Hornady Varmint Express .17 HMR 17gr V-Max Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • V-Max
Hornady Varmint Express .17 HMR 17gr V-Max Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • V-Max
Solved from this product's advertised 2550 fps, 17gr bullet and G1 BC 0.125, 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 17gr with a 100-yard zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 43 and 100 yards, peaks +0.3" at 72 yards, and is +0.0" at 100 and -2.6" 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 | 2,550 | 246 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.5" | -1.81 | -0.53 | 2,377 | 213 | 0.2 |
| 50 | +0.2" | +0.29 | +0.09 | 2,212 | 185 | 0.8 |
| 75 | +0.3" | +0.43 | +0.13 | 2,053 | 159 | 1.8 |
| 100 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,901 | 137 | 3.3 |
| 125 | -0.9" | -0.71 | -0.21 | 1,757 | 117 | 5.4 |
| 150 | -2.6" | -1.63 | -0.47 | 1,621 | 99 | 8.0 |
| 175 | -5.0" | -2.74 | -0.80 | 1,495 | 84 | 11.3 |
| 200 | -8.5" | -4.04 | -1.18 | 1,379 | 72 | 15.4 |
17gr G1 .125 at 2,550 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 17gr with a 125-yard zero
Zeroed at 125 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 33 and 125 yards, peaks +0.9" at 81 yards, and is +0.8" at 100 and -1.4" 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 | 2,550 | 246 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.3" | -1.09 | -0.32 | 2,377 | 213 | 0.2 |
| 50 | +0.5" | +1.01 | +0.29 | 2,212 | 185 | 0.8 |
| 75 | +0.9" | +1.15 | +0.33 | 2,053 | 159 | 1.8 |
| 100 | +0.8" | +0.73 | +0.21 | 1,901 | 137 | 3.3 |
| 125 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,757 | 117 | 5.4 |
| 150 | -1.4" | -0.91 | -0.27 | 1,621 | 99 | 8.0 |
| 175 | -3.7" | -2.02 | -0.59 | 1,495 | 84 | 11.3 |
| 200 | -7.0" | -3.32 | -0.97 | 1,379 | 72 | 15.4 |
17gr G1 .125 at 2,550 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 17gr with a 150-yard zero
Zeroed at 150 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 26 and 150 yards, peaks +1.8" at 92 yards, and is +1.7" 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 | 2,550 | 246 | 0.0 |
| 25 | 0.0" | -0.17 | -0.05 | 2,377 | 213 | 0.2 |
| 50 | +1.0" | +1.93 | +0.56 | 2,212 | 185 | 0.8 |
| 75 | +1.6" | +2.07 | +0.60 | 2,053 | 159 | 1.8 |
| 100 | +1.7" | +1.65 | +0.48 | 1,901 | 137 | 3.3 |
| 125 | +1.2" | +0.94 | +0.27 | 1,757 | 117 | 5.4 |
| 150 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,621 | 99 | 8.0 |
| 175 | -2.0" | -1.10 | -0.32 | 1,495 | 84 | 11.3 |
| 200 | -5.0" | -2.40 | -0.70 | 1,379 | 72 | 15.4 |
17gr G1 .125 at 2,550 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
Hornady markets its Varmint Express 17-grain V-Max for varmints, and it is Hornady's own load of its V-Max bullet. The V-Max is a polymer-tipped varmint bullet, rated at a G1 BC of .125. This load starts it at 2,550 fps, and it is still moving 1,901 fps at 100 yards.
Compared with Federal Premium's 17-grain Hornady V-Max, which uses the same bullet, the difference is small. Federal's load starts 20 fps slower, and at 150 yards a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes both bullets about 8 inches sideways. Compared with Hornady's lead-free Varmint Express 15.5-grain NTX, the V-Max starts 25 fps faster and holds more of its speed: at 150 yards it is moving 1,621 fps against 1,536, and the same wind pushes the NTX about 9 inches.
Buy the V-Max if you shoot varmints with a .17 HMR and do not need a lead-free bullet. Federal's 17-grain Hornady V-Max is a like-for-like substitute, the same bullet at nearly the same speed. Pick the NTX if you need a bullet without lead and can accept about an inch more drift at 150 yards. For small game, CCI markets its Gamepoint 20-grain Jacketed Soft Point, a heavier soft point that leaves the muzzle 175 fps slower.
- Starts with 245 ft-lbs at the muzzle, 26 more than Hornady's lead-free Varmint Express 15.5-grain NTX
- G1 BC of .125 against .115 for Winchester's lead-free Rimfire 15.5-grain NTX
- Still 15 fps ahead of Federal Premium's 17-grain Hornady V-Max at 150 yards, 1,621 fps against 1,606
- Not a lead-free bullet; Winchester's Rimfire 15.5-grain NTX matches its 2,550 fps without lead
- Remington's Premier Magnum 17-grain AccuTip matches it at 2,550 fps and a G1 BC of .125, so the V-Max has no edge over it
- Shoots no flatter than Federal Premium's 17-grain Hornady V-Max: both drop about 2.5 inches at 150 yards from a 100-yard zero
Similar Products Compared
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | TYPE | VELOCITY | ENERGY | BC | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
|
|
| 15.5 gr | NTX | 2525 fps | 219 ft-lbs | 0.115 |
$0.31
1000 Rounds
|
All Hornady Varmint Express .17 HMR 17gr V-Max Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentry Ammo | 1000 | $238.04 | $22.99 | $261.03 | $0.26 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 1000 | $262.98 | $0.00 | $262.98 | $0.26 |
| Fast Ammo | 1000 | $235.81 | $36.99 | $272.80 | $0.27 |
| Sentry Ammo | 500 | $129.90 | $17.99 | $147.89 | $0.30 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $139.60 | $10.99 | $150.59 | $0.30 |