No .22-250 Rem factory load we have sourced carries 1,500 ft·lb for elk past the muzzle. Here is why, load by load.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes VOR-TX 50 gr TSX FB | 50 | not enough | 3,830 | 258 | yes |
| Norma 55 gr Oryx | 55 | not enough | 3,609 | 178 | yes |
| Hornady Superformance Varmint 50 gr V-MAX | 50 | wrong bullet | 4,000 | 430 | behind the shoulder only |
| Browning 50 gr BXV Polymer Tip | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,800 | 374 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 50 gr JHP | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,850 | 288 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 50 gr JHP | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,850 | 288 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 55 gr Power-Shok JSP | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,650 | 287 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 55 gr Hornady V-Max | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,670 | 335 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance 35 gr NTX | 35 | wrong bullet | 4,450 | 197 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Varmint Express 50 gr V-MAX | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,800 | 374 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Varmint Express 55 gr V-MAX | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,680 | 362 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 55 gr Tipstrike | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,576 | 311 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 55 gr VerminXtreme | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,576 | 119 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 35 gr Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint | 35 | wrong bullet | 4,200 | 245 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 40 gr Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,950 | 285 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 55 gr Ballistic Tip Varmint | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 354 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 55 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 327 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 4,000 | 199 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 4,000 | 199 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 50 gr | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,800 | 374 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 50 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,820 | 243 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 50 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,820 | 243 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington High Performance Rifle 55 gr Pointed Soft Point | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,680 | 216 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington We the People Rifle 55 gr Pointed Soft Point | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,680 | 216 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X Lead Free 38 gr Zinc Core Lead Free Polymer Tip | 38 | wrong bullet | 4,090 | 138 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,950 | 225 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 55 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,680 | 397 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 55 gr Pointed Soft Point | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,680 | 216 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X 55 gr Polymer Tip | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,700 | 345 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 64 gr Power-Point | 64 | wrong bullet | 3,500 | 314 | behind the shoulder only |
1,500 ft·lb is the number most repeated (Guns & Ammo, Backfire); Hawks says 1,200, Boddington floats 2,000. Avoid quick-opening and match bullets. Legal: SD: ≥ .243 and 1,700 ft·lb at muzzle · CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd, ≥ 85 gr. Floor used: 1,500 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.gunsandammo.com, www.chuckhawks.com, www.petersenshunting.com, regulations.justia.com.