17 Hornet Rifles

17 Hornet At A Glance

The name Hornet brings images of a wasp sting, and that was the original marketing idea behind these small caliber rifles. Competing calibers like the Bee played up the “stinging” qualities of a cartridge smaller than a .22 Short. This was originally a wildcat cartridge, but in 1971 Remington began offering them.

The 17 Hornet is a great plinking round, and a good choice for small game such as squirrels and rabbits. It’s almost total lack of recoil, and good accuracy up to 100 yards makes it a favorite for small game hunters. The inexpensive cost of ammunition when compared to its parent round, the 22 Hornet makes it a good choice economically as well. Savage Arms has the bulk of the market on the 17.