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223 WSSM Ammo 2026: The Hornady Load and SAAMI Specs

By , EditorUpdated How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked the one current .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum load we could read on Hornady's own product page on November 5, 2026. The bullet weight, velocity, energy figure, test barrel and item number below are copied from the maker page. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is one maker’s load, not every .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum load sold.

Hornady prints no usage label on its product page. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, the Superformance Varmint line. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, and the test barrel is the one the table names.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 5)
Hornady Superformance Varmint223 WSSM830855 gr V-MAX® Superformance® Varmint3,850 fps1,810 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 5, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the maker’s numbers show

Our table has one load, Hornady Superformance Varmint 55 gr (8308), listed at 3,850 fps and 1,810 ft-lb at the muzzle, tested on a 24 in barrel. With one load there is no weight comparison to draw from maker pages.

The makers label loads for game or for target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrel

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length. Hornady lists a 24 in test barrel for this load. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for the .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum is 24 in.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum, and we have not charted one. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges, so do not read those numbers as .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum data.

.223 Winchester Super Short Magnum: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "223 WINCHESTER SUPER SHORT MAGNUM [223 WSSM]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 04/21/1980 and revised 04/04/2022. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 650 in psi/100). SAAMI prints crusher pressures for this cartridge as Not Established, so we quote only the transducer figure. Cartridge overall length runs from 2.060 in minimum to 2.360 in maximum. Case length is 1.670 in (−.020). Bullet diameter is .2245 in (−.0030). Bore is .219 in and groove is .224 in, with 6 grooves and a twist of 1 in 10.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). SAAMI reference velocities are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not clearly pair each bullet weight with its velocity. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF. The .223 WSSM MAP row is also on our SAAMI maximum average pressure table (Z299.4, 65,000 psi / 650 psi/100).

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout, 300 HAM'R, 350 Legend, 350 Remington Magnum, 360 Buckhammer, 400 Legend and 44 Remington Magnum) do not include the .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum, so SAAMI measures it on a 24 in barrel.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Rifles for .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum

The .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum is a rifle cartridge, and the load in the table is 55 gr. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Hornady's page shows no availability on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .222 Remington ammo, .22-250 Remington ammo, .220 Swift ammo, .204 Ruger ammo, 5.56 and .223 ammo, .270 WSM ammo, .300 WSM ammo, .243 Win ammo, the SAAMI maximum average pressure table, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum?
SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi for .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 650 in psi/100).
What grain is .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum ammo?
In our table the bullet is 55 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.
How fast is .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum ammo?
In our table, the one listed load has a muzzle velocity of 3,850 fps and a muzzle energy of 1,810 ft-lb, on a 24 in test barrel. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities.
What does test barrel mean?
It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.
Do you list prices or stock for .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum ammo?
No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 5, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

  1. Hornady: Hornady Superformance Varmint .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum 55 gr V-MAX® Superformance® Varmint, item 8308 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  2. SAAMI: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 centerfire rifle standard, .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum drawing (checked Nov. 5, 2026)

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