Many feel that the .17 HMR is revolutionary, and they can make a pretty good case for this.

It's quiet, about like a .22 LR.

It may produce the most acurate out-of-the-box guns ever.

It is the flattest shooting rimfire at all practical ranges.

Despite this, it loses energy fast at the end of it's flight, and falls to earth at about the same distance as the .22 LR.

The bullet is extremely frangible, meaning fewer ricochets.

All of these things work together to make it an ideal choice for small game hunting, mid-range varmint shooting, target shooting, and plinking.