6 of 12 .260 Rem factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for mule deer; the best reach 600 yd (Hornady Superformance 129 gr SST). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Superformance 129 gr SST | 129 | 600 | 2,930 | 1,177 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 140 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting | 140 | 550 | 2,700 | 1,092 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes VOR-TX 120 gr TTSX BT | 120 | 450 | 2,950 | 965 | yes |
| Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting | 120 | 450 | 2,850 | 979 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 130 gr AccuBond | 130 | 450 | 2,700 | 985 | yes |
| Remington 140 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 140 | 450 | 2,750 | 999 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Match Grade 130 gr RDF | 130 | wrong bullet | 2,900 | 1,368 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier Match 140 gr Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point | 140 | wrong bullet | 2,750 | 1,299 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Precision Match 140 gr Match Burner OTM BT | 140 | wrong bullet | 2,735 | 1,248 | behind the shoulder only |
| Berger 130 gr Hybrid OTM Tactical | 130 | wrong bullet | 2,847 | 1,256 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady 130 gr ELD Match | 130 | wrong bullet | 2,840 | 1,148 | behind the shoulder only |
| Lapua 136 gr Scenar-L (GB546) | 136 | wrong bullet | 2,671 | 1,098 | 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.