.17 Remington Trajectory Calculator

See how .17 Remington stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.

The .17 Remington is one of the fastest commercial cartridges available, designed for long-range varmint shooting. With a 20-grain bullet at 4,250 fps and a 100-yard zero, expect about 1.2 inches of drop at 200 yards, 3.2 inches at 250 yards, and 6.3 inches at 300 yards. The extreme velocity delivers a laser-flat trajectory but can struggle in wind due to the light bullet weight.

Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. The .17 Remington runs 20 to 25 grain bullets at velocities exceeding 4,000 fps. You can also factor in wind, shooting angle, and atmospheric conditions.

.17 Remington Trajectory Chart

Loading...

.17 Remington Ballistics Data

Range (yd) Elevation (in) Elevation (MOA) Elevation (MIL) Windage (in) Windage (MOA) Windage (MIL) Time (s) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lbs)
0 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4250.0 802.35
25 -0.91 3.46 1.007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.018 4075.37 737.77
50 -0.46 0.88 0.255 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.037 3908.51 678.59
75 -0.15 0.19 0.055 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.057 3747.98 623.99
100 0.01 -0.01 -0.002 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.077 3593.53 573.63
125 -0.01 0.01 0.002 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.098 3444.72 527.1
150 -0.2 0.13 0.038 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.121 3301.18 484.09
175 -0.6 0.33 0.095 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.144 3162.51 444.27
200 -1.21 0.58 0.168 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.168 3028.34 407.38
225 -2.06 0.87 0.254 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.193 2898.34 373.15
250 -3.17 1.21 0.352 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.22 2772.17 341.37
275 -4.56 1.58 0.46 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.248 2649.52 311.83
300 -6.26 1.99 0.579 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.277 2530.13 284.36
325 -8.3 2.44 0.709 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.307 2413.85 258.83
350 -10.71 2.92 0.85 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.339 2300.55 235.1
375 -13.54 3.45 1.002 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.372 2190.21 213.09
400 -16.81 4.01 1.167 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.407 2082.88 192.71
425 -20.59 4.63 1.346 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.444 1978.65 173.91
450 -24.92 5.29 1.538 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.483 1877.69 156.62
475 -29.87 6.0 1.747 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.524 1780.18 140.77
500 -35.51 6.78 1.972 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.567 1686.47 126.34

Take this table to the range

The .17 Remington reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.

Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.

Customize this card

Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.

Zeroing the .17 Remington

Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 20gr G1 .185 at 4,250 fps, with a 1.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). A hunting rifle with a scope in standard rings sits about 1.5" over the bore; the zero you choose sets how far you can hold on hair without thinking about the range. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.

.17 Remington zero comparison

.17 Remington 20gr reference load zero comparison at 1.5" sight height over bore
100-yd zero 200-yd zero
Near zero 100 yd 58 yd
Far zero 124 yd 200 yd
Max ordinate +0.0" +0.8"
Max ordinate distance 111 yd 132 yd
Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") 0–265 yd 0–293 yd
Sight in at 100 yd +0.0" (+0.0 MOA) +0.6" (+0.6 MOA)
Drop at 300 yd -6.3" -4.5"
Drop at 400 yd -16.8" -14.4"
Energy at 300 yd 284 ft-lb 284 ft-lb
Loading...

How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.

Key terms

Near zero
Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
Far zero
Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
Max ordinate
The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
Point blank range (MPBR)
The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.

.17 Remington with a 100-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 20gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 100 yards, peaks +0.0" at 111 yards, crosses back down at 124 yards, and is -6.3" at 300 and -16.8" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.17 Remington 20gr reference load, 100-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 4,250 802 0.0
25 -0.9" -3.46 -1.01 4,075 738 0.1
50 -0.5" -0.88 -0.25 3,909 679 0.3
75 -0.2" -0.19 -0.06 3,748 624 0.6
100 +0.0" +0.01 0.00 3,594 574 1.1
125 0.0" -0.01 0.00 3,445 527 1.8
150 -0.2" -0.13 -0.04 3,301 484 2.6
175 -0.6" -0.33 -0.09 3,163 444 3.6
200 -1.2" -0.58 -0.17 3,028 407 4.7
225 -2.1" -0.87 -0.25 2,898 373 6.1
250 -3.2" -1.21 -0.35 2,772 341 7.6
275 -4.6" -1.58 -0.46 2,650 312 9.4
300 -6.3" -1.99 -0.58 2,530 284 11.4
325 -8.3" -2.44 -0.71 2,414 259 13.6
350 -10.7" -2.92 -0.85 2,301 235 16.1
375 -13.5" -3.45 -1.00 2,190 213 18.9
400 -16.8" -4.01 -1.17 2,083 193 22.0
425 -20.6" -4.63 -1.35 1,979 174 25.4
450 -24.9" -5.29 -1.54 1,878 157 29.1
475 -29.9" -6.00 -1.75 1,780 141 33.2
500 -35.5" -6.78 -1.97 1,686 126 37.7

20gr G1 .185 at 4,250 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

.17 Remington with a 200-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 200 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 20gr load first crosses the line of sight at 58 yards, peaks +0.8" at 132 yards, returns to zero at 200, and is -4.4" at 300 and -14.4" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.17 Remington 20gr reference load, 200-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 4,250 802 0.0
25 -0.8" -2.89 -0.84 4,075 738 0.1
50 -0.2" -0.30 -0.09 3,909 679 0.3
75 +0.3" +0.39 +0.11 3,748 624 0.6
100 +0.6" +0.58 +0.17 3,594 574 1.1
125 +0.8" +0.57 +0.17 3,445 527 1.8
150 +0.7" +0.45 +0.13 3,301 484 2.6
175 +0.5" +0.25 +0.07 3,163 444 3.6
200 0.0" 0.00 0.00 3,028 407 4.7
225 -0.7" -0.30 -0.09 2,898 373 6.1
250 -1.7" -0.63 -0.18 2,772 341 7.6
275 -2.9" -1.01 -0.29 2,650 312 9.4
300 -4.5" -1.42 -0.41 2,530 284 11.4
325 -6.3" -1.86 -0.54 2,414 259 13.6
350 -8.6" -2.35 -0.68 2,301 235 16.1
375 -11.3" -2.87 -0.83 2,190 213 18.9
400 -14.4" -3.44 -1.00 2,083 193 22.0
425 -18.0" -4.05 -1.18 1,979 174 25.4
450 -22.2" -4.71 -1.37 1,878 157 29.1
475 -27.0" -5.43 -1.58 1,780 141 33.2
500 -32.5" -6.20 -1.80 1,686 126 37.7

20gr G1 .185 at 4,250 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

Maximum Point Blank Range for the .17 Remington

Maximum point blank range (MPBR) is the zero that keeps the bullet inside a vital zone, never more than half its height above or below the line of sight (an 8" zone is ±4"), for as far as possible. Zero at the distance in the table and you can hold dead-on from the muzzle to the far edge of the window.

.17 Remington maximum point blank range by vital zone size
Vital zone Zero at Hold dead-on from To (MPBR) Max ordinate Near / far zero CSV
8" (whitetail, pronghorn) 327 yd 0 yd 377 yd +4.0" at 192 yd 31 / 327 yd Download
10" (elk, moose) 352 yd 0 yd 405 yd +5.0" at 205 yd 28 / 352 yd Download

MPBR assumes a centred hold, a level shot and no wind; it is a ceiling, not a licence to skip ranging. The far edge of the window is where the bullet has already fallen half the vital zone.