9 of 15 7.62x39 factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for mule deer; the best reach 150 yd (Hornady Hornady BLACK 123 gr SST). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Hornady BLACK 123 gr SST | 123 | 150 | 2,350 | 396 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 123 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting | 123 | 150 | 2,350 | 420 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler Expansion Tip 123 gr E-Tip | 123 | 150 | 2,350 | 430 | yes |
| Remington 125 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 125 | 150 | 2,365 | 361 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Don't Tread on Me Rifle 125 gr Pointed Soft Point | 125 | 150 | 2,365 | 361 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Deer Season XP 123 gr Extreme Point | 123 | 150 | 2,380 | 421 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 123 gr Power-Shok JSP | 123 | 100 | 2,350 | 362 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 123 gr Power-Point | 123 | 100 | 2,365 | 320 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Hornady BLACK 111 gr MonoFlex SBR | 111 | 50 | 2,350 | 205 | yes |
| Federal American Eagle 124 gr FMJ | 124 | wrong bullet | 2,350 | 404 | behind the shoulder only |
| Nosler 123 gr Varmageddon FB Tipped | 123 | wrong bullet | 2,350 | 410 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Frontier 123 gr FMJ | 123 | wrong bullet | 2,340 | 347 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 123 gr Full Metal Jacket | 123 | wrong bullet | 2,355 | 319 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester USA 123 gr Full Metal Jacket | 123 | wrong bullet | 2,355 | 319 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Subsonic 255 gr Sub-X | 255 | wrong bullet | 1,050 | 361 | 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.