No .300 Savage factory load we have sourced carries 1,500 ft·lb for elk past the muzzle. Here is why, load by load.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Superformance 150 gr SST | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,740 | 902 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 150 gr Power-Shok JSP | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,630 | 667 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 180 gr Power-Shok JSP | 180 | wrong bullet | 2,350 | 783 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 150 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,630 | 670 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 150 gr Power-Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,630 | 613 | 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.