Winchester Varmint X Lead Free 38 gr Zinc Core Lead Free Polymer Tip

.223 Rem · 38 gr · Varmint X Lead Free · #X223PLF. Maker-published figures, velocity measured in a 24″ barrel. Below: the drop chart, the wind, the energy, and how far it is an ethical hunting load — then shoot it.

Shoot this load through the glass →Hunt with it

G1 BC: 0.156maker G1
Muzzle velocity: 3,800 fps24″ test barrel · ~25 fps per inch
Muzzle energy: 1,218 ft·lb38 gr at 3,800 fps
Transonic: 450 ydMach 1.2 — where the solver stops being sure
500 yd: 3.3 mil117 ft·lb on arrival
Twist: 1:8typical factory twist for the solve

Drop chart · 100 yd zero · 10 mph full-value wind

Range yd	Elev mil	Elev MOA	Drop in	Wind mil	Wind MOA	Wind in	Vel fps	Energy ft·lb	TOF s
50	0.3	1.0	-0.5	0.2	0.7	0.3	3,432	994	0.04
100	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4	1.4	1.5	3,094	808	0.09
150	0.1	0.2	-0.4	0.6	2.2	3.4	2,782	653	0.14
200	0.3	0.9	-1.9	0.9	3.0	6.4	2,490	523	0.20
250	0.5	1.8	-4.8	1.2	4.0	10.4	2,217	415	0.26
300	0.9	3.0	-9.5	1.5	5.1	15.9	1,961	324	0.33
350	1.3	4.5	-16.5	1.8	6.2	22.9	1,725	251	0.41
400	1.8	6.3	-26.4	2.2	7.6	31.8	1,511	193	0.51
450	2.5	8.5	-40.1	2.6	9.1	42.8	1,326	148	0.61
500	3.3	11.2	-58.8	3.1	10.7	56.1	1,176	117	0.73
550	4.2	14.5	-83.8	3.6	12.4	71.5	1,068	96	0.87
600	5.4	18.5	-116.4	4.1	14.1	88.8	992	83	1.01
650	6.7	23.2	-157.8	4.6	15.8	107.5	934	74	1.17
700	8.3	28.5	-209.1	5.1	17.4	127.4	886	66	1.33
750	10.1	34.6	-271.6	5.5	18.9	148.5	844	60	1.51
800	12.0	41.3	-346.2	5.9	20.4	170.7	807	55	1.69
850	14.2	48.8	-434.3	6.3	21.8	193.9	772	50	1.88
900	16.6	57.0	-536.9	6.7	23.1	218.1	740	46	2.08
950	19.2	65.9	-655.5	7.1	24.5	243.3	711	43	2.29
1000	22.0	75.6	-791.4	7.5	25.7	269.5	682	39	2.50

Orange rows are transonic (Mach 1.2–1.0), red subsonic. Elevation is the come-up; wind is the bullet's drift for 10 mph at 90°, so halve it for 5 mph and for a 30° wind. The app builds this for your barrel length, your altitude and today's weather, and lets you true the MV against what you actually hit.

Energy on the animal

Max ethical range, vitals shot

Coyote / varmint350 ydKeeps 250 ft·lb and expansion velocity to 350 yd. Behind the shoulder only — not a bone-breaking bullet.

PronghornWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Whitetail deerWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Mule deerWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Wild hogWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Black bearWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

ElkWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

MooseWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Energy floors: Coyote 250 · Pronghorn 800 · Whitetail 1,000 · Mule 1,000 · Wild 1,000 · Black 1,200 · Elk 1,500 · Moose 1,500 ft·lb (see the sources on each animal in the app). Expansion floor from the bullet family's published minimum impact velocity. A bone-breaking shoulder shot wants a bonded, partition or monolithic bullet regardless of energy.

Same cartridge

All .223 Rem factory loads · best for coyote · best for whitetail · best for wild · best for elk

Source: https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Rifle/Varmint-X-Lead-Free · 24" per brand-wide statement in Winchester 2026 catalog ("all other ballistic data generat