No .221 Fireball factory load we have sourced carries 800 ft·lb for pronghorn past the muzzle. Here is why, load by load.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 50 gr | 50 | wrong bullet | 2,995 | 202 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 40 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,100 | 142 | behind the shoulder only |
Chuck Hawks: ~800 ft·lb at impact with a .24″+ bullet of SD ≥ .215. Legal: CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd (rifle). Floor used: 800 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.chuckhawks.com, cpw.state.co.us.