How do they perform on ground squirrels at .223 velocities?

Same as a 55 grain FMJ. Depends on what they hit on the squirrel.

I have had some hit the rib cage and blow them up like a hollow point. Others hit the stomach area and just cut them in half or make a big tearing wound.

If you want explosive performance, use a SP or an HP. I personally love the 69 grain matchking, but I would not waste the expense on squirrels. If I had to have something like that, I'd use the 55 grain FMJ, basically for economy.

I have tried Hornady's 75 grain HP on squirrels and it blew a few up, and mostly just cut them in half with no fanfare. Same results with the 75 grain A max and the Nosler 80 grain Match bullet, and the Sierra 80 grain Match bullet.

I am too addicted to the explosive factor.....

cheers
seafire

Have you tried the Speer 52gr hollow point? They do a number on anything up to 100 yards. I started shooting cast bullet that I hollow point an they do the same job to about 175 yards.

Speer 52gr.HP Very accurate and red mist capable.

Has anyone tried the Barns Varmint Atron? Some one told me they work okay but it is some ome I never trusted.

The Speer 52 grain HP is my bullet in my Rebarreled 22/250 with a 28 inch barrel on a Winchester Model 70 action.

The are throttled back with an MV of only 3400 fps, but they are deadly accurate and generate a lot of ground squirrels into a bigger scattering of ground squirrel parts.

That and the 50 grain TNT are two great bullets from Speer for that application.

Cheers
seafire