Olin Winchester is recalling two lots of .17 HMR 20-grain jacketed hollow-point rimfire rifle ammunition (X17HMR1). The last four characters of the affected lot numbers are NB51 and NB61. 

Winchester has determined the above lots of .17 HMR ammunition may contain no powder charges. Ammunition with no powder charges may result in a bullet remaining in the barrel (i.e., a bullet-in-bore obstruction). Firing a subsequent bullet into the bore obstruction could cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable and subjecting the shooter and bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury.

DO NOT USE WINCHESTER .17 HMR 20 GRAIN JHP SYMBOL X17HMR1 THAT HAS A LOT NUMBER ENDING IN NB51 or NB61. The ammunition Lot Number is stamped on the top of the 1000-round case and the outside of the 50-round plastic box as indicated in the accompanying photos.

If it is Symbol X17HMR1 and the last four characters of the Lot Number are NB51 or NB61, immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 844-653-8358 for free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition.

This notice applies only to Symbol X17HMR1 with Lot Numbers ending in NB51 and NB61. Other Symbols or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

If you have any questions concerning this 17 HMR rimfire rifle ammunition recall, please call toll-free (844) 653-8358, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 | Attn: X17HMR1 Recall), or visit Winchester.com.

Winchester’s page detailing the recall is here.

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9 COMMENTS

    • YES! Excellent question. I have a good friend with a .17 (I don’t) but he’s been working overseas for the past 18 months, not buying ammo. I would rather not have to dig through all his stuff to find that the only affected dates are in 2019.

      • I don’t know, and have never known, anyone who shoots .17HMR. And I come from a wide array of gun enthusiasts on both my side and my wife’s. Must be a Midwest thing.

  6. Came across this notice only now. Wow! No powder. So what if someone uses some of these rounds in an semi-auto, and he’s firing rapidly. First cartridge has no powder, and the bullet gets stuck in the barrel. Hopefully there’s not enough gas to operate the mechanism, but what if the next round manages to get loaded and the operator touches it off before he realizes the first round didn’t sound right? Also makes you want to depend on their defensive loads, doesn’t it?

    Of course at least they are making an effort to do a recall. Few years back I bought two cases (500 rounds) of Remington Gun club 20 ga. that were defective. Almost 20 % had “hard primers” and wouldn’t go off. I fought with Remington for weeks trying to get an exchange or adjustment. The gun was putting solid hits on those primers but they wouldn’t fire. Despite the fact I never had any problem with other brands of shells in this gun, Remington insisted I send the gun to Benelli. I DID – WITH THE AMMO, and Benelli INSISTED the problem was the ammo. My correspondence and phone calls went back and forth for a couple months at which point Remington finally replaced ONE box of shells. I fired all the remaining rounds that would touch off, and buried the duds.

    NY State solved my problem with shells eventually. I’m not allowed to buy shells online, and the only low cost sellers locally (Dick’s) got out of the business. So I stopped shooting. Miss the sport bigtime.

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