7 of 18 .25-06 Rem factory loads carry 1,500 ft·lb and expansion velocity for elk; the best reach 300 yd (Federal 120 gr Fusion). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 120 gr Fusion | 120 | 300 | 2,980 | 1,102 | yes |
| Hornady Precision Hunter 110 gr ELD-X | 110 | 300 | 3,140 | 1,085 | yes |
| Nosler Expansion Tip 100 gr E-Tip | 100 | 250 | 3,200 | 969 | yes |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 100 gr Partition | 100 | 250 | 3,300 | 962 | yes |
| Barnes VOR-TX 100 gr TTSX BT | 100 | 200 | 3,225 | 860 | yes |
| Federal 100 gr Barnes TSX | 100 | 200 | 3,210 | 770 | yes |
| Hornady Superformance 90 gr CX | 90 | 150 | 3,350 | 602 | yes |
| Winchester Deer Season XP 117 gr Extreme Point | 117 | wrong bullet | 3,100 | 1,038 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance 117 gr SST | 117 | wrong bullet | 3,110 | 894 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 115 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting | 115 | wrong bullet | 3,000 | 951 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 115 gr Ballistic Silvertip | 115 | wrong bullet | 3,060 | 985 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 117 gr Power-Shok JSP | 117 | wrong bullet | 3,030 | 875 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady American Whitetail 117 gr BTSP InterLock | 117 | wrong bullet | 2,990 | 809 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 120 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 120 | wrong bullet | 2,990 | 737 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 85 gr Ballistic Silvertip | 85 | wrong bullet | 3,470 | 806 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 120 gr Positive Expanding Point | 120 | wrong bullet | 2,990 | 689 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 100 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 100 | wrong bullet | 3,230 | 672 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 90 gr Positive Expanding Point | 90 | wrong bullet | 3,440 | 594 | 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.