The .17 HMR is a remarkably flat-shooting and accurate rimfire cartridge, beloved by varmint hunters and target shooters for its minimal drop and explosive performance on small game. To truly harness its potential, pairing your rifle with the right optic is paramount. A quality scope not only extends your effective range but also enhances precision in the critical low-light conditions when many pests are most active.
Selecting the ideal scope involves balancing magnification, objective lens size, and features like parallax adjustment. Whether you’re shooting at 50 yards or pushing out to 200, the right glass makes all the difference. We’ve compiled a list of the top scopes available to ensure your 17 HMR is equipped for any task, from dense woods to open fields.
The Top Scopes for Your 17 HMR Rifle
- Vantage IR Riflescope 4-12×40 AO, 1″, Rimfire .17 HMR
- Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm Riflescope with Multi-X Reticle
- BARSKA 2-7×32 AO Hot Magnum .17 And .22 Riflescope
- BSA 6-18X40mm, 30/30 Duplex Reticle, Side Parallax
- Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire – V-Plex Reticle
- Vortex Optics Diamondback 1.75-5×32 – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle
- Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm Riflescope, Rimfire MOA Reticle
- Simmons Truplex 8-Point Riflescope (3-9×32, Matte)
- Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical 4-16×44 FFP Riflescope
Vantage IR Riflescope 4-12×40 AO, 1″, Rimfire .17 HMR
This scope is specifically engineered for the trajectory of the .17 HMR cartridge, featuring an etched reticle calibrated for its unique ballistics. The 4-12x magnification range is well-suited for the cartridge’s extended range capabilities, allowing for precise shot placement on small targets. The adjustable objective (AO) provides parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity, ensuring a clear and accurate sight picture at any distance you engage.
Built on a robust 1-inch mono-tube chassis, this scope offers superior strength and durability to withstand the rigors of field use. The 11-layer fully multi-coated optics maximize light transmission, delivering excellent clarity and a bright image. The side focus control makes parallax adjustments quick and intuitive, a valuable feature when switching between varying ranges rapidly.
Bushnell Banner 3-9x40mm Riflescope with Multi-X Reticle
The Bushnell Banner series is designed for hunters who find themselves in the field during the most critical times of day: dawn and dusk. Its Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multi-coated lenses are engineered to provide a clear and bright sight picture when light is fading. This 3-9×40 configuration is a classic for a reason, offering a versatile magnification range that works well in both thick cover and open fields.
An extended 6 inches of eye relief is a standout feature, providing a significant safety margin and comfortable shooting experience, especially on rifles with more substantial recoil. The fully multi-coated lenses on all air-to-glass surfaces ensure high-contrast images, helping you to identify your target clearly. It’s a dependable, bright scope that lives up to its name.
BARSKA 2-7×32 AO Hot Magnum .17 And .22 Riflescope
This BARSKA scope offers a versatile solution for shooters who own multiple rimfire rifles. It is designed to be interchangeable between .17 HMR and .22 caliber rifles, making it a cost-effective choice for a multi-gun owner. The 2-7x magnification provides a wide field of view at low power for close, fast-moving targets, and enough zoom for more precise shots at longer ranges.
Precision is enhanced with 1/4 MOA click adjustments for windage and elevation, allowing for fine-tuning your point of impact. The adjustable objective (AO) helps eliminate parallax error, and the multi-coated optics work to deliver impressive viewing clarity. The 30/30 reticle is a simple, uncluttered design that facilitates quick aiming.
BSA 6-18X40mm, 30/30 Duplex Reticle, Side Parallax
For the shooter who wants to push their 17 HMR to its absolute limits, the BSA 6-18x40mm offers high magnification for extreme precision at long range. This scope comes calibrated specifically for the .17 HMR, with included 17gr turret drums to help simplify longer-range holdovers. The high magnification is ideal for target shooting or for making very precise shots on small varmints.
The side parallax adjustment is a crucial feature for a scope in this magnification range, allowing you to correct for parallax error and maintain accuracy at various distances. The 30/30 duplex reticle provides a clean sight picture that is not overly busy, helping you to concentrate on the target. This scope is built for situations where maximum zoom is required.
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire – V-Plex Reticle
Vortex Optics is renowned for its quality and outstanding warranty, and the Crossfire II Rimfire model is a perfect match for a 17 HMR. The 2-7×32 configuration is highly versatile, and the V-Plex reticle is a popular, all-purpose hunting reticle that works well for a variety of game. With long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, acquiring a sight picture is fast and intuitive.
Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses ensure bright and clear views from the first to the last light of the day. The fast-focus eyepiece allows for quick reticle focusing, and the capped reset turrets are finger-adjustable with MOA clicks that can be easily reset to zero after sighting in. It’s a robust, user-friendly scope from a trusted manufacturer.
Vortex Optics Diamondback 1.75-5×32 – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle
This Diamondback model offers a unique low-power variable optic (LPVO) style that is exceptionally versatile for a 17 HMR, especially one used in wooded areas or for walking varmint control. The 1.75-5x magnification gives you a very wide field of view at the lowest setting for fast target acquisition, while still providing enough power for precise shots out to 150 yards or more.
The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is excellent for hunting at varying ranges where estimating hold-over is necessary, as it lacks subtensions that can clutter the view at lower powers. The lenses are fully multi-coated, providing crisp, bright images throughout the day. Combined with Vortex’s rugged construction and lifetime warranty, it’s a superb choice for a fast-handling rifle.
Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm Riflescope, Rimfire MOA Reticle
Leupold is a name synonymous with American-made quality and optical excellence. The VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm is built to the company’s high standards, featuring scratch-resistant lenses that meet military-grade extreme abrasion specifications. The versatile 3:1 zoom ratio is ideal for virtually any situation you might encounter in the field, from close-range brush shooting to longer-range varminting.
This model includes a dedicated rimfire MOA reticle, which is optimized for the trajectory of cartridges like the 17 HMR. The 1/4 MOA precision finger click adjustments for windage and elevation offer tactile and reliable feedback for precise zeroing. It’s a lightweight, rugged, and incredibly clear scope that represents a significant step up in optical performance.
Simmons Truplex 8-Point Riflescope (3-9×32, Matte)
The Simmons 8-Point is a classic, budget-friendly scope that has proven its reliability on countless rifles over the years. The 3-9×32 configuration provides a solid all-around magnification range for most 17 HMR applications. Its true value lies in its simplicity and proven performance, offering a no-fuss optical solution that gets the job done.
With a field of view of 31.4 feet at 100 yards on the lowest setting, it allows for good situational awareness. A generous 3.75 inches of eye relief makes for a comfortable and safe shooting experience. The Truplex reticle is simple and easy to see, making target acquisition quick and straightforward in a variety of lighting conditions.
Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical 4-16×44 FFP Riflescope
For the serious long-range rimfire enthusiast or target shooter, the Diamondback Tactical is a feature-packed scope that punches well above its weight class. The 4-16x magnification is ideal for precision work at extended ranges, and the First Focal Plane (FFP) design means the reticle subtensions remain accurate at every magnification level. This is a critical feature for making precise windage and elevation holds without calculation.
The larger 44mm objective lens gathers more light, providing a bright image, and the exposed tactical turrets allow for rapid adjustments. With a robust construction and the VIP warranty, this scope is built to handle range use and field conditions. It transforms a 17 HMR rifle into a capable precision platform for target shooting and varmint control at distances beyond typical rimfire scopes.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Right Scope for Your 17 HMR
Choosing the best scope for your 17 HMR rifle isn’t about finding the most expensive one; it’s about finding the right tool for the job. I think about what I’m going to use the rifle for most often. The flat-shooting 17 HMR is a fantastic round for varmint control and target shooting at modest distances, so your scope needs to match that purpose.
First, let’s talk magnification. For most 17 HMR work, you don’t need a huge, high-power scope. A variable scope in the 3-9x or 4-12x range is the sweet spot. It gives you a wide field of view for tracking moving pests like ground squirrels at closer ranges, and enough power to precisely aim at a prairie dog’s head at 150-200 yards. I find that going much higher than 12x or 14x can be overkill and often introduces more mirage and a finicky eye box without providing a real-world benefit.
Next is the objective lens size. A 40mm or 42mm objective is very common and works perfectly. It gathers plenty of light for dawn and dusk shooting without making the scope too heavy or forcing you to use uncomfortably high rings. A 50mm objective lets in more light, but for the typical ranges of a 17 HMR, the difference is often negligible, and the bulkier size is a trade-off I’m not always willing to make.
The reticle is your interface with the target. A simple duplex reticle is fine, but where the 17 HMR shines is with a scope that has holdover points. Because the 17 HMR has a relatively rainbow-like trajectory past 150 yards, a reticle with hash marks, like a Mil-Dot or a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) reticle calibrated for the round, is a huge advantage. It lets you quickly aim high without fiddling with the turrets, which is crucial for fast, ethical shots on small animals.
Finally, consider the turrets and parallax. Most 17 HMR shooting is done inside 200 yards, so you likely won’t be dialing your elevation turret constantly. Capped turrets are great for protecting your zero. However, if you do a lot of target shooting, exposed tactical-style turrets can be nice. For parallax, an Adjustable Objective (AO) or side-focus parallax knob is a feature I strongly recommend. Being able to correct for parallax error is key to achieving tiny groups, especially at varying distances. When I’m looking at the 9 best scopes for 17 HMR rifles in 2025, these are the features that separate the good from the great.
Frequently Asked Questions
What magnification scope is best for a 17 HMR?
For the vast majority of 17 HMR shooting, a variable scope in the 3-9x to 4-12x range is ideal. This gives you the flexibility for close, quick shots and enough power for precise shots out to 200 yards or so. Higher magnifications like 6-18x or 8-32x are available, but they are often unnecessary and can make finding and tracking a fast-moving ground squirrel more difficult.
Is a 50mm objective lens better than a 40mm for a 17 HMR?
While a 50mm lens gathers more light, the practical advantage for a 17 HMR is minimal. The cartridge is most effective in daylight hours, and the difference in brightness between a 40mm and 50mm scope is very hard to perceive with the human eye in normal conditions. A 40mm or 42mm objective keeps the scope lighter, lower-profile, and often less expensive, making it the better choice for most people.
Do I need an adjustable parallax (AO) scope for my 17 HMR?
I would say yes, it’s a highly recommended feature. Parallax error can cause your point of impact to shift if your head isn’t perfectly positioned behind the scope. Since the 17 HMR is often used for shooting small targets where precision is critical, an Adjustable Objective (AO) or side-focus knob allows you to eliminate this error at any distance, ensuring your crosshairs are exactly where the bullet will go.
What type of reticle should I look for?
A standard duplex reticle works, but a reticle with holdover marks is far more useful. Look for a Mil-Dot or, even better, a BDC reticle that is specifically designed for the trajectory of the 17 HMR round. These reticles have additional marks below the crosshair that show you where to aim at longer distances without adjusting your turrets, making you faster and more accurate on targets beyond 125 yards.
Are expensive scopes worth it for a 17 HMR?
You don’t need to spend a fortune, but investing in a quality mid-range scope from a reputable brand is a good idea. Cheap scopes often have poor glass clarity, mushy turrets, and can’t hold a zero reliably. A good scope in the $200 to $500 range will offer excellent optical clarity, durable construction, and reliable performance that matches the inherent accuracy of the 17 HMR cartridge itself. When reviewing the 9 best scopes for 17 HMR rifles in 2025, we see a strong focus on this value-to-performance sweet spot.