The HM2 is a great round for squirrels, but the HMR with V-max's is very distructive. It was made for small to medium varmint hunting at medium ranges. If you shoot an averaged sized tree squirrel at 50 yards or so in the body it will do severe damage. Same with small birds.

It won't always blow them apart, but if it doesn't everything inside will be mush in most cases.

Those are my experiences anyway.

I would bet from what I have read the 20 grn XTP's would do much less much damage, but penitrate more.

Paul