.17 CCM / .17 Cooper Centerfire Magnum (Accurate Powders)

.17 CCM / .17 Cooper Centerfire Magnum (Accurate Powders): Precision from a Purpose-Built Varmint Round

The .17 CCM (Cooper Centerfire Magnum) was developed with a clear purpose: to provide a high-performance, centerfire alternative to the .17 Mach 2 and .17 HMR rimfire rounds — but with more consistency, reloadability, and long-term accuracy. Designed in collaboration with Cooper Firearms of Montana, the .17 CCM is tailored specifically for small-game and varmint hunting, where minimal recoil and explosive terminal effects are desired.

This cartridge is based on a necked-down version of the .22 CCM, itself derived from the 9mm Winchester Magnum case. The result is a compact bottleneck design capable of launching 20-grain .17-caliber bullets at speeds nearing 3,400 fps. When paired with Accurate Powders — particularly Accurate No. 7 or 1680 — the .17 CCM proves itself as a dependable, repeatable performer with impressive velocities and consistent pressure curves.

In the field, the .17 CCM is celebrated for its surgical precision and low report. Coyotes, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels can all be cleanly taken at 200 yards and beyond, especially from Cooper’s famously accurate bolt-action rifles. Unlike some larger .17-caliber wildcats, the CCM was never meant to push extremes — it was designed for quiet, ethical dispatching of pests with little fuss or cost.

Accurate Powders offers proven recipes for reloaders looking to get the most out of this niche cartridge, especially for those using brass formed directly for the CCM rather than reworked alternatives. Its mild recoil and smooth feeding make it a favorite among shooters who appreciate control, balance, and performance in equal measure.

Source: Wolfe Publishing