No .44 Mag 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes Pioneer 225 gr XPB | 225 | not enough | 1,600 | 299 | yes |
| Hornady LEVERevolution 265 gr FTX | 265 | wrong bullet | 2,325 | 618 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 270 gr HammerDown Bonded SP | 270 | wrong bullet | 2,225 | 520 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Superformance 265 gr FP InterLock | 265 | wrong bullet | 2,400 | 539 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 240 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 240 | wrong bullet | 2,350 | 373 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun 280 gr | 280 | wrong bullet | 2,100 | 475 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Pioneer 300 gr JHP FN | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,325 | 427 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 240 gr Hollow Soft Point | 240 | wrong bullet | 1,760 | 325 | 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.