Hornady Varmint Express .17 HM2 17gr V-Max Ammo

Hornady Varmint Express .17 HM2 ammunition (part no. 83177) loads a 17-grain V-Max bullet for shooters who want centerfire-style expansion out of a rimfire platform on squirrels, prairie dogs, and other small varmints. Hornady builds the V-Max with a polymer tip that initiates rapid expansion on impact, giving the .17 HM2 a flat trajectory and explosive terminal performance well beyond what a plain lead rimfire bullet delivers. In rimfire ammunition, this is the box for the varmint rifle that needs range and a bullet that does its job on impact.

Key Specifications

• The chambering is .17 HM2 (17 Mach 2), a high-velocity rimfire round built for flat-shooting varmint work.
• The bullet is a 17-grain V-Max, Hornady’s polymer-tipped bullet built for rapid expansion.
• This load belongs to Hornady’s Varmint Express line, engineered specifically for small-varmint hunting.
• The case is brass, standard rimfire construction for reliable ignition and extraction.
• Each box holds 50 rounds, enough for a full afternoon in the field.
• At roughly $0.22 per round, it costs more than plain-lead rimfire due to the polymer-tip bullet construction.
• The V-Max’s polymer tip initiates expansion on contact, giving explosive terminal performance on small varmints.
• Hornady positions the .17 HM2 as a flatter-shooting, longer-range alternative to standard .22 rimfire rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the .17 HM2 good for? Small varmints at rimfire ranges — squirrels, prairie dogs, and similar pests — where a flat trajectory and rapid bullet expansion matter more than raw power.

What does the V-Max tip do? The polymer tip initiates rapid bullet expansion on impact, giving explosive terminal performance rather than the pass-through of a plain lead rimfire bullet.

Buy Hornady Varmint Express 17 HM2 Ammo

A flat-shooting rimfire round with a bullet built to expand takes the guesswork out of varmint hunting. Order from our Lubbock, Texas gun shop and it ships fast to your door.