Top Rated 17 HMR Rifles
Category: article
Jan 25th, 2022 by Keith Worrall
Modified Jan 25th, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Top Rated 17 HMR Rifles
One of the smallest firearm calibers available is the .17 HMR. It was made in 2002 and many shooters use it for varmint hunting, practice and as a match caliber. The .17 HMR isn’t as popular as the .22LR, another small firearm caliber, because it is much more expensive.
Even though the .17 HMR is a small round, it can still be very effective and accurate under the right shooting conditions. Thanks to its flat trajectory and high muzzle energy, the .17 HMR is commonly used for hunting small game. However, it might not be ideal to use it for hunting small vermin like squirrels and rabbits at a close range because the high muzzle energy will cause the poor thing to explode and splatter.
The .17 HMR might not be a popular round, but it is still a round that many shooters enjoy using. Today, we will take a look at some of the best .17 HMR rifles in the market and you can pick one to try it out for yourself. When it comes to choosing the top rated .17 HMR rifles, it is important that you understand that a .17 HMR rifle has limited use and isn’t the most versatile rifle available. Also, a .17 HMR rifle will be much more troublesome to clean and the accuracy will be affected significantly if you don’t clean it often. That said, let’s explore some of the top rated .17 HMR rifles on the market.
Ruger Precision Rimfire
Specifications
● 18” barrel
● 1/2-28 TPI threaded muzzle
● All-black finish
● Single-piece chassis
● Glass-filled nylon
● Anodized aluminum Picatinny rail
● 15-inch M-LOK handguard
Features
First on the list is the Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle. This is popular among shooters because of its performance as well as aesthetics. Not only is this rifle good for the .22LR caliber, but it can perform well with the .17 HMR too. It features an 18” barrel with a threaded muzzle, allowing you to attach muzzle devices since the .17 HMR tends to be quite loud.
The Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle has a tactical design that attracts most people and it has a high-capacity magazine, allowing you to shoot more rounds. However, the .17 HMR is not an ideal round for home defense, so its tactical capabilities are best used for hunting and range shooting.
Additionally, this .17 HMR rifle is also a good choice for competitions thanks to its accuracy and oversized bolt. It also has a Picatinny rail on top and an M-LOK handguard, giving you the freedom to mount your favorite accessories.
You will like this product if:
You are looking for an accurate .17 HMR rifle. This is one of the most accurate .17 HMR rifles on the market and is the reason why many shooters like it.
You want to mount accessories. Thanks to the Picatinny rail on top and the M-LOK handguard, you will have plenty of room to mound your preferred accessories.
You will not like this product if:
You intend to use it without a scope. Unfortunately, the Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle doesn’t come with iron sights, so it can’t be used effectively without mounting a scope.
Savage 93R17 GVXP .17 HMR Bolt Action Rifle
Specifications
● 21” barrel
● Detachable box magazine
● Adjustable AccuTrigger
● Factory-mounted 3-9x40mm scope
● Heavy carbon steel barrel
● Button rifled
● High-luster hardwood stock
Features
Almost all the buyers of the Savage 93R17 GVXP .17 HMR Bolt Action Rifle have given a positive review for this product. This is thanks to its accuracy, aesthetics, and smooth operation. It has a classic design with an incredible finish and its ergonomics are exceptional too.
The Savage 93R17 GVXP .17 HMR Bolt Action Rifle features a 21” bull barrel, giving you better harmonics. The use of an adjustable AccuTrigger also ensures that the trigger pull is crisp and lightweight. With this setup, you can expect to hunt vermin and small game with impeccable accuracy within 100 yards.
This .17 HMR rifle comes with a factory-mounted, boresighted 3-9x40mm scope so there’s no need to buy another scope for it. Some downsides that shooters are not a fan of are the heavyweight due to the bull barrel and its low-capacity magazine of 5 rounds only.
You will like this product if:
You are a fan of its design. The Savage 93R17 GVXP .17 HMR Bolt Action Rifle has a classical wood stock design that many shooters like.
You want a high-quality construction rifle. Not only does it have a hardwood stock, but the barrel is made of heavy carbon steel for maximum durability.
You will not like this product if:
You prefer something lightweight. Due to the use of a high-strength barrel, this .17 HMR rifle is quite heavy and might be a deal-breaker for you.
Chiappa Firearms Little Badger .17 HMR Break Action Rifle
Specifications
● Single shot
● Wire frame stock
● Integrated shell holder
● Adjustable sights
● Picatinny quad-rail forend
● Foldable design
Features
The next top rated .17 HMR rifle we have for you is something unusual and unique, it is the Chiappa Firearms Little Badger .17 HMR Break Action Rifle. This rifle is what everyone would refer to as the ultimate packable survival gun that you can use for camping, recreational shooting, or as a truck rifle.
The Chiappa Firearms Little Badger .17 HMR Break Action Rifle is designed to let you fold down easily and it has a wire frame stock that ensures it stays lightweight. Thanks to the double set trigger used for this rifle, shooters can use the rifle safely.
Besides the Picatinny quad-rail forend that allows you to mount a scope or red dot sight, the muzzle is also threaded for you to mount your preferred muzzle devices. Although this .17 HMR rifle only has one shot, it does offer extra space for shooters to carry up to 12 additional rounds.
You will like this product if:
You want a unique .17 HMR rifle. The design of the Chiappa Firearms Little Badger .17 HMR Break Action Rifle is one of a kind and definitely a head-turner when you bring it out.
You are looking for a lightweight and compact rifle. Thanks to its wire frame stock and foldable design, this .17 HMR rifle is able to be incredibly lightweight and compact.
You will not like this product if:
You prefer rifles with more than one shot only. Due to how this rifle is made, shooters are only allowed to fire a single shot only and it needs to be reloaded after that.
Marlin Model XT-17R .17 HMR 22″ Bolt Action Rifle
Specifications
● 22″ heavy varmint barrel
● Thumb safety
● Pro-Fire adjustable trigger
● Synthetic stock
● Mar-Shield finish
● Blued barrel and bolt
Features
Last but not least, we have the Marlin Model XT-17R .17 HMR 22″ Bolt Action Rifle for you. Not only does this rifle have all the things you want from a rifle, but it also has an ergonomic design that many shooters enjoy. It also comes with a Pro-Fire adjustable trigger giving you a crisp trigger pull for the ultimate shooting experience.
Gripping this .17 HMR rifle will be extremely firm and comfortable thanks to the palm swells and textured forend. The Marlin Model XT-17R .17 HMR 22″ Bolt Action Rifle also has a tapped receiver, allowing you to install scope mounts with ease. This rifle is offered with a 5, 7 or 10-round capacity magazine, which you can select based on your preference.
Most importantly, the Marlin Model XT-17R .17 HMR 22″ Bolt Action Rifle comes at an affordable price that many shooters will appreciate. As such, this can be an amazing .17 HMR rifle to use for squirrel hunting, casual plinking as well as target practice.
You will like this product if:
You are looking for an affordable rifle. The Marlin Model XT-17R .17 HMR 22″ Bolt Action Rifle is one of the cheapest options on the market and is certainly the best choice for shooters that are on a tight budget.
You like how it’s designed. This .17 HMR rifle has a simple and ergonomic design, making it an exceptional rifle to shoot with.
You will not like this product if:
You don’t like that it’s not threaded. Sadly, the muzzle of this rifle is not threaded which means you can’t attach muzzle devices without doing some modifications first.
Conclusion
The .17 HMR is a small and incredibly accurate caliber with high velocity and muzzle energy. Using it for hunting small vermin is recommended, but not for home or self-defense. It is also a great round for target shooting as it has an effective range of up to 200 yards. To enjoy this excellent round, you will need the top rated .17 HMR rifles such as those mentioned above.
But bear in mind, you should be clear about what you intend to do with the .17 HMR rifle first before you actually make a purchase. The last thing you want is to spend money on a rifle that doesn’t do what you want it to do.