.17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire)
Laser-flat for a rimfire and devastating on varmints, but the light bullets drift badly in wind and it's strictly a small-game number.
Family
Rimfire
Introduced
2002
Origin
Hornady, USA
History
Hornady necked the .22 WMR case down to .17 caliber in 2002, creating the fastest mainstream rimfire and an instant hit with varmint hunters. Its flat trajectory and tiny polymer-tipped bullets made prairie dog and ground squirrel work genuinely fun at ranges rimfires hadn't reached before. It's the rare modern cartridge introduction that stuck on the first try.
What it's used for
Iconic platforms
Savage 93R17, CZ 457, Ruger 77/17, and Volquartsen semi-autos.
Common load types
Polymer-tip varmint, jacketed hollow point, and the occasional FMJ offering.
Reference only — not loading data, not ballistics advice, and KitID links to no ammunition sellers. Know your local law before you buy anything that goes bang.