.17 WSM (Winchester Super Magnum)
The hottest rimfire going, but a narrow rifle catalog and spotty ammo supply keep it a dedicated varminter's choice rather than a mainstream one.
Family
Rimfire
Introduced
2013
Origin
Winchester, USA
History
Winchester built the .17 WSM in 2013 on an unusual parent: a .27-caliber industrial nail-gun blank case, giving it more capacity than any other rimfire. The result is the fastest rimfire cartridge on the market, aimed squarely at long-range varmint hunters. Rifle selection has stayed thin, keeping it a specialist's round.
What it's used for
Iconic platforms
Savage B.Mag, Winchester 1885 Low Wall, and a handful of Volquartsen and Franklin Armory rifles.
Common load types
Polymer-tip and jacketed hollow point varmint loads.
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.