Best .17 HMR Scopes in 2022

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With more rifles each year being chambered in the ultra-fast .17 HMR, the demand for good optics is growing. Unfortunately, the amount of faulty information on this caliber and the appropriate optics is also growing. If you want the best .17 HMR scope, there are a few things you want to consider.

Short on time? Our Top 6 Picks For The Best .17 HMR Scope

  1. Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical Riflescopes
  2. Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x32mm Scope
  3. Hawke Vantage IR 4-12×40 Rimfire Riflescope
  4. BSA Guns 3-12×40 Sweet 17 Riflescope
  5. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Dead-Hold BDC Scope
  6. BARSKA 2-7×32 Hot Magnum Riflescope

What makes the Best .17 HRM Scope?

One of the most notable things about the .17 caliber is the small, light round it fires. This means a few things. One, it has a very flat trajectory out to 150 yards and a moderately flat trajectory out to 250 yards. This makes it extremely accurate at those ranges.

Secondly, because the bullet is so light it loses power quickly. So, what does this mean? Well, the round will drop quickly out past 250 yards for one. It also means that the lethal range of the round is somewhat short. Most people agree that against moderately sized game, 150 is about all you want to do. Against small animals like prairie dogs, you can push that to 200. Some will say more but this is the most that is confirmed.

When it comes to optics, your best bet is to get something that works between that 150 and 200-yard range. It’s very common for people to have too much scope when with practice something in the mid-teens, say 14-16x is a very good option.

Alternatively, for shooting very small targets, you could go well into the 20x range just realize that you will likely never realize the full potential of that scope in range. This is a tradeoff but one worth considering.

Another good option is to have tower style turrets that you can adjust on the fly. This works very well for contending with range drop but is best used to adjust for wind which can adversely affect the .17 HMR dramatically. Couple this with a reticle that is marked for ranging and you have the best of both worlds.

Outside of that just choose the most durable and optically clear scope you can get. This goes without saying but so many budget options skate by with inferior glass or shoddy construction. It’s sad that most people never admit a scope is bad even when it clearly is awful.

If you stick with these very few criteria, there are dozens of scopes that could work. Below are the ones I’ve found to work best. Feel free to shop around but you are going to be hard-pressed to beat this selection!

Best .17 HMR Scopes Updated

  1   Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical

There is little doubt that Vortex has become one of the leading optics manufacturers in the world. Though they are often priced far less, they consistently perform as good as if not better than many higher priced optics. Their best optics are now in competition with the best in the world from optics manufacturers that have been in business for more than a century.

For our purposes, we are looking at the Diamondback Tactical for a .17 HMR. This is one of Vortex’s mid-range scopes but even with that, it is one of the best suited to our caliber. With a typical power of 4-16x on most models, it fits that sweet spot. Of course, if you what something with a little added precision, you can spend a few bucks more and get one that tops out at 26x!

A part of what makes an optic great is the construction and care of the lenses. This is an area where Vortex truly excels with its extra-low dispersion glass and industry-leading multi-coat technology. What this means is that you get a crystal clear image out of your scope every single time.

And you get this in any weather with the purged and sealed one-piece tube construction that is waterproof, fogproof, and dustproof. There is nothing lacking in this scope. You can use it and abuse it in any weather and it will keep on coming. If something should happen, you have a lifetime VIP warranty.


  2   Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x32mm Scope

The best magnification for your .17 HMR will be between 4x and 16x, so this Leupold VX-3 with 2.5 to 8x magnification is plenty to get the job done.

Leupold optics are at the top of the list of clarity and quality among all riflescope manufacturers. The Leupold VX-3 uses the Leupold Twilight Max Light Management System, which gives Leupold its crystal clear image when using the scope during low light conditions. If you think you’ll be shooting in lowlight conditions at dawn or dusk, Leupold will be your best choice.

It has a duplex reticle with thick crosshairs near the perimeter of the lens and wire-thin crosshairs at the intersection of the reticle, making it a great reticle to use for your .17 Hornaday Magnum Rimfire.

The tube is one-inch and made of ultra-lightweight aluminum with seals and coatings to make it 100% waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof.


  3   Hawke Vantage IR 4-12×40 Rimfire Riflescope

The Hawke Vantage IR rimfire riflescope is definitely one you shouldn’t sleep on for your .17 HMR. It’s a $200 scope with optics that extend far beyond its price tag. It has 11-layer fully coated lenses that provide exceptional clarity, contrast, and resolution.

Because this scope is designed specifically for rimfire rifles, it has an illuminated etched black X-ACT reticle with aim points specific for shooting a .17 HMR. It’s a programmable ballistic reticle that has five different levels of red and green brightness to make it easier than ever to sight in the Hawke Vantage IR riflescope on .17 HMR.

It has extremely fast target acquisition speed with a fast-focus ocular ring that allows you to adjust the magnification and focus by turning the dial on the eyepiece. Between the optics and reticle alone on the Hawke Vantage IR rimfire riflescope, this is a great scope for your .17 HMR, but there’s more.

The scope is a one-inch monotube that is nitrogen purged, making it shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof. The scope includes a lens cloth, lens covers, and a CR2032 battery.


  4   BSA Guns 3-12×40 Sweet 17 Riflescope

The BSA Sweet 17 is a great riflescope for an affordable price. It has side parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity which is ideal for the .17 HMR. It also features a 30/30 Duplex reticle that makes it easy to aim and sight rimfire cartridges.

The large 40mm objective lens has fully coated lenses that create a clear image when looking through the ocular lens. It has a 3” sunshade that will increase visibility through the scope and on the reticle in bright conditions. It has a 4” eye relief which is more than enough for your .17 HMR.

Since .17 HMR does not require long-range magnification, the 3x to 12x is perfect. You can easily adjust the magnification by turning the magnification ring on the scope. When you need to adjust for windage and elevation, just turn the turrets on the scope one click to adjust ¼ MOA.

The single aluminum tube is lightweight and durable. It is shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof.


  5   Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Dead-Hold BDC Scope

Let’s dive right into this scope because there’s a lot to unpack with it.

We’ll start with the Dead-Hold BDC reticle, which is exclusive to Vortex scopes. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is ideal for rimfire cartridges because they make it easy to sight in your scope and determine distance with the three hash marks on the reticle.

The Crossfire II is made with the Vortex anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses to give you bright and clear views every time you look through the scope, which is one of the many claims to fame that Vortex has.

It has a long eye relief of nearly 4” with a fast-focus eyepiece that makes target acquisition almost instant. You can magnify the scope between 2x and 7x. Since rimfire rifles aren’t the best choice for long-range shots, you won’t need a stronger magnification than 7x.

You’ll have to adjust for windage and elevation when you mount the Crossfire II to your .17 HMR. Vortex has included capped reset turrets that can be adjusted with just one finger. Each click will adjust for windage or elevation ¼ MOA.

With Vortex Optics, you know you’re getting a quality scope, and the Crossfire II is no exception to that rule. It is made of a single tube of aircraft-grade aluminum that is nitrogen-purged and sealed with O-rings to prevent oil, dirt, and water from entering the scope. This makes it waterproof, shockproof, fogproof, and resistant to corrosion.


  6   BARSKA 2-7×32 Hot Magnum Riflescope

BARSKA is a sporting optics manufacturer that has been on the scene since 1994. They are comparable to Nikon at a more affordable price tag.

The 2-7×32 Hot Magnum riflescope can be interchanged between your .17 HMR and a .22 and comes with interchangeable bullet drop turrets that allow you to do so. The .17 HMR bullet drop turrets will compensate for the .17 HMR cartridges, and the .22 bullet drop turrets will compensate for .22 cartridges.

For less than $100, it’s a great scope to keep on hand for both of those applications.

As you may have noticed, image quality is one of the most important features we want to touch on when reviewing scopes. Therefore, it’s important that we thoroughly explain the image quality you will receive with whatever scope you choose.

The BARSKA Hot Magnum has high-density optical glass with multi-coated lenses that provide exceptional image clarity. It is a second focal plane scope, so the 30/30 reticle will remain the same size during magnification.

The tube of the scope has an extra-rugged design that makes it durable to withstand shock and recoil while also being waterproof and fogproof.


Final Thoughts

The .17 HMR has its faults as all rounds do but it is a wonderful caliber if applied correctly. A part of this application, if you want to get the most out of your rifle, requires a good scope. There are tons of options but after scouring every option I could, these were what came up as the best. What is even better is that none are over-the-top expensive.

I have been an avid outdoorsman all my life and have hunted and fished most of the Eastern United States for over three decades. During that time I’ve taken almost every North American game animal with either a rifle or bow. For the past 15 years, I have engaged heavily in shooting competitions in various disciplines including traditional archery, handgun, and long-range rifle.

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