Hornady Superformance, 5.56x45mm NATO, CX, 55 Grain
Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Lead-free varmint, predator, and controlled-expansion hunting use |
| Bullet Type | 55-grain CX monolithic copper-alloy polymer-tip bullet |
| Case | Brass (short-action) |
| Primer | Boxer (Small Rifle Primer) |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $29.44/box – $1.47/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Premium Trophy Copper 5.56 NATO 55 Grain; Barnes VOR-TX 5.56 NATO 55 Grain TSX; Sig Sauer Elite Copper 5.56 NATO 55 Grain |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 3,175 | Hornady official ballistic chart, 20-inch test barrel |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 1,231 | Hornady official ballistic chart |
| Bullet Weight | 55 gr | Hornady official product data |
| Bullet Type | CX monolithic copper-alloy polymer tip | Hornady official product data |
| BC G1 | 0.180 | Hornady official ballistic catalog |
| BC G7 | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Manufacturer SKU | 812544 | Hornady official product data |
| UPC | 090255719932 | Verified exact product identification |
| Case Material | Brass (short-action) | Factory-load construction |
| Primer | Boxer (Small Rifle Primer) | Factory-load construction |
| Reloadable | Yes | Brass case with Boxer primer |
| Package Quantity | 20 rounds | Hornady official product data |
Verification note: The exact product is Hornady Superformance SKU 812544 with UPC 090255719932. Hornady publishes 3,175 fps and 1,231 ft-lbs from a 20-inch test barrel, plus G1 BC 0.180.
Ballistics Table
Velocity, energy, and trajectory through 500 yards are official Hornady manufacturer data for exact SKU 812544. Hornady does not publish 10 mph wind drift or verified 600- and 700-yard values in this factory table.
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) | 10 mph Wind Drift (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3,175 | 1,231 | -1.5 | – |
| 100 | 2,781 | 944 | 0 | – |
| 200 | 2,420 | 715 | -3.0 | – |
| 300 | 2,086 | 531 | -12.1 | – |
| 400 | 1,781 | 388 | -29.1 | – |
| 500 | 1,511 | 279 | -57.3 | – |
| 600 | – | – | – | – |
| 700 | – | – | – | – |
Manufacturer conditions: 20-inch test barrel, 100-yard zero, and 1.5-inch sight height. Atmospheric conditions and wind convention were not stated in the verified table. Blank cells are intentional.
The Hornady CX Bullet — Lead-Free Construction and Design Context
The CX (Copper alloy eXpanding) bullet is Hornady’s current-generation monolithic hunting projectile, introduced as an evolution of the earlier GMX design. It is constructed from a solid copper alloy body with a red polymer tip seated in a hollow point cavity. On impact, the tip initiates expansion, driving the cavity walls outward to form a large, consistent mushroom. The shank of the bullet retains its mass, as there is no lead core to separate or fragment — a defining characteristic of lead-free bullet construction.
The Superformance propellant system pairs with the CX to push velocities higher than conventional loadings without generating excess pressure. This combination is particularly relevant to hunters in jurisdictions with lead-free ammunition regulations — California’s Condor Zone and several other states require non-lead projectiles for hunting, and the CX qualifies. Shooters should verify local regulations before assuming compliance, as rules vary by species, zone, and land management authority.
The CX is designed for controlled expansion across a wide velocity window, which matters in a cartridge like the 5.56x45mm NATO where impact velocities drop meaningfully at extended range. The monolithic construction also means the bullet is longer than an equivalent-weight lead-core projectile, which can affect magazine seating and twist rate requirements — a 1:8 or faster twist is generally preferred for stable flight of longer monolithic projectiles at 55 grains.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Deer hunting at ranges inside 300 yards where lead-free compliance is required
- Feral hog control where deep penetration and weight retention are priorities
- Predator hunting (coyote, bobcat) where fur preservation is less critical than reliable expansion
- Use in states or zones with mandatory non-toxic ammunition regulations for centerfire rifle hunting
- Shooters who want a single load that transitions between range and field use with a monolithic projectile
Not the right tool for:
- Target shooting or competition — CX bullets are priced for hunting use, not volume range work
- Varmint shooting where rapid fragmentation and minimal pelt damage are desired (the CX retains mass rather than fragmenting)
- Rifles with 1:12 twist barrels, which may not stabilize longer monolithic 55 grain projectiles reliably
- Jurisdictions where expanding ammunition is restricted for civilian use
- Budget-conscious buyers who shoot high round counts — at $1.47/round, this is not a practice load
Reliability Notes
No standardized manufacturer reliability test results were found for exact SKU 812544 across multiple firearms. Confirm feeding, extraction, ignition, accuracy, and point of impact in the specific 5.56 NATO firearm before hunting.
Competitors
- Federal Premium Trophy Copper 5.56 NATO 55 Grain – a lead-free expanding alternative; no exact published AmmoReports page was found.
- Barnes VOR-TX 5.56 NATO 55 Grain TSX – another monolithic-copper hunting option; no exact published AmmoReports page was found.
- Sig Sauer Elite Copper 5.56 NATO 55 Grain – a comparable lead-free load without an exact published AmmoReports page.
- Hornady BLACK 5.56 NATO 62 Grain FMJ – a published non-expanding training alternative from Hornady.
- PMC X-Tac 5.56 NATO 55 Grain FMJ-BT – a published lower-cost non-expanding practice alternative.
Price Reality
- Typical retail price for this load runs $28–$32 per 20-round box based on current market data; the reference price of $29.44/box falls within normal range
- Per-round cost: $1.47/round at the reference price
- Barnes VOR-TX 5.56mm 55gr runs approximately $30–34/box — comparable pricing for a similar lead-free monolithic load
- Federal Premium Trophy Copper 5.56mm typically runs $32–36/box — slightly more expensive for equivalent lead-free positioning
- Winchester Deer Season XP .223 64gr (lead-core hunting alternative) typically runs $18–22/box — roughly $0.50–0.65/round less, but does not meet lead-free requirements
- A fair price benchmark for this load is under $33/box; listings above $36/box for a standard 20-round pack should be considered overpriced unless supply is demonstrably constrained
- Case pricing (typically 200 rounds / 10 boxes) is not widely listed for this load at time of writing; case discounts, when available, typically reduce per-round cost by $0.08–0.15
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Hornady Superformance, 5.56x45mm NATO, CX, 55 Grain, 20 Rounds
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What is the exact Hornady Superformance product number?
The exact product is Hornady SKU 812544 with UPC 090255719932.
What muzzle velocity does Hornady publish?
Hornady publishes 3,175 fps from a 20-inch test barrel.
What bullet does this load use?
It uses a 55-grain CX monolithic copper-alloy bullet with a polymer tip.
What zero does the official table use?
The Hornady factory trajectory table uses a 100-yard zero and 1.5-inch sight height.
Why are wind drift and 600- to 700-yard cells blank?
Hornady does not publish those values in the verified factory table, so estimates are not substituted.
Submit Your Data · Real-World Results
Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before publishing.
Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity and confidence level will appear here automatically.
| UPC # | Firearm | Barrel (in) | Avg Velocity (fps) | Shots | Temp (°F) | Chronograph | Lot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No data yet |
Shot this load? Share your results — firearm type, barrel length, average velocity, shots fired, temperature. No account required.
Barrel length is especially important for this load — the velocity difference between a 24″ and 18.5″ barrel is over 200 fps. Please include your exact barrel length in the submission.
All submissions are manually reviewed before appearing on this page.
You need to login first.Results vary by firearm, barrel condition, ammunition lot, and environmental factors. Submitted data is for reference only. AmmoReports does not guarantee accuracy of user-submitted results.
Hornady Superformance, 5.56x45mm NATO, CX, 55 Grain, 20 Rounds
Last updated: April 2026 · ]
