle
Winchester Supreme 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max	17 gr	Hornady V-Max polymer tip	2,550 fps	Different factory load – compare in the same rifle
17 HMR – Federal Premium V-Shok 17 gr V-Max	17 gr	Hornady V-Max polymer tip	2,530 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: $23–25 per box of 50 (US market, 2025–2026)
Per-round cost: approximately $0.46
vs. CCI VNT: essentially the same price for the same velocity — the most direct head-to-head in the category; the choice comes down to bullet design preference and rifle accuracy testing
vs. CCI V-Max (0049): $1–2/box more for 100 fps more velocity — the Hornady load uses its own bullet and powder charge; CCI V-Max uses the same Hornady bullet at lower velocity for less money
The reference premium: Hornady commands a slight price premium as the originating manufacturer of both the cartridge and the V-Max bullet; whether that premium is worth it depends on your rifle’s preference
Fair price benchmark: under $24/box is competitive; above $26/box is overpriced relative to the 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 exact factory load does this report cover?

This report covers Hornady Varmint Express Rimfire 17 HMR 17 gr V-Max polymer tip, manufacturer SKU 83170.

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) ·