Hornady markets its Varmint Express load for varmints. It uses Hornady's 30-grain V-Max, a polymer-tipped bullet, rated at a G1 BC of .095, and it leaves the muzzle at 2,200 fps. Against the other 30-grain loads, what matters is less the starting speed than how well each bullet holds its speed and resists the wind past 100 yards.

Compared with Winchester's Varmint HV V-Max, the Hornady uses the same bullet style but starts 50 fps slower. At 150 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Hornady about 14 inches sideways and the Winchester about 13, so the gap is small. Compared with CCI's Varmint Tipped 30-grain, which leaves at the same speed with CCI's VNT bullet, the Hornady falls behind downrange. The same wind pushes the CCI about 11 inches at 150 yards, and zeroed at 100 yards the CCI drops about 4 inches at 150 against the Hornady's 5.

Buy the Varmint Express if you want Hornady's V-Max for varmints out to 150 yards. Pick the Winchester Varmint HV if you want the same bullet style with a little more speed, or if you also hunt small game, since Winchester markets it for both. Pick CCI's Varmint Tipped 30-grain if wind at 150 yards is your main concern. Pick CCI's TNT Green if you need a lead-free bullet. For a heavier bullet, Winchester's Super-X 40-grain JHP starts 290 fps slower and drifts about 13 inches at 150 yards.