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.223 Remington Trajectory Calculator

See how .223 Remington stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.

The .223 Remington is the commercial version of the 5.56 NATO, popular for varmint hunting and target shooting. With a 55-grain bullet at 3,200 fps and a 100-yard zero, expect about 3 inches of drop at 200 yards, 11.8 inches at 300 yards, and 28.7 inches at 400 yards. The lightweight bullet sheds velocity quickly, dropping below 400 ft-lbs of energy past 400 yards—adequate for varmints and predators but marginal for larger game.

Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. Heavier match bullets (69-77gr) will have different trajectories than the 55-grain varmint loads shown here. You can also factor in wind, shooting angle, and atmospheric conditions.

.223 Remington Trajectory Chart

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.223 Remington Ballistics Data

Range (yd) Elevation (in) Elevation (MOA) Elevation (MIL) Windage (in) Windage (MOA) Windage (MIL) Time (s) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lbs)
0 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3200.0 1250.89
25 -0.76 2.9 0.843 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.024 3095.87 1170.8
50 -0.26 0.49 0.144 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.049 2994.93 1095.7
75 0.0 -0.0 -0.001 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.074 2896.37 1024.77
100 0.0 -0.0 -0.001 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.101 2800.03 957.73
125 -0.27 0.21 0.06 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.128 2705.76 894.33
150 -0.84 0.53 0.156 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.156 2613.46 834.36
175 -1.73 0.94 0.274 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.185 2523.0 777.6
200 -2.96 1.41 0.411 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.216 2434.35 723.91
225 -4.56 1.93 0.562 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.247 2347.41 673.13
250 -6.55 2.5 0.727 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.279 2262.21 625.15
275 -8.96 3.11 0.905 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.313 2178.71 579.85
300 -11.84 3.77 1.096 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.348 2096.97 537.16
325 -15.21 4.47 1.299 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.385 2017.02 496.98
350 -19.11 5.21 1.516 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.423 1938.92 459.24
375 -23.59 6.0 1.747 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.462 1862.74 423.86
400 -28.69 6.85 1.992 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.503 1788.59 390.79
425 -34.48 7.74 2.253 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.546 1716.62 359.97
450 -41.0 8.7 2.53 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.591 1647.02 331.37
475 -48.32 9.71 2.825 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.637 1579.84 304.89
500 -56.52 10.79 3.139 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.686 1515.18 280.45

Take this table to the range

The .223 Remington reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.

Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.

Customize this card

Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.

Available .223 Remington Ammunition Ballistics

Product Velocity (fps) BC 100yd Drop 200yd Drop 300yd Drop
ADI World-Class .223 Remington Sierra MatchKing 69gr HPBT Ammo Ballistics 2760 0.301 0.0" -4.3" -15.8"
Barnes .223 Remington 55gr VOR-TX TSX Flat Base Ammo Ballistics 3240 0.209 0.0" -3.1" -12.5"
Federal .223 Remington 50gr Varmint & Predator JHP Ammo Ballistics 3325 0.204 0.0" -2.8" -11.8"
Federal .223 Remington 53gr Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip Ammo Ballistics 3400 0.29 0.0" -2.3" -9.2"
Federal .223 Remington 62gr MSR Fusion Bonded Soft Point Ammo Ballistics 2750 0.31 0.0" -4.3" -15.8"
Federal American Eagle .223 Remington 55gr FMJ-BT Ammo Ballistics 3240 0.269 0.0" -2.7" -10.9"
Federal Gold Medal .223 Remington 69gr BTHP Ammo Ballistics 2950 0.301 0.0" -3.5" -13.3"
Hornady Black .223 Remington 62gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 3100 0.274 0.0" -3.1" -12.2"
Hornady BLACK .223 Remington 75gr BTHP Match Ammo Ballistics 2790 0.395 0.0" -3.8" -14.0"
Hornady Critical Defense .223 Remington 73gr FTX Ammo Ballistics 2790 0.265 0.0" -4.3" -16.3"
Hornady Frontier .223 Remington 55gr FMJ-BT Ammo Ballistics 3240 0.243 0.0" -2.9" -11.5"
Hornady Frontier .223 Remington 68gr BTHP Match Ammo Ballistics 2960 0.355 0.0" -3.3" -12.4"
Hornady Varmint Express .223 Remington 55gr V-Max Ammo Ballistics 3240 0.255 0.0" -2.8" -11.2"
PMC Bronze .223 Remington 55gr Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail Ammo Ballistics 3200 0.243 0.0" -3.0" -11.8"
Remington UMC .223 Remington 55gr MC Ammo Ballistics 3240 0.202 0.0" -3.1" -12.7"
Sig Sauer .223 Remington 60gr Elite Series Solid Copper Projectile Ammo Ballistics 3100 0.24 0.0" -3.3" -13.0"
Speer Gold Dot .223 Remington 55gr SP Ammo Ballistics 3220 0.222 0.0" -3.0" -12.2"
STV Technology .223 Remington 55gr Scorpio FMJ Ammo Ballistics 3248 0.272 0.0" -2.7" -10.8"
Tula .223 Remington 55gr FMJ Steel Case Ammo Ballistics 3241 0.243 0.0" -2.9" -11.5"
Winchester .223 Remington 69gr Sierra MatchKing BTHP Match Ammo Ballistics 3000 0.297 0.0" -3.4" -12.8"
Winchester USA .223 Remington 55gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 3240 0.255 0.0" -2.8" -11.2"
Winchester Varmint-X .223 Remington 40gr Polymer Tip Ammo Ballistics 3600 0.2 0.0" -2.2" -9.6"
Wolf WPA .223 Remington 55gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 3241 0.243 0.0" -2.9" -11.5"

Zeroing the .223 Remington

Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 55gr G1 .243 at 3,200 fps, with a 1.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). Intermediate cartridges are usually shot from a flat-top rifle with the optic well above the bore, which is why AR zeros are argued about more than any others. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.

At this page's 1.5" sight height a 50-yard zero crosses back at 147 yards, not 200. The familiar "50/200" AR zero depends on the 2.6" optic height of a flat-top rifle.

.223 Remington zero comparison

.223 Remington 55gr reference load zero comparison at 1.5" sight height over bore
36-yd zero 50-yd zero 100-yd zero
Near zero 36 yd 50 yd 75 yd
Far zero 197 yd 147 yd 100 yd
Max ordinate +1.5" +0.5" +0.0"
Max ordinate distance 119 yd 100 yd 88 yd
Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") 0–262 yd 0–233 yd 0–216 yd
Sight in at 100 yd +1.4" (+1.4 MOA) +0.5" (+0.5 MOA) 0.0" (0.0 MOA)
Drop at 300 yd -7.6" -10.3" -11.8"
Drop at 400 yd -23.1" -26.7" -28.7"
Energy at 300 yd 537 ft-lb 537 ft-lb 537 ft-lb
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How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.

Key terms

Near zero
Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
Far zero
Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
Max ordinate
The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
Point blank range (MPBR)
The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.

.223 Remington with a 36-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 36 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 55gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 36 yards, peaks +1.5" at 119 yards, crosses back down at 197 yards, and is -7.6" at 300 and -23.0" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.223 Remington 55gr reference load, 36-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 3,200 1,251 0.0
25 -0.4" -1.55 -0.45 3,096 1,171 0.1
50 +0.5" +0.85 +0.25 2,995 1,096 0.3
75 +1.1" +1.35 +0.39 2,896 1,025 0.7
100 +1.4" +1.35 +0.39 2,800 958 1.2
125 +1.5" +1.14 +0.33 2,706 894 1.8
150 +1.3" +0.81 +0.24 2,613 834 2.7
175 +0.7" +0.40 +0.12 2,523 778 3.7
200 -0.1" -0.07 -0.02 2,434 724 4.9
225 -1.4" -0.59 -0.17 2,347 673 6.3
250 -3.0" -1.15 -0.34 2,262 625 7.9
275 -5.1" -1.77 -0.51 2,179 580 9.7
300 -7.6" -2.42 -0.70 2,097 537 11.8
325 -10.6" -3.12 -0.91 2,017 497 14.1
350 -14.2" -3.87 -1.12 1,939 459 16.6
375 -18.3" -4.66 -1.36 1,863 424 19.5
400 -23.1" -5.50 -1.60 1,789 391 22.6
425 -28.5" -6.40 -1.86 1,717 360 26.0
450 -34.7" -7.35 -2.14 1,647 331 29.7
475 -41.6" -8.37 -2.43 1,580 305 33.8
500 -49.5" -9.45 -2.75 1,515 280 38.2

55gr G1 .243 at 3,200 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

.223 Remington with a 50-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 50 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 55gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 50 yards, peaks +0.5" at 100 yards, crosses back down at 147 yards, and is -10.3" at 300 and -26.6" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.223 Remington 55gr reference load, 50-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 3,200 1,251 0.0
25 -0.6" -2.41 -0.70 3,096 1,171 0.1
50 0.0" -0.01 0.00 2,995 1,096 0.3
75 +0.4" +0.49 +0.14 2,896 1,025 0.7
100 +0.5" +0.49 +0.14 2,800 958 1.2
125 +0.4" +0.28 +0.08 2,706 894 1.8
150 -0.1" -0.05 -0.01 2,613 834 2.7
175 -0.8" -0.46 -0.13 2,523 778 3.7
200 -1.9" -0.93 -0.27 2,434 724 4.9
225 -3.4" -1.45 -0.42 2,347 673 6.3
250 -5.3" -2.01 -0.59 2,262 625 7.9
275 -7.6" -2.62 -0.76 2,179 580 9.7
300 -10.3" -3.28 -0.95 2,097 537 11.8
325 -13.6" -3.98 -1.16 2,017 497 14.1
350 -17.3" -4.72 -1.37 1,939 459 16.6
375 -21.7" -5.52 -1.60 1,863 424 19.5
400 -26.7" -6.36 -1.85 1,789 391 22.6
425 -32.3" -7.26 -2.11 1,717 360 26.0
450 -38.7" -8.21 -2.39 1,647 331 29.7
475 -45.9" -9.23 -2.68 1,580 305 33.8
500 -54.0" -10.30 -3.00 1,515 280 38.2

55gr G1 .243 at 3,200 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

.223 Remington with a 100-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 55gr load first crosses the line of sight at 75 yards, peaks +0.0" at 88 yards, returns to zero at 100, and is -11.8" at 300 and -28.7" at 400 yards.

Download CSV
.223 Remington 55gr reference load, 100-yard zero, 1.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -1.5" 0.00 0.00 3,200 1,251 0.0
25 -0.8" -2.90 -0.84 3,096 1,171 0.1
50 -0.3" -0.49 -0.14 2,995 1,096 0.3
75 0.0" 0.00 0.00 2,896 1,025 0.7
100 0.0" 0.00 0.00 2,800 958 1.2
125 -0.3" -0.21 -0.06 2,706 894 1.8
150 -0.8" -0.53 -0.16 2,613 834 2.7
175 -1.7" -0.94 -0.27 2,523 778 3.7
200 -3.0" -1.41 -0.41 2,434 724 4.9
225 -4.6" -1.93 -0.56 2,347 673 6.3
250 -6.6" -2.50 -0.73 2,262 625 7.9
275 -9.0" -3.11 -0.91 2,179 580 9.7
300 -11.8" -3.77 -1.10 2,097 537 11.8
325 -15.2" -4.47 -1.30 2,017 497 14.1
350 -19.1" -5.21 -1.52 1,939 459 16.6
375 -23.6" -6.00 -1.75 1,863 424 19.5
400 -28.7" -6.85 -1.99 1,789 391 22.6
425 -34.5" -7.74 -2.25 1,717 360 26.0
450 -41.0" -8.70 -2.53 1,647 331 29.7
475 -48.3" -9.71 -2.83 1,580 305 33.8
500 -56.5" -10.79 -3.14 1,515 280 38.2

55gr G1 .243 at 3,200 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.

Maximum Point Blank Range for the .223 Remington

Maximum point blank range (MPBR) is the zero that keeps the bullet inside a vital zone, never more than half its height above or below the line of sight (an 8" zone is ±4"), for as far as possible. Zero at the distance in the table and you can hold dead-on from the muzzle to the far edge of the window.

.223 Remington maximum point blank range by vital zone size
Vital zone Zero at Hold dead-on from To (MPBR) Max ordinate Near / far zero CSV
8" (whitetail, pronghorn) 273 yd 0 yd 318 yd +4.0" at 156 yd 25 / 273 yd Download
10" (elk, moose) 296 yd 0 yd 344 yd +5.0" at 168 yd 22 / 296 yd Download

MPBR assumes a centred hold, a level shot and no wind; it is a ceiling, not a licence to skip ranging. The far edge of the window is where the bullet has already fallen half the vital zone.

Which Zero Should You Use for the .223 Remington?

The 55gr .223 Remington is a varmint and paper cartridge first, so pick the zero by the size of what you shoot at. On a prairie dog or coyote the useful window is about ±2", and at this page's 1.5" sight height the 36-yard zero keeps the bullet inside that window from the muzzle to 235 yards, peaking 1.5" high at 119. The 100-yard zero holds the same ±2" only to 181 yards because it spends its arc below the line of sight instead of above it.

For paper and steel at known distances, zero at 100 and dial. The 100-yard zero climbs only 0.04" above the line of sight, so your dope from 100 outward is clean, and the 11.8" of drop at 300 and 28.7" at 400 become simple turret values. The 50-yard zero at this sight height is the one to avoid: its far zero lands at 147 yards, which is neither the 50/200 behaviour of a flat-top AR nor a useful known-distance zero.

Watch the velocity column more than the drop column with a 55gr bullet. It leaves at 3,200 fps but is doing about 2,100 at 300 yards and keeps falling, so wind drift grows faster than drop past 250 yards. If your rifle is an AR-15 with the optic 2.6" over the bore, the AR zero comparison pages solve the same cartridge at that height and the numbers are quite different.

Guidance reviewed 2026-09-13.

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Stock Up On .223 Remington Ammo for the Range

PRODUCT PRICE/RD
STV Technology .223 Remington 55gr Scorpio FMJ Ammo
Sold by: Fast Ammo
$0.42
1000 Rounds
PMC Bronze .223 Remington 55gr Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail Ammo
$0.44
1000 Rounds
ADI World-Class .223 Remington Sierra MatchKing 69gr HPBT Ammo
$0.82
200 Rounds
Hornady Black .223 Remington 62gr FMJ Ammo
$0.93
200 Rounds
Federal .223 Remington 50gr Varmint & Predator JHP Ammo
Sold by: Fast Ammo
$1.16
20 Rounds
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