No .17 Rem factory load we have sourced carries 1,200 ft·lb for black bear past the muzzle. Here is why, load by load.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norma Hornady V-MAX (Norma-loaded) 20 gr | 20 | wrong bullet | 4,199 | 118 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 20 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 20 | wrong bullet | 4,200 | 115 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 20 gr Varmageddon FBHP | 20 | wrong bullet | 4,200 | 43 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 20 gr | 20 | wrong bullet | 4,250 | 121 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington High Performance Rifle 25 gr Hollow Point | 25 | wrong bullet | 4,040 | 118 | behind the shoulder only |
Fat and hair hide the vitals: aim 4–5″ behind the shoulder and a touch high. Partition / bonded / monolithic. Floor used: 1,200 ft·lb at impact plus the bullet's published expansion velocity. Orange = a target or varmint bullet (construction, not energy); red = never carries the energy. Sources: www.themeateater.com, www.oneoutdoors.org.