Description

Hornady Superformance .17 Hornet 20gr V-MAX — 500 Rounds

The Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet is the premium varmint load in the .17 Hornet category.

A 20-grain V-MAX at 3,650 fps and 592 ft-lbs, driven by Superformance propellants to produce 100–200 fps above conventional factory loads — without increasing pressure, recoil, or muzzle blast.

At $0.88 per round for 500 rounds, this is the premium tier in a caliber where per-round cost matters for varmint hunters running high counts.

The .17 Hornet — Context

The .17 Hornet is the .22 Hornet necked down to .17 caliber.

It occupies the fast end of the small centerfire varmint spectrum — faster than .22 Hornet, producing flat trajectories at varmint distances of 50–300 yards.

At 3,650 fps, the Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet produces a point-blank range of approximately 225 yards when zeroed at 200 yards — minimal hold-over correction for the vast majority of field varmint shots.

The V-MAX Bullet

The V-MAX is Hornady’s purpose-built varmint bullet — a polymer-tipped, thin-jacketed design engineered for violent, explosive expansion on impact with varmint-sized targets.

Two design choices define the V-MAX for varmint hunting.

The polymer tip guarantees expansion initiation at any practical impact velocity. The thin jacket ensures rapid, complete energy transfer on small targets — no wounded animals, no ricocheting bullets.

At G1 BC 0.185, the Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet V-MAX is optimised for the short-to-medium ranges typical of prairie dog, ground squirrel, and coyote hunting.

Superformance Propellants

Hornady’s Superformance propellants use progressive-burn technology — powder granules of varying burn rates ignite sequentially, maintaining higher average pressure through more of the barrel’s length.

The result is more work done on the projectile without peak pressure spikes that would increase recoil or require a heavier case.

For the Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet, this produces 3,650 fps — approximately 100–200 fps above standard factory loads — while remaining safe in all standard .17 Hornet chambers.

Specifications

• Caliber: .17 Hornet
• Bullet: 20 grain, V-MAX (polymer tip, thin jacket)
• Muzzle velocity: 3,650 fps
• Muzzle energy: 592 ft-lbs
• G1 BC: 0.185
• Sectional density: 0.097
• Application: Varmint, small game
• Lead free: No
• Cartridge case: Brass, reloadable
• Primer: Centerfire
• Quantity: 500 rounds (25 × 20-round boxes)

Browse the .17 Hornet ammunition category. Specifications are published by SAAMI and by Hornady directly. Safe storage guidance is available from the NSSF.

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SHORT DESCRIPTION (above Add to Cart)

Hornady Superformance .17 Hornet. 20-grain V-MAX, 3,650 fps, 592 ft-lbs, G1 BC 0.185. Superformance progressive propellants — 100–200 fps faster than conventional factory loads, no added pressure or recoil. Polymer tip V-MAX for explosive varmint expansion. Brass, reloadable. 500 rounds (25 × 20-round boxes). ⚠️ WARNING: This product can expose you to lead. www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

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💬 Before You Go — Varmint Hunting With the .17 Hornet?

Running Superformance in prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or coyotes? Leave a review with the rifle, barrel length, range, and how the V-MAX performed on target. .17 Hornet field data from real varmint hunters is the most useful content for other buyers evaluating the caliber. And if you came looking for a .17 Hornet load we don’t carry, tell us. 🎯

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Please purchase and use ammunition responsibly and in accordance with all federal, state and local laws. Ammunition cannot be shipped to all jurisdictions — verify legal shipment to your address before ordering. Buyers must be of legal age in their jurisdiction. Not for sale to prohibited persons. Verify state and local hunting regulations, including season dates and species restrictions, before field use.

⚠️ California Proposition 65 Warning: This product can expose you to lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the .17 Hornet and who is it for? The .17 Hornet is the .22 Hornet case necked down to .17 caliber. It’s a small centrefire varmint cartridge producing higher velocity and flatter trajectory than the .22 Hornet, at the cost of lighter bullets with less energy. It’s ideal for hunters who want centrefire accuracy and the flat trajectory of a high-velocity .17 projectile for prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and similar small varmints at 50–300 yards.

What does Superformance deliver over standard .17 Hornet factory loads? Hornady’s progressive-burn Superformance propellants produce approximately 100–200 fps more velocity than conventional factory loads in the same caliber. For this load, that translates to 3,650 fps from a standard .17 Hornet chamber — without increased peak chamber pressure, felt recoil, or muzzle blast.

What is the V-MAX bullet and why is it used for varmints? The V-MAX is Hornady’s polymer-tipped varmint bullet. The polymer tip guarantees reliable expansion initiation at any practical impact velocity, and the thin jacket design produces violent, rapid energy transfer on small targets. This ensures clean terminal performance on varmints and reduces the risk of pass-through or ricochet.

What’s the effective range for varmint hunting? At 3,650 fps, the .17 Hornet with 20gr V-MAX maintains sufficient velocity and energy for effective terminal performance to 300+ yards under optimal conditions. Practical varmint hunting with this load typically runs 50–250 yards, where the flat trajectory and G1 BC 0.185 are fully adequate.

How does this compare to the Federal Varmint Predator .17 Hornet 20gr in Related Products? Both are 20-grain .17 Hornet varmint loads. The Hornady Superformance claims 3,650 fps; the Federal Varmint Predator publishes 3,550 fps — approximately 100 fps slower. The Hornady is $439 vs $470 for Federal, making it both faster and less expensive at the 500-round quantity.

Is the brass reloadable? Yes — standard brass, Boxer primer.

How many rounds is 500? 25 × 20-round boxes.

What’s the per-round cost? $439 / 500 = $0.878 per round.