Twenty years ago, CCI’s product development team set out to create various loads for the then-new 17 HMR cartridge. Introduced in 2002, Hornady, working with Marlin and Ruger, released the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire, or the .17 HMR as it is known. It was created by tuning the .22 WMR to hold 0.172-inch diameter bullets. In 2003, CCI released several loads in this cartridge to help fill a market need for more options, many of which are now standard within the industry.
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“The 17 HMR has a devastating terminal effect, it is a flat shot and very accurate, which maximizes the effective range of the rimfire ammunition,” said Mike Overberg, director of factory operations for CCI. “All of our .17 HMR products were designed and developed to maximize the effectiveness of this small, fast, and powerful rimfire cartridge; especially when it comes to small game, varmint shooting, and drilling targets.”
Currently, CCI manufactures seven different loads of 17 or 20 grains in different product packaging options at 17 HMR. This includes A17 Varmint Tipped, Gamepoint, Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), V-Max, VNT, TNT, and TNT Green. The most popular is VNT for varmint or target shooting, and Gamepoint for small game.
CCI VNT loads feature a Speer bullet with an extremely thin jacket and polymer tip that come together to deliver flat trajectories, excellent long-range accuracy, and explosive terminal performance on impact. It’s the perfect combination for varmint hunting or field shooting. CCI Gamepoint features their iconic dimple tip which allows the bullet to expand like a big game bullet for maximum energy transfer. The powerful and precise charge also minimizes damage to meat and skin.
“It’s nice to stop, reflect and acknowledge twenty years of 17 HMR production,” Overberg continued. “I was a rimfire production line supervisor in 2023 when we started building this cartridge, and I remember having to figure out how to keep our headers running 24/7 to keep up with demand. Our CCI 17 HMR loads have been a staple for our overall CCI product line for two decades, and we look forward to many more years of manufacturing quality rimfire ammunition in this excellent little cartridge.”
For more information on all CCI Ammunition products or to purchase online, visit www.cci-ammunition.com.