9 of 9 7x64 factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for mule deer; the best reach 900 yd (Norma 165 gr Bondstrike). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norma 165 gr Bondstrike | 165 | 900 | 2,854 | 1,703 | yes |
| Norma 160 gr Tipstrike | 160 | 750 | 2,920 | 1,506 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 140 gr Ecostrike | 140 | 600 | 2,986 | 1,238 | yes |
| Barnes VOR-TX Euro 140 gr TTSX BT | 140 | 550 | 2,950 | 1,125 | yes |
| Norma 170 gr Plastic Point | 170 | 500 | 2,756 | 1,037 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 140 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 140 | 500 | 2,950 | 1,065 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 170 gr Vulkan | 170 | 450 | 2,756 | 958 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 170 gr Oryx | 170 | 400 | 2,756 | 861 | yes |
| Lapua 156 gr Naturalis (N564) | 156 | 350 | 2,756 | 665 | yes |
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.