The popularity of round was definitely meant to happen. And since it has got the title to be one of the most precise and fastest rimfire cartridges, many of the shooters diverted all their focuses on having it. And, if you are someone who owns this stuff, then you might feel the need of having the best scope for 17 HMR as well.
But looking at the variations, you might find yourself all confused right? Hence for this, we thought of helping you to let you know about the best of them that are growing popular in today’s time. And those who are a beginner and curious to know more about what this 17 HMR is, we have highlighted a little about it just below the intro.
Hopefully, by the end of the write, you will be able to decide what you want and which one would suit your style.
What is 17 HMR?
.17 HMR which is short for Hornady Magnum Rimfire is the child of .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR). It can be called one of the many attempts to reinvent ballistics of the 5mm Remington Magnum Rimfire (RMR) for its speed and flat trajectory. Since RMR barrels and ammo began near to impossible to find, people started looking for different options to produce alternatives.
Then .22 WMR emerged and got more popular as well as stronger than other .22 LR. It only required a simple barrel swap to generate weapons capacity to fire.
Then as a child of .22 WMR, .17 HMR got the power of higher velocity, flatter trajectory, and farther range. It first hit the market in 2002 and was developed by Hornadyin partnership with Marlin and Ruger. It is stated to be constructed as a high-voltage cartridge that is not only precise but also dependable. The rounds are available in the soft tip, hollow point and FMJ from different manufacturers.
5 Best Scopes for 17 HMR
1.Nikon 6729 ProStaff 4-12 x 40
If you wanna have something to be proud of, this Nikon 6729 would make a great choice. This is basically a nitrogen-filled black matte scope that does not only look great but works great as well.
This clever scope will let you focus even the farthest target with its patented Nikon ballistic reticle. So, making yourself a quick pro will not be tough anymore. To add more, it comes with a distinctive varying magnification from 4x to 12x on 40mm lens. With this, you will be able to see stuff from 600 yards away. And that’s quite a great amount of field view.
Not only that, but the lens will also offer you 98% light transmission so you can utilize the scope even around the thickness of fog and low light environment. And you can do that just by using its high-resolution imaging system. The best part is, if you feel too much light around you, the scope will also give your eyes a sunshade to protect you.
Moreover, the 6729 features a 3.7-inch eye relief which indicates a decent distance. And there will also be a quick focus eyepiece so you can prevent eye stress.
Although you can call it the best scope for 17 HMR yet it fails to be the best in short ranging shots.
- 4x to 12x on 40mm lens lets you see the farthest target clearly.
- The multi-coated lens will let 98 percent light transmission even under poor visibility condition.
- This is fog proof, dust proof and shock proof score you can get for yourself.
- Looks great.
- Great for long ranging shots.
- You can use it on many kinds of rifles.
- Parallax setting at 100 yards is a great option.
- Will give your eyes a sunshade for preventing eye stress.
- This is not a short range scope.
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II
Vortex Optics Crossfire II is that scope that comes with a lot of things to offer. Although it has different versions, the 2-7×32 Dead-hold BDC moa happens to be the best scope for 17 HMR.
That being said, you don’t need to be concerned about holdover estimation as Dead-Hold BDC reticle comes as a smart solution. And, you will surely find it great for shooting as well as hunting at different ranges.
You will find the scope amazing for giving you a quick sight picture so you can get a hold of your target and focus on it. And all this happens because of its long eye-relief with an ultra-forgiving eye box.
Moreover, the scope is also great in quick reticle focusing because of its fast-focus eyepiece, guess the name says it all.
And since the lenses happen to be completely multi-coated and anti-reflective, so you can expect it to offer a clear and bright view. Not only that, the turrets can be easily adjusted with nice MOA clicks and if you want you can reset it to zero after sighting in.
The Crossfire II will also give you great performance by being a waterproof, shockproof and fog proof scope.
However, it is not a true 1x scope though but even with its 1.25x power, you will find it the best scope for 17 HMR.
- Fogproof, shockproof, and waterproof
- Will be able to get you a quick sight picture so you can achieve your target.
- Comes with quick reticle focusing.
- Completely multi-coated and anti-reflective so it will give you a clear and bright view.
- Great for shooting at different ranges.
- The adjustments feel very positive.
- The eye relief is great.
- It is not a true 1x scope.
3.Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle
If you wanna have a different shooting experience from dusk till dawn then have yourself this Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle scope from Bushnell.
Coming with a 3x to 9x magnification on 40mm lens, it will be great if you mount it into rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders as well. If you understand the significance of great optics, you would surely like to have it with you.
Just after you take the first look, you will spot a great artistry and finishing of the scope. The eyepieces that it comes with have grips and zoom rings.
Besides, the Dusk & Dawn possesses a magnification power of 3x to 9x range so you can focus on your target even if it is 200 yards away. But you might not like to zoom the scope to the highest as there is a chance of the picture to get distorted. However, it still manages to serve the best.
As for the objective lens, it is 40mm so you can expect to have a better image since it is able to transmit light from the object.
You can also adjust the MOA on the basis of altitude or wind though it has been set at 0.25. You might face some hassle while adjusting it but once you get it to spot on, it will remain constant. Besides this, you will get a fast focus eyepiece that comes 12 inches long. So its quick reticle focusing will also be great.
The scope is able to ensure a rich color resolution as well as contrast for its fluorite Ed top extra low glass. So, even if you have your session in low light condition, the scope will give you a clear view. And to complement it, the scope comes with 92% light transmission that ensures high color reproducibility.
And the way it withstands tough conditions, it surely has the capacity to impress you all.
- Able to give a crystal clear view.
- Can withstand the toughest
- Can offer great visibility in poor condition.
- You can adjust the MOA.
- Great for a long-ranging shot.
- 92% light transmission ensures high color reproducibility.
- Views might get distorted after zooming over 6x.
- Adjusting the MOA is a bit hassle.
4. Nikon P-RIMFIRE BDC 150
If black is your soul color, then you should definitely have this scope that you can get from Nikon. The P-RIMFIRE is not only a great friend for helping you be a pro in shooting but also a great and the best scope for 17 HMR rifles. (Sadly not for bigger ones though)
It has been made up of polymer and aluminum that makes it look rough and act tough. The design looks modern too so you can be proud of having it.
To add more, the scope features a bullet drop compensating reticle that lets the scope make precise shots easily even in poor visibility condition. Not only that, but it also helps P-RIMFIRE target from 150 yards away because of its reticle’s open circle.
The multiple layers of the anti-reflection coating is another great part to have in this scope since it makes the sight picture clear and bright.
Besides, it has a rapid action turret system that will help you make a quick adjustment so you can have your aim quickly.
Moreover, it is also easy to get on target fast for its fast focus eyepiece. So it has almost all the things that you expect the best scope for 17 HMR to have.
However, one thing that you must keep in mind that this scope is designed to be used for long range target. So, you might not like to use it for shorter range.
- Great design and very durable.
- Able to withstand tough condition.
- Can be used in a low light environment.
- Gives you clear sight.
- Features fast adjustments setting.
- You can zero the turrets.
- Great eye relief distance.
- Not for bigger rifles.
- Not great for short range targets.
5. UTG 3-9X32 1″ BugBuster
Let me introduce you to another best scope for 17 HMR that you can have from UTG. It has so many things and features to offer that you can’t resist owning it.
This BugBuster provides maximum light transmission through its 1-inch emerald coated tube. Besides, it possesses premium zero lockable and resettable MOA turrets so you can adjust them the way you want. Not only that, but it also comes with a mil-dot reticle that will estimate the range for you so you can have an easy shooting session.
Furthermore, you will find a 2-inch sunshade flip-open lens caps and rings that you can detach quickly and easily. It also has an amazing eye-relief for close quarter uses and a very large field of view to explore.
The best part is, it comes with dual illumination in red and green around a peripheral field of view. It is a great addition especially when you will be using it with a flashlight at night. However, the gripe is that the light tends to reflect internally and appear as bright dots that might find quite annoying since it creates a distraction. Otherwise, the feature serves its purpose greatly.
However, preventing damage from shock is as important as preventing fogging. And with a scope like BugBuster that is nitrogen-filled, waterproof, fog proof and shock proof, there is no reason to not love it.
- Durable and able to withstand bad conditions.
- The reticle is a clear mil-dot that is absolutely functional.
- Parallax adjustment is greatly useful.
- The adjustable eyepiece works amazingly to sharpen up the view.
- Features illuminated reticle that works great for the low light condition.
- The light appears as quite bright to distract you and annoy you.
The Buying Guide: Things to consider.
Lens:
you would also like to have a riflescope with lenses coated so it can increase light transmission while decrease glare so it can give you a bright clearer view. Any riflescope that will be worth clipping onto the 17 HMR rifle will possess lenses that come equipped with multiple coatings for providing them the qualities. However, you should also need to look for scopes that have scratch resistant quality for more perks.
Reticle:
You will find a bunch of different reticle designs that are used in current riflescopes. But are all of them ideal for your 17 HMR scope is a big question? You might have a personal preference but if you want the ideal one, you will need to pick duplex reticle. This is a kind of reticle that is basically a crosshair. However, the line bases are quite heavier at the edges of the scope and they get tapered into finer lines as they reach center that makes target line up pleasingly easier in poor visibility conditions. Such reticle with range compensation markings also makes a great choice. It will be very useful if you have quick range adjustment markings on the reticle.
Objective power:
When it comes to the objective power, it is required to have a flexible powered riflescope for a 17 HMR riflescope. The range of magnification might differ, but if you want to shoot from the long distance, then it is important that you go for a maximum magnification of 9x at least. You might also use a high-powered riflescope but it will depend on the distance that you view yourself while focusing target. It is better that you avoid limiting yourself to a fixed magnification range. The more variable the power will be, the more benefits you can get for yourself.
Turrets adjustment:
Turrets are the adjustable knobs. They are comprised of the windage and elevation knobs. You can move the crosshair left or right and up or down by adjusting these knobs. It helps you estimate the direction and focus while you shoot a target from 150 yards away or more. A scope that comes with turret adjustments helps a lot in long-range shooting with spot-on accuracy. But for target shooting, it will be great if you get yourself a high profile turrets. And for the adjustment, if you have a scope with ¼ to ½ MOA click knobs, then it will offer you a much excellent control over the adjustments.
Environment resistance:
No matter what scope you bring for yourself, it is important that you get one resistant to negative elements. Here, a hard anodized coating would be a thumbs up on the body. And if you get the scope that is nitrogen filled then it will be a bigger plus. Because it will not only prevent fog and moisture from entering and rusting the internal parts but also will make the scope last longer. Moreover, do get a scope that also comes in properly sealed with O-rings because it will boost the endurance of the weather resistance of the scope.
Material:
Irrespective of the shooting style, you will need a riflescope that will be durable and will not go bend while you are in the field. It’s especially true for the riflescopes that are designed for hunting. If you want the best scope for 17 hmr, go for aircraft grade aluminum that makes the scope body durable and sturdy. Because opting for the lesser quality material will give you nothing but disaster.
Final Shots:
So no matter what kind of scope you get for 17 HMR, you must check out it has quality lenses, long-lasting traits, and a wider range of magnification setting. This will not only give you an amazing starting point but will also help you to be a pro. Hope that the options we have revealed here help you and you get the best scope for 17 HMR soon in your hands.
