September 23, 2010
By Steve Hornady
A message from Steve
Hornady on 17 HMR warnings.
By Steve Hornady
Recently there have been notices placed on several web sites warning about the use of 17HMR ammunition in semi-automatic firearms. Statements are to the effect of do not use 17HMR ammunition in semi-auto firearms or serious injury may result and do not use unless or until you have contacted the manufacturer of your firearm. Every ammunition manufacturer determines the warning it believes is appropriate for its product.


First and foremost, the safety of our customers is our primary concern, and the same is true for all other SAAMI member companies. We are making this statement to hopefully reduce confusion, answer questions and clarify issues.


We believe 17HMR ammunition is manufactured to the highest standard of care and quality and performs within the specifications established for 17HMR ammunition and is consistent with SAAMI standards for ALL ammunition.
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We are not firearms manufacturers and we believe the firearms manufacturers are solely the ones responsible for determining if and how they should market and sell a model or type of firearm. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER OF YOUR FIREARM TO DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO USE 17HMR AMMUNITION IN YOUR SPECIFIC TYPE AND MODEL OF FIREARM.


We specifically warn you: DO NOT USE 17HMR AMMUNITION IN FIREARMS IF THE MANUFACTURER OF THAT FIREARM HAS STATED IT WILL NOT SAFELY FUNCTION WITH 17HMR AMMUNITION. SERIOUS INJURY MAY RESULT.


Accordingly, you should only use 17HMR, and any other ammunition, in firearms specifically marked by the firearms manufacturer as designed for the ammunition you intend to use.
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We specifically cannot tell you that a certain type firearm, be it semi-auto, bolt, lever, or otherwise, is safe or unsafe with this or any other ammunition. In our experience, a type of firearm is neither good or bad, safe or unsafe. To state otherwise would imply that we are qualified to state what constitutes a good or bad, safe or unsafe firearm design or type and we are not qualified to make that determination.
