Best Scope For .17 HMR Rifle

What we expect to get from our hunting rifles is rapidly changing, and so is what we expect from our scopes. First of all, we expect them to perform well, and perform in all sorts of weather conditions. We don’t have the patience for scopes that aren’t fairly easy to use. As a result, most of the best 17 HMR scopes on this list will be waterproof, fog proof, at least somewhat capable in low light conditions and “crystal clear” according to user reviews. Now, let’s find a scope that’s the perfect match for your 17 HMR and your personal hunting needs.

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In the following text, we’ll go over the specs of each product and finish each entry with the pros and cons of each scope. We’ll leave the prices of the scopes from their official company page at the end of each review. However, if you think you’ve found a best .17 HMR scope in this list, always remember to shop around and check the prices at other places.

Recommended Best Scopes For .17 HMR Rifle

Leupold FX-3 6x42mm Riflescope, Wide Duplex Reticle

The FX-3 6x42mm Wide Duplex rifle scope features Leupold’s 2nd Gen Argon and Krypton gas blend which waterproofs as well as fogproofs the scope. As the product name states, this scope offers 6-42x magnification, with a wide duplex reticle. The objective lens diameter is 41-50 mm, the tube diameter is 30mm, and the scope weighs in at 15 ounces or 425 grams. You can use it with different types of rifles, including rimfire, air or centerfire rifles.

The scope’s blackened lens edges serve to cut light diffusion, which ensures a brighter and crisper image. On top of that, the product offers a 1/4 MOA precision finger click adjustments of windage and elevation. This will give you a lifetime of use out of this reliable scope. The one inch main tube is both durable and lightweight and will fit legacy rings.

This savage 17 hmr scope has been successful at 600 yards as well as 15 yards – the scope is crystal clear and has great low lighting gathering at dawn and dusk hours. The wide duplex gets you more visibility around the crosshairs. Also, the fixed power scope is set to 6, so you don’t have to think about it. This is certainly an excellent compromise between 4 and 10, according to satisfied users.

Users with .17 HMR rifles specifically state that this scope is a great match for their gun.

Pros

Detailed clarity at big distances
Excellent at low light conditions
Simplicity of the fixed power scope
Very durable and tougher than most variable scopes on the market
Excellent price for the features

Cons

Vortex Optics Diamondback HP 4-16x42 BDC

The Diamondback HP 4-16×42 is an excellent choice for its price range. If we take into account the clarity of the lens and durability of the build, this might easily be the scope you’re looking for. The V-Plex reticle is pretty clean and very popular among hunters as it has a wide variety of uses.

The image is sharper and clearer thanks to extra-low dispersion glass and XR multi-coated lenses. The scope for 17 HMR is waterproof and forproof thanks to strong o-ring seals and nitrogen purging. It’s also very durable due to its shockproof construction.

The zoom range goes up to 4x on the high-end and will give you a variable magnification. Besides that, the side focus is fully accessible from a shooting position, which allows image focusing. The dials are all loose enough to be moved easily but tight enough to stay where you put them. There’s also a parallax knob on the side that allows for parallax removal. Also, there’s a fast focus eyepiece which helps to quickly and easily focus the reticle.

The capped reset turrets are finger adjustable, and you can reset them to zero after sighting in. The turrets are perfectly workable for the price range, but they do have some tracking issues. The parallax, focus, and magnification, however, are of excellent quality.

The finish of the scope is somewhat questionable, with some users reporting scuffing even through normal use. Although, you can usually easily fix scuffs that don’t touch metal with some elbow grease and glass cleaner.

Pros

Clarity on par with much more expensive lenses
Excellent eye relief
Easy MOA adjustments that click into place
Comes with a 4-inch sunshade, cleaning cloth and protective lens caps
Lifetime warranty covers anything but loss and theft

Cons

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X BDC Reticle Adjustable Objective .17 HMR and .22 Riflescope, 3.5-10X 36mm

If you’re searching for a reliable scope to use for morning and evening hunting, the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn scope is the one. Bushnell designed this particular scope especially for .22 and .17 HMR rifles. The 36mm objective lens (while the tube diameter is 25.4mm) has 3.5 – 10x magnification. The scope weighs in at 465 grams, or 16.4 ounces.

In addition to HD clarity optics, this product boasts great features such as waterproofing, fogproofing, and shockproof construction. The O-ring sealed optics are dry even when in water. The Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multi-coated lenses offer clarity in low lighting. The scope also has a Multi-X reticle (which has thicker lines in the outer part and thinner in the middle) and a fast-focus eyepiece. The field of view at 100 yards is 30 feet at 3.5 power and 10.4 feet at 10 power magnification.

You can find this scope at great prices if you shop around. Aside from being crystal clear even in dim conditions, the scope zeroes in easily, and it protects your brow against recoil. The eye relief of 3.3 inches is amazing as well. Another noteworthy feature is the side parallax adjustment which allows you to align the focal place without taking your eyes off the target.

Pros

Good price for the features
Simple to install and use
Zeroes easily
Clear image even when magnified to the max
Turret consistent out to 200 yards
Comes with lens caps
Compact size

Cons

Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40 Black Matte Riflescope

Nikon’s products are pretty much a sure thing if you’re shopping for a scope. This compact rifle scope for 17 HMR has a magnification of 4-12x and a 40mm objective lens, with a 1-inch tube. The lenses have anti-reflective multi-coating which should work great in low light settings. You can adjust its zero-reset turret using a spring-loaded knob. After sighting in, just lift the knob and rotate to your zero. These are sure to be many hunters’ favorite feature. The ProStaff has 3.7 inches of eye relief. The scope is waterproof and fogproof thanks to nitrogen-filled, O-ring sealed housing.

The ProSaff is compatible with a variety of rifles, including rimfire, air rifle, and centerfire rifle. The 1/4 MOA hand-turn reticle adjustments are precise and repeatable, and will not budge even with heavy recoil. The Nikoplex reticle has thicker outer lines and thinner ones towards the center so that the user won’t lose the center, while the lines also won’t obscure the prey. The field of view is 23.6 feet at a hundred yards and 4x magnification, or 7.3 feet at 12x magnification.

Now, these have all been stats according to the product specifications provided by the manufacturer. However, we must note that in some of the negative reviews (which were few and far between) people said that the scope had arrived damaged. Others said they had issues with the crosshairs.

Pros

Cons

Hawke Sport Optics Vantage 4-12x40 AO 17 HMR IR Riflescope 14241 and Hawke 2-Pc Medium Weaver Rings Kit

The Vantage 4-12×40 AO 17 HMR scope sports 11 layer multi-coated optics and an adjustable objective that enables parallax correction. This model also has a rheostat that offers 5 levels of brightness, and a fast focus eyeball and high torque zoom ring. Additionally, the main tube is a 1-inch mono-tube that, according to the manufacturer, greatly improves the scope’s durability. Also, the reticle is glass etched, with red and green illumination.

Thanks to no snag turrets, the windage and elevation are easily adjustable to zero using 1/4 MOA clicks. This scope is made of anodized high grade aluminum with rounded edges of the internal cushion tape. Hence, it’s durable and lightweight, so it can manage strong recoils while weighing in at 485 grams (17.1 ounces).

The Vantage 4-12×40 AO 17 HMR scope is pretty affordable, and the glass is workable, if not pristine. It doesn’t have distortion even at 12x power. The crosshairs won’t get in the way of shooting small targets when zoomed in on max power.

Some users, however, found the build quality wanting, as some of the parts on their scope came loose. These are mostly factory defects, though. As with most scopes, this one requires some getting used to, especially if you haven’t used a similar one. For this kind of price range, it’s about the best you can get.

Pros

Construction and quality
Good eye relief
Etched reticle
Long range shooting
Great for small targets, crosshairs aren’t thick
Great in low light due to illumination and brightness levels

Cons

BSA 3-12X40 Sweet 17 Rifle Scope with Multi-Grain Turret

The BSA 3-12×40 Sweet 17 scope has a multi-grain turret that’s adjusted for .17 HMR 17 gram and 20 gram bullets. It has multi-coated lenses that help you see targets in clear images and with a 3-12x variable magnification. The tube is also filled with nitrogen to ensure waterproofing and fogproofing.

The lens diameter is 31-40mm, and the tube is one inch wide. It’s a bit on the heavier side, at 19.4 ounces or 550 grams. This should come as no surprise, as BSA scope designs use technology that US military snipers use. As a result, the Sweet 17 is very durable, and of course, shockproof. BSA scopes are certainly some of the best you can use on a .17 HMR rifle. This is because they also have a quick-change turret system that handles several grain weights for various calibers.

This scope is great for target practice or hunting, and it’s compatible with ramfire, centerfire or air rifles. With its 4-inch eye relief, this scope can handle some real recoil without hurting your brow. Furthermore, the Sweet 17 has an adjustable parallax setting on the side that goes from 10 to infinity. It’s a great choice for hunters of big and small game, as well as target shooters.

Some users had difficulty tightening the magnification ring, and the eye relief can shift while changing power. The issues some people had with the magnification might make it tough for hunting. Still, certain scopes require a bit of an effort to get used to them. If that’s not for you, though, consider getting one that’s immediately ready and easy to use.

Pros

Cons

Simmons ProTarget TruPlex Reticle Side Parallax Adjustment Riflescope with .17LR Turrets, 3-12x 40mm

The Simmons ProTarget scope is great and easy to set up, and it’s calibrated for .17 HMR rifles. Its quality multi-coated optics ensure a crisp and bright image, even in low light settings and at 200 yards. In addition, the TruPlex reticle is another one of those that won’t get in the way of hitting small targets. The scope’s objective is 40mm in diameter, and the magnification is 3-12x.

The Simmons 17 hmr scope body, featuring a sturdy 1-inch tube, is supposed to be durable and of high quality. The side of the tube has focus and parallax adjustments, and finger-tip adjustable turrets to help you zero quickly. The whole scope weighs in at 20 ounces or 570 grams, so it’s by far the heaviest scope we’ve discussed.

The scope comes with three specially calibrated turrets. One of them is for MOA, and the others are calibrated for a .17 HMR and .22 LR rifle. However, the instructions aren’t clear about which is which. Apparently, the ones with blue markings are for the .17 HMR and .22 LR rifle. Of those, the one with closer yardage markings is for a .17 rifle.

Pros

Cons

BARSKA 6-18x40 mm AO Hot Magnum .17 And .22 Interchangeable 30/30 Rifle Scope

Our last suggestion is Barska’s 6-18x40mm Hot Magnum scope. Similarly to the other rifle scopes we discussed, it’s waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. Like its name suggests, it has variable magnification 6-18x and a large 40mm lens with multi-coated optics and 30/30 reticles. So, we can see that these specifications are similar to ones we’ve discussed, as we have a clear image and unobtrusive crosshairs. Another feature it has is an adjustable lens for parallax correction, as well as pre-calculated trajectory compensation from 100-300 yards.

This scope has 3.1 inches of eye relief to help with recoil, and it weighs 20.48 ounces or 580.58 grams. Lens covers and a lens cloth are included in the purchase of this scope. Aside from those accessories, this product also comes with interchangeable elevation knobs for .17 and .22 turrets. If you need ring mounts or a sunshade, check to see if they’re included, as that varies.

Some users say that the parallax on this scope is problematic, because it tends to move the crosshairs when they adjust it. This may be a problem only a few products have, but it’s worth noting. Another user found the manufacturer’s customer support wanting.

Pros

Cons

How Do We Choose?

You ought to consider your choice carefully. If the scope you end up with turns out to not be compatible with your gun, it can get really annoying. So, what should you actually consider when looking into best rifle scopes for .17 HMR?

Take into account the materials the scope is made of, especially if you’re going to be using it for hunting. It wouldn’t do to have your scope jam and make you take your eyes off the target. Another thing you should be checking is the durability of the materials. We covered some scopes that seem to scuff easily right here. However, even that doesn’t have to be that big of a deal if it doesn’t affect the important bits. Just make sure your scope can take a tumble. You’ll want to keep an eye out for aircraft grade aluminum.

Next, you’ll obviously want to make sure that your lens is good quality, and any of the ones mentioned here are. Just pick one based on your needs. Naturally, you’ll need to be able to use your scope in various weather conditions, so it’s best to get a waterproof and fog proof lens.

You’ll also need a reticle that doesn’t interfere with your being able to see the target, so pay attention to the type of reticle the scopes you’re checking out have. Choose the objective and magnification power based on what you’ll be doing with your scope – if you’ll be using it for close or long shots, or on smaller or bigger targets. You might choose a fixed power scope like the Leupold (the first on our list) if you just don’t want to think about it all that much. Also, if you’re going to be shooting targets more than 150 yards away, make sure to have adjustable turrets.

Now, if you get frustrated trying to figure a new scope out, go for Leupold or Bushnell’s Dusk and Dawn. These two seem to be the easiest to just pick up and use. And you even have two different price points to choose from, right there.

If you’re looking for cheaper options, we’ll once again recommend shopping around. You might look into the prices of Nikon ProStaff, or any of the last few scopes we discussed.

In any case, any of these might work for you, as long as you’re shopping according to your own needs. Think of what kind of scope you need based on the shooting you’re doing. Now determine the price point you’re willing to go to.

Sherman
Updated on July 15, 2020