Newb question about "training" 223 ammo

Thundercat710

Thundercat710

New member
Greetings all, are there obvious reasons to avoid using this for coyote/small game hunting? I figure it's cheap for a reason but maybe it would work just fine?


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I guess my question is does this kind of stuff perform worse than stuff like Winchester varmint X or super x, etc? Those cost more than twice as much per round as this training stuff
 
according to AI:

The difference in price and terminal performance between Hornady Training .223 (55-grain SP) and Winchester Super-X Varmint & Predator (55-grain PSP) comes down to bulk packaging and bullet design

Both will successfully take down a coyote, but they go about it differently.


Why the Hornady Training is Cheaper

The Hornady load is significantly more budget-friendly primarily due to two factors:
  • Box Quantity: Hornady Training (Item #80255) is packaged in 50-round boxes. Winchester Super-X is sold in standard hunting 20-round boxes. When looking at the price per box, Hornady gives you more than double the ammunition, driving down the per-round manufacturing and packaging cost
Production Focus: Hornady positions this as a dual-purpose "Training and Hunting" round. It is manufactured in high-volume runs so law enforcement and high-volume shooters can train with a round that mimics tactical or match-grade ballistics without paying premium hunting-line prices

Both cartridges leave the muzzle at an identical velocity of 3,240 feet per second (fps), but they feature different bullet architectures that change how they impact a predator. [1, 2]

FeatureHornady Training 55gr SPWinchester Super-X 55gr PSP
Bullet StyleSpire Point / InterLock SPPointed Jacketed Soft Point
Ballistic Coefficient (G1)0.235 (Flatter trajectory, better in wind)0.197 (Higher drag, loses velocity faster)
Expansion StyleControlled, deeper penetrationRapid, aggressive fragmentation
Fur Friendliness

Moderate (Higher chance of exit wound)High (Often fragments inside with no exit)
 
Hornady Training Performance

Hornady uses a standard Spire Point bullet, often featuring their InterLock design. This bullet has a tougher, slightly thicker jacket designed to hold together through moderate barriers.
The Result on Coyotes: It will expand reliably upon impact, but it will penetrate deeper before doing so. If you hit a coyote in the shoulder, it has the structural integrity to punch right through the bone into the vitals. The trade-off is that it is highly likely to pass all the way through the coyote, leaving an exit wound that could damage the fur


Winchester Super-X Performance

Winchester's Varmint & Predator Soft Point is specifically engineered with a thinner alloy jacket wrapped around a soft lead core

The Result on Coyotes: This bullet dumps energy incredibly fast. Upon hitting a coyote, it expands almost instantly and is prone to violent fragmentation. It acts more like a polymer-tipped varmint round, meaning it will cause massive internal trauma. Because the bullet often completely breaks apart inside the chest cavity, it rarely exits, making it the preferred choice if you are trying to save the pelt
 
Buying bulk( less packaging) is usually cheaper. If the Hornady sp shoots well and performance on your varmints is acceptable, you could save about 10% buying in the 500 rd amounts. Hornady Frontier match 55 gr hp is another reasonable price option for varmints, accuracy is usually better than it's price point and is available in bulk.
 
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