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Common uses: Varmint
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 55gr Winchester Super-X Pointed Soft Point |
| Muzzle velocity | 3850 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 1811 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.233 |
| Case length | 45 mm |
| Overall length | 58 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 65000 PSI |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3850 | 1810 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 3360 | 1378 | 0 |
| 200 | 2921 | 1042 | -1.6 |
| 300 | 2524 | 778 | -7.3 |
| 400 | 2160 | 570 | -18.5 |
| 500 | 1828 | 408 | -37.3 |
At 1,000 yards, .223 WSSM (55gr at 3850 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 38.0 MOA / 11.0 MIL, retaining 922 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2524 | Supersonic | -7.3 | 2.3 | 0.68 |
| 400 | 2160 | Supersonic | -18.6 | 4.4 | 1.29 |
| 500 | 1828 | Supersonic | -37.3 | 7.1 | 2.07 |
| 600 | 1533 | Supersonic | -66.6 | 10.6 | 3.08 |
| 700 | 1289 | Transonic | -110.8 | 15.1 | 4.40 |
| 800 | 1111 | Subsonic | -176.0 | 21.0 | 6.11 |
| 900 | 999 | Subsonic | -269.4 | 28.6 | 8.31 |
| 1000 | 922 | Subsonic | -397.7 | 38.0 | 11.05 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .223 WSSM earned a reputation as one of the fastest production .22-caliber centerfires ever offered, making it a flat-shooting, hard-hitting choice for varmints, predators, and long-range small-game work where velocity matters most. That speed comes at a cost: the large powder charge behind a small bore accelerates throat erosion and shortens barrel life, and shooters have reported issues with bolt thrust and case life. Factory ammunition and reloading components are now scarce, and rifles chambered for it are uncommon on the used market, so ownership generally means committing to handloading and hunting for brass. In practice it delivers exceptional muzzle velocity and downrange energy for a .22 bore, but its practical drawbacks and thin commercial support have kept it a specialist's cartridge rather than a mainstream varmint round.
Introduced in 2003 through a partnership between Winchester and Browning, the .223 WSSM was created by necking down the short, fat .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) case to .224 caliber. The squat, high-capacity case was engineered to run in compact short-action rifles while pushing light .22-caliber bullets to velocities beyond established rounds like the .22-250 and .220 Swift. Never widely adopted, it saw limited factory chambering and rifle support before Winchester's and Browning's commercial backing faded, leaving it a niche cartridge today.
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