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HSM Varmint 223 Rem 55 Gr SP

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Ammo Reports Team 3 0 223 Remington

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Official Specs

Note: HSM does not publish muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, or ballistic coefficient data for this specific load on their product pages or public data sheets. The ballistics table below uses a calculated estimate based on standard industry performance for a 55 gr SP projectile in .223 Remington from a 24-inch test barrel. All values should be treated as approximations until manufacturer data is confirmed or community-submitted chrono results are available.

HSM Varmint 223 Rem 55 Gr SP 50 Rounds (Box)

$37.99

in stock

Ballistics Table

Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.

Assumptions: G1 BC ≈ 0.255 (typical for 55 gr SP), estimated muzzle velocity ≈ 3,240 fps (industry average for 55 gr .223 Rem SP from 24″ barrel), sight height 1.5″ above bore, 100-yard zero, standard atmosphere (59°F, sea level).

Key takeaway: At typical varmint hunting distances of 100–300 yards, this load retains sufficient velocity and energy for clean, reliable performance on small to medium varmints such as prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and coyotes. Beyond 300 yards, trajectory drop becomes significant enough that precise holdover or scope adjustment is necessary. The soft point construction will expand reliably at the velocities seen through 300 yards, but terminal performance may become inconsistent at the far end of the 400–500 yard range where velocity drops toward the 2,000 fps threshold. For most field situations, this is a capable load within practical varminting distances.

The HSM Soft Point Bullet in Varmint Applications

The soft point bullet is one of the oldest and most field-proven projectile designs in centerfire rifle ammunition. Unlike a full metal jacket, the exposed lead tip initiates rapid expansion on impact, transferring energy efficiently into the target. For varmint hunting, this matters because clean, quick kills reduce wounding loss and are required by ethical hunting standards in most jurisdictions.

HSM (Hunting Shack Munitions), based in Stevensville, Montana, has built its reputation on producing American-made factory ammunition at accessible price points. The Varmint line is specifically positioned for hunters who shoot high volumes during varmint seasons — prairie dog towns, ground squirrel colonies — where cost-per-round matters. The brass casing allows reloaders to recycle spent cases, adding long-term value for those who also handload, though this page covers the factory load only.

The 55 gr weight in .223 Remington represents the most common and widely-tested bullet weight in this caliber, with an enormous body of field data supporting its effectiveness on varmint-class animals. It is the weight around which most .223 Rem twist rates (1:9 and 1:12 being most common) are optimized, making this load compatible with the broadest range of rifles chambered in this cartridge.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Prairie dog and ground squirrel shooting at 100–300 yards
• Coyote hunting where rapid expansion and energy transfer are priorities
• High-volume varmint sessions where per-round cost needs to stay reasonable
• Hunters using bolt-action or semi-automatic .223 Rem rifles with 1:9 or 1:12 twist barrels
• Situations where reloadable brass recovery adds downstream value

Not the right tool for:

• Long-range precision varminting beyond 400 yards where BC and published data matter
• Deer or larger big game — soft point .223 Rem is prohibited or inadvisable for deer in many states due to energy and caliber restrictions
• Jurisdictions with lead-free hunting requirements (this is a lead-core bullet)
• Competitive shooting or benchrest applications where consistency data is required
• Hunters who need manufacturer-verified velocity data for ballistic calculator inputs

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product descriptions, the following notes are relevant — these are manufacturer claims or open-source observations, not structured test data:

• HSM states the ammunition is engineered for precision and reliability in hunting applications, with quality-controlled brass casings
• The soft point design is described as performing consistently for varmint hunting, which aligns with the general performance profile of this bullet type at .223 Rem velocities
• HSM produces ammunition in the United States and has a history of supplying hunting loads to the western U.S. market where varmint hunting is a significant use case
• No active recalls or safety notices for this load were found in publicly available sources at the time of publication
• No independent laboratory or structured field data (chrono results, gel tests, accuracy groups) has been submitted for this specific load

Competitors

Price Reality

• Typical retail price: $37.99 per 50-round box — approximately $0.76 per round
• Case pricing (typically 500 rounds / 10 boxes) is not consistently published for this load; estimated case cost would fall in the $360–$380 range if available
• Federal Power-Shok 55 Gr SP typically runs $28–$34/box, making it roughly $0.07–$0.18 cheaper per round for comparable bullet performance
• Winchester Super-X 55 Gr SP is similarly priced at $28–$35/box, representing a meaningful cost advantage at high volumes
• Hornady Varmint Express V-MAX runs $38–$45/box — comparable to or slightly above HSM pricing, but with published ballistic data and a purpose-engineered varmint bullet
• At $0.76/round, this load sits at the upper edge of what the market typically charges for a non-premium soft point .223 Rem load; buyers shooting high volumes during varmint season may find better value in the Federal or Winchester alternatives
• A price above $42–$45/box for this specific load should be considered above market rate unless supply conditions are unusual

Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.

Where to Buy

HSM Varmint 223 Rem 55 Gr SP 50 Rounds (Box)

The HSM Varmint .223 Rem 55 Gr SP ammunition is expertly designed for hunters seeking precision and reliability, featuring high-quality brass casings and soft point bullets for optimal performance in varmint hunting.

$37.99 at Ammunitiondepot.com

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

FAQ

Does the soft point bullet in this load expand reliably on varmints at longer ranges?

The soft point design depends on impact velocity to initiate and sustain expansion. At the estimated muzzle velocity of approximately 3,240 fps, this load will expand reliably on varmints out to roughly 300 yards where velocity remains well above 2,400 fps. Beyond that distance, expansion becomes progressively less consistent as velocity drops. For hunters regularly shooting past 300 yards, a polymer-tipped bullet such as the Hornady V-MAX or Nosler Ballistic Tip is engineered to expand at lower impact velocities and would be a more reliable choice.

How does HSM Varmint compare to Federal Power-Shok .223 Rem 55 Gr SP?

Both loads use a 55 gr soft point bullet in brass-cased, Boxer-primed .223 Remington ammunition, and their ballistic performance is expected to be nearly identical given the shared bullet weight and construction class. The primary practical difference is price — Federal Power-Shok typically runs $5–$10 less per box, which adds up significantly during high-volume varmint seasons. Federal also publishes muzzle velocity data (3,240 fps from a 24″ barrel), giving shooters a verified starting point for ballistic calculations, whereas HSM does not currently publish this data publicly.

Is this load legal for deer hunting?

In most U.S. states, .223 Remington is either prohibited or strongly discouraged for deer hunting due to minimum caliber or energy requirements. This load is specifically marketed for varmint hunting — prairie dogs, ground squirrels, coyotes — and should not be used on deer-class animals regardless of bullet construction. Always verify your state’s minimum caliber and energy regulations before selecting any load for deer. Using an undersized or underpowered load on deer is both an ethical concern and potentially a legal violation.

Will this ammunition function reliably in semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15?

The 55 gr weight and standard .223 Remington pressure specifications make this load broadly compatible with semi-automatic rifles chambered in .223 Rem or 5.56 NATO, including AR-15 platform rifles. Soft point bullets are not inherently problematic in semi-automatic feeding, though individual rifles may have preferences based on magazine geometry and feed ramp design. No specific feeding or cycling issues have been reported for this load in available open sources, but as with any ammunition, function-testing in your specific rifle before a hunt is always advisable.

Does the brass casing make this load worth the price premium for reloaders?

The reloadable brass casing does add downstream value for shooters who also handload — spent .223 Rem brass from quality manufacturers can be resized and reloaded multiple times. However, this page covers the factory load only, and the value calculation depends on individual reloading costs and how many times the brass is successfully reloaded. For hunters who do not reload, the brass advantage is irrelevant, and competing loads at lower price points may represent better value. For those who do reload, recovering quality brass partially offsets the higher per-round cost relative to budget competitors.

HSM Varmint 223 Rem 55 Gr SP 50 Rounds (Box)

$37.99

in stock