Ammo Reports Team
At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Winchester |
| Cartridge | 17 HMR |
| Product Line | Varmint LF |
| Primary Use | Varmint and small game hunting in lead-restricted areas |
| Bullet Type | Lead-free polymer tip |
| Bullet Weight | 15.5 gr |
| Case | Brass (rimfire – action-length class not applicable) |
| Primer | Rimfire – neither Boxer nor Berdan |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box – 1,000 per case |
| Typical Price | ~$18–20 / box (~$0.36–0.40 per round) |
| Closest Competitors | 17 HMR – Hornady Varmint Express NTX 15.5 gr Lead-Free · 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 | 2,550 fps | Current Winchester manufacturer data |
| Muzzle Energy | 231 ft-lbs | Current Winchester manufacturer data |
| Bullet Weight | 15.5 gr | Current Winchester manufacturer data |
| Bullet Type | Lead-free polymer tip | Current Winchester manufacturer data |
| BC G1 | — | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| BC G7 | — | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Manufacturer SKU | S17HMR1LF | Current Winchester manufacturer data |
| UPC | — | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Case Material | Brass | Current Winchester manufacturer data |
| Primer | Rimfire – neither Boxer nor Berdan | Rimfire cartridge design |
| Reloadable | No – not conventionally reloadable | Rimfire cartridge design |
Not verified: G1 BC, G7 BC, UPC, test barrel length. These fields remain blank where applicable.
Ballistics Table
Official Winchester short-range data with a 100-yard zero. Winchester does not state sight height or publish 250-yard and 300-yard values on the product page.
| Distance (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) | 10 mph Wind Drift (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2550 | 231 | — | — |
| 50 | 2184 | 169 | 0.2 | — |
| 100 | 1850 | 122 | 0 | — |
| 150 | 1553 | 86 | -2.7 | — |
| 200 | 1305 | 60 | -9.1 | — |
| 250 | — | — | — | — |
| 300 | — | — | — | — |
The Lead-Free Polymer-Tip Load
Winchester’s current product data identifies S17HMR1LF as a 15.5 gr lead-free polymer-tip 17 HMR load at 2,550 fps and 231 ft-lbs. The current Winchester page does not identify the bullet supplier as Hornady NTX, so that supplier identity is not treated as a verified specification here.
Variants
This page covers only Winchester Varmint LF 17 HMR 15.5 gr Lead-free polymer tip, SKU S17HMR1LF. Different bullet weights, bullet designs, product lines, or SKUs are separate factory loads.
Best Uses
- Manufacturer-designated fit: Varmint and small game 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 HMR – Hornady Varmint Express NTX 15.5 gr Lead-Free | 15.5 gr | NTX polymer tip, non-traditional core | 2,525 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
- TargetSportsUSA: approximately $18 per box of 50 and approximately $360 per 1,000 rounds at the time of the original price check
- vs. Hornady NTX: the observed Winchester price was $7-9 per box lower
- vs. CCI TNT Green: the observed Winchester price was $6-8 per box lower
- Current status: Winchester still lists S17HMR1LF on its official rimfire product pages. Retail availability can vary.
- Fair price benchmark: under $20 per box remains competitive for this lead-free load.
Prices and stock change. Check the Where to Buy block for current availability.
Where to Buy
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
- TargetSportsUSA — add link (primary source, lowest price observed — verify in stock)
- MidwayUSA — add link
- Brownells — add link
FAQ
What exact factory load does this report cover?
This report covers Winchester Varmint LF 17 HMR 15.5 gr Lead-free polymer tip, manufacturer SKU S17HMR1LF.
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.
Does Winchester identify this bullet as Hornady NTX?
The current Winchester product page identifies a 15.5 gr lead-free polymer-tip load but does not name Hornady NTX as the bullet supplier. That supplier identity remains unverified here.
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) ·
