2 of 3 .220 Swift factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for mule deer; the best reach 150 yd (Winchester Super-X 50 gr Pointed Soft Point). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Super-X 50 gr Pointed Soft Point | 50 | 150 | 3,870 | 280 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington High Performance Rifle 50 gr Pointed Soft Point | 50 | 100 | 3,780 | 197 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Varmint Express 55 gr V-MAX | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,680 | 421 | behind the shoulder only |
Deer-class rules of thumb; a slightly bigger animal than a whitetail. Legal: CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd. 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: chuckhawks.com, www.petersenshunting.com.