5 of 5 .300 Savage factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for whitetail deer; the best reach 450 yd (Hornady Superformance 150 gr SST). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Superformance 150 gr SST | 150 | 450 | 2,740 | 902 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 180 gr Power-Shok JSP | 180 | 350 | 2,350 | 783 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 150 gr Power-Shok JSP | 150 | 300 | 2,630 | 667 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 150 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 150 | 300 | 2,630 | 670 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 150 gr Power-Point | 150 | 300 | 2,630 | 613 | behind the shoulder only |
The 1,000 ft·lb deer figure traces to Townsend Whelen and is the one everyone repeats; Hawks puts the floor nearer 800. An 8–10″ heart/lung zone. Legal: CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd · SD: 1,000 ft·lb at muzzle. 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: www.outdoorlife.com, www.petersenshunting.com, chuckhawks.com.