Here’s how I’m currently ranking the best Mule Deer and Elk cartridges out to 500 yards. Let me know if you agree/disagree and what would be different in your top 5.
*This one was significantly harder to rank. Feels like every cartridge has a flaw.
Bullets used for comparison (These are the bullets I plan on using for hunts):
Hornady CX Outfitter
Barnes TTSX
Nosler E-tip
Nosler Partition
Nosler Accubond or Accubond LR
*Ballistic Data for these bullets was pulled directly from the manufacturer whenever possible. I didn’t pull in the full spread sheet of ballistic data so it would be more reader friendly.
Agree with your point about foot pounds of energy being pretty irrelevant. However, do have to wonder if there’s not some other variable that needs to be considered.
If velocity, greater than 2,000 ft per second, is the only thing that we’re concerned with, then one could make an argument that one should go hunting for Gigantic bull elk, moose, Etc with an ultra fast 22, 24, 25, Etc caliber running a sub 100 grain bullet. Yet, I don’t see anyone recommending that who routinely hunts those types of critters, and the ammo companies definitely have a recommendation of minimum bullet weight to use with the larger animals like elk.
Perhaps that’s the reason why people focus on foot pounds? They are using it as a surrogate for penetration?
I also agree that ft-lbs of energy is not the most important factor to consider, but I do tend to look at it regardless. That said, out of the four factory offerings I’ve test in my 7mm PRC (including the Hornady Outfitter CX) all have produced over 1500 ft-lbs of energy at 500 yards.
