This paper experimentally investigates the mechanical performance of the self-stressing steel slag concrete filled steel tubular (SSSCFST) columns. Six short columns subjected to axial load are tested and the accuracy of different prescriptive methods is evaluated. The effect of the studied parameters, such as the expansion rate of steel slag concrete (SSC) (Ex) and diameter-thickness ratio of steel tube (D/t), is considered. The failure modes are observed and the load-displacement curves of the specimens are obtained. The SSSCFST short columns with the low confinement effect coefficient under axial load are damaged by shear deformation, while the outward local buckling dominates the failure of the axially loaded SSSCFST short columns with the high confinement effect coefficient. It is observed that the incremental range of the load capacity can be raised by enhancing the expansion rate of SSC. The ultimate load capacity and displacement of the columns decrease as the diameter-thickness ratio increases. Compared with the experimental results, the Hong Kong Code CoPHK (2011) and Australian Standard AS5100-2017 (2017) underestimate the ultimate load capacity of the axially loaded SSSCFST short columns. While, better predictions on the column strength can be achieved by the British Standard BS EN1994-2 ( 2005) and Chinese Specification DBJ/T13- 51-2010 (2010). Additionally, a validated finite element (FE) model for the SSSCFST short columns is adopted to perform parametric studies to broaden the available experimental results about their behaviors.