HRNDY 17HMR 15.5GR NTX 50/2000

Description

Hornady’s Varmint Express line exists for one purpose: putting small, fast bullets on target at field ranges where precision and terminal effect both matter. This .17 HMR load is built around the NTX projectile, a lead-free design that uses a copper-alloy core formed through a compression process rather than traditional jacketing. That construction keeps the bullet compliant for areas where lead projectiles are restricted while still delivering the explosive upset on impact that varmint hunters depend on — the polymer tip initiates expansion reliably even at the velocities seen at the far end of a practical .17 HMR shot.

The NTX leaves the muzzle at 2,525 fps, which keeps the trajectory flat enough at typical prairie dog or ground squirrel distances that holdover stays minimal and follow-up corrections are straightforward. At 15.5 grains, the bullet is lighter than conventional .17 HMR loads, and that lower sectional density means wind drift is a factor at extended range — this is a round best suited to calm or moderate conditions rather than breezy days on open ground. Brass casings handle the rimfire primer and are consistent enough in dimension that chambering and extraction run smoothly across bolt-action and semi-automatic .17 HMR platforms alike. Fifty rounds per box makes this practical for an afternoon of varminting without the overhead of managing a partial case.