7 of 8 7mm Backcountry factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for mule deer; the best reach 1,000 yd (Federal 155 gr Terminal Ascent). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 155 gr Terminal Ascent | 155 | 1,000 | 3,300 | 2,146 | yes |
| Federal 170 gr Terminal Ascent | 170 | 1,000 | 3,150 | 2,214 | yes |
| Federal 175 gr Fusion Tipped | 175 | 1,000 | 3,125 | 2,089 | yes |
| Federal 195 gr Berger Elite Hunter | 195 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 2,496 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 175 gr Core-Lokt Tipped | 175 | 950 | 3,125 | 2,005 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 168 gr Barnes LRX | 168 | 900 | 3,150 | 1,895 | yes |
| Remington Core-Lokt 175 gr Jacketed Soft Point | 175 | 750 | 3,100 | 1,643 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Premier Long Range 175 gr Speer Impact | 175 | wrong bullet | 3,125 | 2,027 | 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.