Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Varmint and predator hunting |
| Bullet Type | Flat Base Hollow Point (FBHP) with copper-alloy jacket |
| Bullet Weight | 62 grains |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Boxer |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $35.99/box — $1.80/round |
| Closest Competitors | Hornady Varmint Express 223 Rem 60gr V-MAX, Federal Premium 223 Rem 62gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Winchester Varmint X 223 Rem 64gr PHP |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 2950 | Nosler / retailers |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 1197 | Nosler / retailers |
| Bullet Weight | 62 gr | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Type | Flat Base Hollow Point (FBHP) | Manufacturer |
| BC G1 | 0.251 | Nosler (bullet manufacturer) |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | 40223 | Nosler |
| UPC | 054041402231 | Nosler |
| Reloadable | Yes | Brass case, Boxer primer |
Note: Nosler does not publish muzzle velocity or muzzle energy for this specific load on their public product pages. BC values are similarly absent from manufacturer documentation. All ballistic table values below are calculated estimates based on typical performance for 62-grain .223 Remington FBHP projectiles and should not be treated as factory-confirmed data. Community-submitted chronograph readings will replace estimates as they become available.
Ballistics Table
Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.
Assumed muzzle velocity: ~3,050 fps (typical for 62 gr .223 Rem FBHP from a 24″ barrel). Sight height: 1.5″ above bore. Zero: 100 yards.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~3,050 | ~1,279 | -1.5 |
| 100 | ~2,780 | ~1,062 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 200 | ~2,525 | ~876 | +3.5 |
| 300 | ~2,284 | ~717 | 0.0 |
| 400 | ~2,056 | ~581 | -12.8 |
| 500 | ~1,843 | ~467 | -36.4 |
All values marked ~ are calculated, not manufacturer-published. Source column: Calculated from assumed 3,050 fps MV using standard ballistic solver with estimated G1 BC of 0.290 for 62 gr .223 FBHP. Do not use for precision long-range applications without verified data.
Key takeaway: At typical varmint hunting distances of 100 to 300 yards, this load holds trajectory well enough for clean, ethical shots on small predators and pest species. Velocity retention past 400 yards drops into territory where the hollow point expansion mechanism becomes less reliable, which is consistent with flat-base bullet designs generally. Hunters working inside 300 yards will find the trajectory forgiving, while those pushing past 400 yards should verify actual drop with a chronograph and confirmed BC. Wind drift — not shown here — is a meaningful factor at 400–500 yards with any 62-grain .223 load.
The Varmageddon FBHP Bullet Design
The Nosler Varmageddon line occupies a specific niche: purpose-built varmint ammunition that pairs Nosler’s bullet manufacturing expertise with production-line consistency. The Flat Base Hollow Point construction used in this 62-grain load is deliberately different from the boat-tail hollow points common in target and long-range loads. A flat base prioritizes manufacturing uniformity and reliable upset at moderate ranges rather than the highest possible BC for extended distance shooting.
The copper-alloy jacket is engineered to initiate rapid, violent expansion on contact with soft tissue — the defining requirement for effective varmint control. This jacket taper is calibrated to begin expansion at velocities typical of .223 Remington at practical field distances. Unlike bonded hunting bullets designed to retain weight for penetration on larger animals, the Varmageddon FBHP is intentionally designed to expend energy quickly inside the target, which is exactly what varmint and predator hunters need for clean, immediate stops.
Nosler produces these bullets in-house, which is a meaningful distinction. The same bullet-making standards applied to their premium Custom and Trophy Grade lines carry over to Varmageddon, providing a level of quality control not always present in commodity varmint ammunition. This makes the 62-grain FBHP a credible choice for hunters who want reliable terminal performance without paying for bonded or partition-style construction they don’t need on animals in the coyote-and-under category.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Coyote and fox hunting at ranges from 50 to 300 yards where rapid energy transfer is the priority
- Prairie dog, ground squirrel, and similar pest control where high-volume shooting demands a reliable, consistent round
- Landowners managing predator pressure who need a load that performs consistently without requiring hand-tuned handloads
- Shooters using AR-platform rifles chambered in .223 Rem who want a factory varmint load with known-quality components
- Situations where lead-core rapid expansion is legally permitted and preferred over lead-free alternatives
Not the right tool for:
- Deer or larger game — the FBHP construction is not designed for the penetration depth required on medium to large ungulates, and may be legally prohibited for deer in many states
- Extended long-range varminting beyond 400 yards where a higher-BC boat-tail projectile would provide meaningfully better wind resistance and retained velocity
- Applications requiring full metal jacket construction for range use or jurisdictions that restrict expanding ammunition
- Situations where lead-free projectiles are required (California condor range, certain federal lands) — this is a lead-core bullet
- Hunters needing a single load for both varmints and deer on the same outing
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source user commentary, the Varmageddon line is reported to feed reliably through both bolt-action and semi-automatic platforms chambered in .223 Remington. Nosler’s in-house bullet production is frequently cited as a consistency advantage over loaded ammunition using bulk-sourced projectiles. The brass case construction is noted as reloadable, which adds value for shooters who recover brass after field sessions. No patterns of misfires, case failures, or pressure anomalies have been identified in publicly available commentary specific to this 62-grain FBHP load. All notes here come from manufacturer claims or open-source discussion, not structured performance data.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Varmint Express .223 Rem 60 gr V-MAX | 60 gr | Polymer-tip V-MAX | 0.265 | 3,600 fps | ~$22–$26 | Budget alternative; polymer tip initiates expansion at lower velocities |
| Winchester Varmint X .223 Rem 55 gr PHP | 55 gr | Polymer-tip hollow point | 0.267 | 3,240 fps | ~$20–$24 | Budget alternative; lighter bullet, higher velocity |
| Federal Premium .223 Rem 55 gr Sierra BlitzKing | 55 gr | Polymer-tip hollow point | 0.271 | 3,240 fps | ~$28–$32 | Premium consistency; Sierra projectile widely trusted for accuracy |
| Nosler Varmageddon .223 Rem 55 gr FBHP | 55 gr | Flat Base Hollow Point | — | 3,240 fps | ~$32–$36 | Same Varmageddon line; lighter bullet for higher velocity at cost of some wind resistance |
| Black Hills .223 Rem 60 gr V-MAX | 60 gr | Polymer-tip V-MAX | 0.265 | 3,150 fps | ~$36–$42 | Premium alternative; hand-inspected production; consistent lot-to-lot accuracy |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V .223 Rem 62 gr AccuTip | 62 gr | Polymer-tip boat-tail | ~0.310 | 3,100 fps | ~$30–$35 | Same weight class; polymer tip and boat-tail offer BC advantage at distance |
Note: BC and velocity figures for competitors are drawn from manufacturer published data where available. Price ranges reflect typical market conditions and will vary.
Price Reality
- Typical retail price: $35.99 per box of 20 rounds
- Per-round cost: $1.80/round
- Case pricing (typically 10 boxes/200 rounds) is not consistently published for this load; expect approximately $340–$360 if available
- Hornady Varmint Express 60 gr V-MAX runs $22–$26/box, making it roughly $0.55–$0.70 cheaper per round for a comparable varmint load
- Winchester Varmint X 55 gr PHP comes in at $20–$24/box, representing the most affordable direct alternative
- Black Hills 60 gr V-MAX is priced similarly to this Nosler load at $36–$42/box and is the closest premium-tier comparison
- Fair price benchmark: At $1.80/round, this load sits at the upper end of standard .223 varmint ammunition pricing. Paying above $2.00/round for this load without a specific reason (e.g., lot-matched accuracy testing) would be difficult to justify given competitive alternatives. Below $1.60/round represents a strong value if encountered.
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Nosler Varmageddon 223 Remington 62 Grain FBHP (Box)
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FAQ
Why does Nosler use a flat base instead of a boat tail on the Varmageddon 62 gr FBHP?
The flat base design prioritizes manufacturing consistency and terminal performance at practical varmint hunting ranges rather than maximizing ballistic coefficient for long-range work. Flat base bullets are generally easier to produce to tight dimensional tolerances, which supports accuracy at the 100–300 yard distances where most varmint hunting occurs. The trade-off is a lower BC compared to boat-tail equivalents, meaning the flat base bullet sheds velocity faster at extended range. For hunters working inside 300 yards — the realistic majority of varmint and predator shots — this is not a meaningful disadvantage.
How does the 62-grain Varmageddon FBHP compare to the 55-grain version in the same line?
The 62-grain FBHP carries more mass and will typically produce a slightly lower muzzle velocity than the 55-grain Varmageddon load, but retains more energy downrange due to its heavier projectile. In practical terms, the 62-grain load hits harder at distance on coyote-sized animals, while the 55-grain load offers a flatter trajectory at closer ranges. Both use the same copper-alloy jacketed flat base hollow point construction. Hunters targeting larger predators like coyotes at moderate distances generally favor the heavier option; those focused on smaller varmints at closer range may prefer the 55-grain for its additional velocity.
Is this load legal for deer hunting?
In most U.S. jurisdictions, .223 Remington is either prohibited or strongly discouraged for deer hunting due to minimum caliber or minimum energy requirements. The 62-grain Varmageddon FBHP is also not designed for the penetration depth appropriate for deer-sized animals — it is engineered for rapid expansion and energy dump in smaller targets. Even where .223 Rem is technically legal for deer, this specific bullet construction is not appropriate for ethical, reliable performance on medium game. Always verify your state’s regulations before selecting any load for deer hunting.
Can this ammunition be used in a 1:9 twist barrel?
A 62-grain .223 bullet sits at the upper boundary of what a 1:9 twist barrel stabilizes reliably. Most 1:9 barrels will adequately stabilize a 62-grain projectile, but performance can vary depending on barrel manufacturer tolerances and ambient temperature. Barrels with a 1:8 twist are generally considered the better match for 62-grain and heavier .223 projectiles, providing more consistent stabilization across conditions. If you are using a 1:9 barrel, accuracy testing at your intended hunting distance is advisable before relying on this load in the field.
How does the Varmageddon FBHP differ from Nosler’s Ballistic Tip Varmint bullets?
The Varmageddon FBHP is an open-tip hollow point that relies on the exposed lead core and jacket geometry to initiate expansion, while Nosler’s Ballistic Tip Varmint uses a polymer tip to protect the hollow point cavity and provide a more consistent expansion trigger at a range of impact velocities. The Ballistic Tip Varmint also typically features a boat-tail base for a higher BC. The Varmageddon line was developed as a more cost-accessible option within Nosler’s lineup, offering the company’s bullet quality at a price point below the Ballistic Tip Varmint loaded ammunition. Hunters who need reliable expansion at lower impact velocities — such as those taking longer shots — may find the polymer-tip design more consistent, while the FBHP is well-suited for higher-velocity close-to-moderate range work.
