Hornady Varmint Express .17 HMR 15.5gr NTX Lead-Free Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • NTX
Hornady Varmint Express .17 HMR 15.5gr NTX Lead-Free Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • NTX
Solved from this product's advertised 2525 fps, 16gr bullet and G1 BC 0.115, with the sight 1.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for .17 HMR, or read What Is the Best Zero Distance for a .17 HMR?.
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 4" vital zone, ±2" 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 200 yards.
.17 HMR 15.5gr with a 100-yard zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 41 and 100 yards, peaks +0.4" at 71 yards, and is +0.0" at 100 and -2.8" at 150 yards.
| 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 | 2,525 | 219 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.5" | -1.70 | -0.49 | 2,338 | 188 | 0.2 |
| 50 | +0.2" | +0.38 | +0.11 | 2,161 | 161 | 0.9 |
| 75 | +0.4" | +0.48 | +0.14 | 1,991 | 136 | 2.0 |
| 100 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,829 | 115 | 3.7 |
| 125 | -1.0" | -0.77 | -0.22 | 1,677 | 97 | 6.0 |
| 150 | -2.8" | -1.78 | -0.52 | 1,536 | 81 | 9.0 |
| 175 | -5.5" | -3.01 | -0.88 | 1,407 | 68 | 12.8 |
| 200 | -9.3" | -4.45 | -1.30 | 1,291 | 57 | 17.4 |
16gr G1 .115 at 2,525 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. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.17 HMR 15.5gr with a 125-yard zero
Zeroed at 125 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 31 and 125 yards, peaks +1.0" at 81 yards, and is +0.8" at 100 and -1.6" at 150 yards.
| 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 | 2,525 | 219 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.2" | -0.92 | -0.27 | 2,338 | 188 | 0.2 |
| 50 | +0.6" | +1.16 | +0.34 | 2,161 | 161 | 0.9 |
| 75 | +1.0" | +1.26 | +0.37 | 1,991 | 136 | 2.0 |
| 100 | +0.8" | +0.79 | +0.23 | 1,829 | 115 | 3.7 |
| 125 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,677 | 97 | 6.0 |
| 150 | -1.6" | -1.00 | -0.29 | 1,536 | 81 | 9.0 |
| 175 | -4.1" | -2.23 | -0.65 | 1,407 | 68 | 12.8 |
| 200 | -7.7" | -3.67 | -1.07 | 1,291 | 57 | 17.4 |
16gr G1 .115 at 2,525 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. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.17 HMR 15.5gr with a 150-yard zero
Zeroed at 150 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 25 and 150 yards, peaks +1.9" at 92 yards, and is +1.9" at 100 and +0.0" at 150 yards.
| 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 | 2,525 | 219 | 0.0 |
| 25 | +0.0" | +0.10 | +0.03 | 2,338 | 188 | 0.2 |
| 50 | +1.1" | +2.17 | +0.63 | 2,161 | 161 | 0.9 |
| 75 | +1.8" | +2.28 | +0.66 | 1,991 | 136 | 2.0 |
| 100 | +1.9" | +1.80 | +0.52 | 1,829 | 115 | 3.7 |
| 125 | +1.3" | +1.02 | +0.30 | 1,677 | 97 | 6.0 |
| 150 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,536 | 81 | 9.0 |
| 175 | -2.2" | -1.21 | -0.35 | 1,406 | 68 | 12.8 |
| 200 | -5.6" | -2.66 | -0.77 | 1,291 | 57 | 17.4 |
16gr G1 .115 at 2,525 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. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
Product Overview
Shooters who need a lead-free varmint bullet are the buyers for Hornady's Varmint Express 15.5-grain NTX, which Hornady markets for varmints. The NTX bullet is polymer-tipped with no lead in it. It carries a G1 BC of .115 and leaves the muzzle at 2,525 fps. From a 100-yard zero it is about 3 inches low at 150 yards.
Compared with Winchester's Rimfire 15.5-grain NTX, another lead-free load at the same weight, the Hornady gives up 25 fps at the muzzle and almost nothing downrange. At 150 yards a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes each bullet about 9 inches sideways. Compared with Hornady's own Varmint Express 17-grain V-Max, which is not lead-free, the NTX also starts 25 fps slower but falls further behind: by 150 yards the V-Max is moving 1,621 fps against 1,536 for the NTX, and the same wind pushes the V-Max about 8 inches.
Buy the NTX if you want a lead-free .17 HMR bullet for varmints. Pick Winchester's load if you also hunt small game, which Winchester markets it for along with varmints. Pick the V-Max if lead-free does not matter to you; it drifts about an inch less at 150 yards. For small game with a heavier bullet, CCI markets its Gamepoint 20-grain Jacketed Soft Point for that use; it leaves the muzzle 150 fps slower than the NTX.
- Lead-free bullet that is still moving 1,829 fps at 100 yards
- Matches Winchester's lead-free Rimfire 15.5-grain NTX in wind, about 4 inches of drift at 100 yards for each
- Only 5 fps behind Federal Premium's 17-grain Hornady V-Max at the muzzle, 2,525 fps against 2,530
- Its G1 BC of .115 is lower than the .125 of Remington's Premier Magnum 17-grain AccuTip
- Federal Premium's 17-grain Hornady V-Max pulls 70 fps ahead by 150 yards, 1,606 fps against 1,536
- Starts with 219 ft-lbs at the muzzle against 245 for Hornady's Varmint Express 17-grain V-Max
Similar Products Compared
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | TYPE | VELOCITY | ENERGY | BC | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.5 gr | NTX | 2525 fps | 219 ft-lbs | 0.115 |
$0.31
1000 Rounds
|
|
| 17 gr | V-Max | 2550 fps | 245 ft-lbs | 0.125 |
$0.26
1000 Rounds
|
|
| 15.5 gr | NTX | 2550 fps | 224 ft-lbs | 0.115 | N/A | |
| 17 gr | AccuTip | 2550 fps | 245 ft-lbs | 0.125 |
$0.33
1000 Rounds
|
|
| 17 gr | V-Max | 2530 fps | 242 ft-lbs | 0.125 |
$0.31
1000 Rounds
|
All Hornady Varmint Express .17 HMR 15.5gr NTX Lead-Free Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Ammo | 1000 | $296.47 | $10.99 | $307.46 | $0.31 |
| Sentry Ammo | 1000 | $298.63 | $10.99 | $309.62 | $0.31 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 1000 | $325.66 | $0.00 | $325.66 | $0.33 |
| Fast Ammo | 500 | $156.95 | $10.99 | $167.94 | $0.34 |
| Sentry Ammo | 500 | $160.57 | $10.99 | $171.56 | $0.34 |