No .204 Ruger factory load we have sourced carries 1,000 ft·lb for whitetail deer past the muzzle. Here is why, load by load.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Superformance Varmint 40 gr V-MAX | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,900 | 395 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 40 gr | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,900 | 395 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 32 gr Hornady V-Max | 32 | wrong bullet | 4,100 | 230 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance Varmint 32 gr V-MAX | 32 | wrong bullet | 4,225 | 248 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma Hornady V-MAX (Norma-loaded) 39 gr | 39 | wrong bullet | 3,806 | 363 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tip Varmint | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,625 | 265 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 32 gr | 32 | wrong bullet | 4,225 | 248 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance Varmint 24 gr NTX | 24 | wrong bullet | 4,400 | 131 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 32 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 32 | wrong bullet | 4,000 | 204 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 32 gr Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint | 32 | wrong bullet | 3,975 | 247 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X 32 gr Polymer Tip | 32 | wrong bullet | 4,000 | 216 | behind the shoulder only |
The 1,000 ft·lb deer figure traces to Townsend Whelen and is the one everyone repeats; Hawks puts the floor nearer 800. An 8–10″ heart/lung zone. Legal: CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd · SD: 1,000 ft·lb at muzzle. Floor used: 1,000 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.outdoorlife.com, www.petersenshunting.com, chuckhawks.com.