22 of 109 .223 Rem factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for mule deer; the best reach 150 yd (Barnes Harvest Collection 69 gr Sierra Tipped GameKing). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes Harvest Collection 69 gr Sierra Tipped GameKing | 69 | 150 | 3,000 | 517 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 55 gr Trophy Copper | 55 | 100 | 3,240 | 395 | yes |
| Federal 64 gr Power-Shok JSP | 64 | 100 | 3,050 | 305 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 55 gr Fragmenting Polymer Tip | 55 | 100 | 3,240 | 327 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Deer Season XP 64 gr Extreme Point | 64 | 100 | 3,020 | 345 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes VOR-TX 55 gr TSX FB | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 213 | yes |
| Federal 55 gr Barnes TSX | 55 | 50 | 3,200 | 207 | yes |
| Federal 55 gr Power-Shok JSP | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 239 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 62 gr Fusion | 62 | 50 | 3,000 | 376 | yes |
| Hornady Critical Defense 55 gr FTX | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 153 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Custom 55 gr SP | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 265 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Critical Defense 73 gr FTX | 73 | 50 | 2,790 | 282 | behind the shoulder only |
| Lapua 50 gr Naturalis (N566) | 50 | 50 | 3,330 | 185 | yes |
| Norma 55 gr Tipstrike | 55 | 50 | 3,215 | 279 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Expansion Tip 55 gr E-Tip | 55 | 50 | 3,100 | 354 | yes |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 70 gr AccuBond | 70 | 50 | 2,750 | 425 | yes |
| Remington High Performance Rifle 55 gr Pointed Soft Point | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 191 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 62 gr Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded Pointed Soft Point | 62 | 50 | 3,100 | 265 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Ultimate Defense Rifle 62 gr Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded Pointed Soft Point | 62 | 50 | 3,100 | 265 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 55 gr Pointed Soft Point | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 191 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X 55 gr Extreme Point | 55 | 50 | 3,240 | 286 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 64 gr Power-Point | 64 | 50 | 3,020 | 299 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Fusion MSR 62 gr | 62 | not enough | 2,750 | 303 | yes |
| Hornady Superformance 50 gr CX | 50 | not enough | 3,300 | 129 | yes |
| Norma 55 gr Oryx | 55 | not enough | 3,117 | 157 | yes |
| Winchester Silvertip Centerfire 64 gr Defense Tip | 64 | not enough | 2,700 | 262 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance Match 75 gr BTHP Match | 75 | wrong bullet | 2,930 | 553 | behind the shoulder only |
| Berger 69 gr OTM Tactical | 69 | wrong bullet | 2,980 | 450 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance Varmint 53 gr V-MAX | 53 | wrong bullet | 3,465 | 421 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 69 gr Golden Target HPBT | 69 | wrong bullet | 2,936 | 523 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier Match 69 gr Sierra MatchKing Open Tip Match | 69 | wrong bullet | 3,000 | 463 | behind the shoulder only |
| Berger 73 gr Boat Tail Target | 73 | wrong bullet | 2,820 | 441 | behind the shoulder only |
| Berger 77 gr OTM Tactical | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,750 | 452 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 53 gr Hornady V-Max | 53 | wrong bullet | 3,400 | 402 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 53 gr Hornady V-Max | 53 | wrong bullet | 3,400 | 402 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal American Eagle 55 gr FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 331 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal American Eagle 55 gr FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 331 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal American Eagle 55 gr FMJBT | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 331 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Federal Training 55 gr FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 331 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal American Eagle 62 gr FMJBT | 62 | wrong bullet | 3,020 | 377 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing 69 gr | 69 | wrong bullet | 2,950 | 432 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Gold Medal Berger 73 gr Berger BT Target | 73 | wrong bullet | 2,800 | 439 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal American Eagle 75 gr TMJ | 75 | wrong bullet | 2,775 | 505 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 77 gr Gold Medal CenterStrike OTM | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,720 | 405 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing 77 gr | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,720 | 459 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Hornady BLACK 62 gr FMJ | 62 | wrong bullet | 3,100 | 342 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 68 gr BTHP Match | 68 | wrong bullet | 2,960 | 471 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady 73 gr ELD Match | 73 | wrong bullet | 2,790 | 490 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady 75 gr BTHP Match | 75 | wrong bullet | 2,790 | 487 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Hornady BLACK 75 gr BTHP Match | 75 | wrong bullet | 2,790 | 487 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 53 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 53 | wrong bullet | 3,350 | 411 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier Match 77 gr Sierra MatchKing Open Tip Match | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,790 | 442 | behind the shoulder only |
| SIG Sauer Elite Match Grade 77 gr OTM | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,750 | 456 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 331 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 62 gr Full Metal Jacket | 62 | wrong bullet | 3,100 | 359 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 69 gr Sierra MatchKing BTHP | 69 | wrong bullet | 3,000 | 394 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super Match 69 gr Match BTHP | 69 | wrong bullet | 3,000 | 394 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Barnes 55 gr JHP BT | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 261 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Precision Match 55 gr Match Burner OTM BT | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 261 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Precision Match 77 gr Match Burner OTM BT | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,680 | 380 | behind the shoulder only |
| Browning 50 gr BXV Polymer Tip | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,400 | 287 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 50 gr JHP | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,325 | 197 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Varmint & Predator 50 gr JHP | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,325 | 197 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance Varmint 35 gr NTX | 35 | wrong bullet | 4,000 | 164 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady American Gunner 55 gr HP Match | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 302 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Custom 55 gr FMJ-BT | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 280 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 55 gr FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 280 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 55 gr FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 280 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 55 gr FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 280 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 55 gr HP Match | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 302 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 55 gr HP Match | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 302 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 55 gr HP Match | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 302 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Varmint Express 55 gr V-MAX | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 304 | behind the shoulder only |
| Lapua 55 gr FMJ (S569) | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,133 | 279 | behind the shoulder only |
| Lapua 69 gr Scenar-L (GB544) | 69 | wrong bullet | 2,723 | 367 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 55 gr Jaktmatch FMJ | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,248 | 215 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 55 gr VerminXtreme | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,215 | 279 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 55 gr VerminXtreme | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,215 | 119 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 40 gr Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,625 | 228 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 55 gr Ballistic Tip Varmint | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,100 | 292 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 55 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,100 | 271 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 62 gr Varmageddon FBHP | 62 | wrong bullet | 2,950 | 264 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Match Grade 77 gr Custom Competition | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,600 | 341 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Come and Take It Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 148 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Don't Tread on Me Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 148 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 148 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 148 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,550 | 148 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 50 gr | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,410 | 289 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 50 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,425 | 188 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 50 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 50 | wrong bullet | 3,425 | 188 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier Match 52 gr Open Tip Match | 52 | wrong bullet | 3,200 | 275 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier AccuTip-V 55 gr | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 245 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 200 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 200 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 200 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 200 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 200 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington We the People Rifle 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 200 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier Match 62 gr Hollow Point Match | 62 | wrong bullet | 3,025 | 198 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 45 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 45 | wrong bullet | 3,600 | 177 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 55 gr Full Metal Jacket | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 304 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X 55 gr Polymer Tip | 55 | wrong bullet | 3,240 | 304 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA Ready 62 gr Open Tip | 62 | wrong bullet | 3,065 | 224 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 35 gr Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint | 35 | wrong bullet | 3,750 | 183 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X Lead Free 38 gr Zinc Core Lead Free Polymer Tip | 38 | wrong bullet | 3,800 | 117 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Varmint X 40 gr Polymer Tip | 40 | wrong bullet | 3,600 | 186 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Defender 60 gr Split Core Hollow Point | 60 | wrong bullet | 2,750 | 163 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Defender 77 gr Split Core Hollow Point | 77 | wrong bullet | 2,500 | 285 | 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.