Reference

Cartridge ballistics charts

Drop, wind drift, retained velocity and energy for common rifle cartridges. Each page uses one representative factory load in a standard atmosphere — a realistic starting point you can then refine with your own rifle's data in the calculator.

Ballistics comparison chart

Every cartridge below on the same 100-yard zero with a 1.5-inch sight height in standard conditions, using the load from its page. Drop is how far the bullet falls below the line of sight; point-blank range is how far you can hold dead on and stay inside a 6-inch vital zone. A dash means the range is past that cartridge's useful distance.

Velocity in feet per second at the muzzle, energy in foot-pounds at the muzzle, drop in inches below the line of sight on a 100 yd zero, distances in yards. Representative factory loads, not chronographed.
Cartridge	Muzzle velocity (fps)	Muzzle energy (ft⋅lb)	Drop at 200 yd (in)	Drop at 300 yd (in)	Drop at 500 yd (in)	Supersonic to (yd)	Point-blank range, 6 in zone (yd)
6.5 Creedmoor	2,710	2,284	3.8	13.4	53.2	1,380	276
6.5 PRC	2,910	2,765	3.0	11.0	44.1	1,640	297
7mm Remington Magnum	2,930	3,089	3.0	11.0	44.5	1,500	297
7mm PRC	2,975	3,538	2.8	10.2	40.6	1,920	306
.300 Winchester Magnum	2,930	3,718	3.0	11.2	45.6	1,370	295
.300 PRC	2,810	3,946	3.3	11.9	46.8	1,740	289
.338 Lapua Magnum	2,745	4,770	3.5	12.5	48.8	1,800	284
.50 BMG	2,820	13,247	3.2	11.3	44.2	2,270	294
.223 Remington	2,790	1,262	3.8	14.0	59.1	880	272
.300 AAC Blackout	2,175	1,313	7.9	27.9	119.3	550	210
6mm Creedmoor	2,960	2,102	3.0	11.1	45.7	1,280	296
.260 Remington	2,840	2,329	3.4	12.3	49.9	1,250	285
.308 Winchester	2,700	2,720	4.0	14.2	57.3	1,110	270
.243 Winchester	2,960	1,946	3.2	12.0	50.8	1,050	288
.270 Winchester	3,060	2,704	2.8	10.6	45.0	1,110	300
.280 Remington	2,890	2,783	3.3	12.3	51.2	1,150	285
.30-06 Springfield	2,800	2,925	3.6	13.0	53.4	1,110	279
.303 British	2,685	2,402	4.4	15.9	67.9	830	259
.450 Bushmaster	2,200	2,687	9.0	33.6	-	370	200
.22 Long Rifle	1,235	136	33.2	-	-	40	118
.22 LR Subsonic	1,040	96	-	-	-	Subsonic	106
.17 HMR	2,550	246	8.6	-	-	270	203
.17 WSM	3,000	400	4.2	16.8	-	490	256

Magnum & long range

High-velocity and heavy-bullet cartridges built for supersonic performance past 1,000 yards.

6.5 Creedmoor

Long-range target and PRS competition, steel challenges, and deer- to elk-sized game inside sensible ranges.

6.5 PRC

Long-range hunting, backcountry rifles, and open-class precision competition.

7mm Remington Magnum

Mountain and plains big-game hunting, and long-range field shooting where flat trajectory matters.

7mm PRC

Long-range hunting of deer to elk, and extended-range steel and precision-rifle competition.

.300 Winchester Magnum

Military and F-Open long-range shooting, elk and large game, and any application needing supersonic .30-calibre performance past 1,000 yards.

.300 PRC

Extended-range precision and ELR competition, military sniping, and long-range hunting of large game.

.338 Lapua Magnum

Extreme long-range competition, military anti-personnel / anti-materiel use, and the largest game.

.50 BMG

Anti-materiel use, extreme long-range target competition, and 1,000-yard-plus 'light fifty' matches.

Varmint & target

Light-recoiling, high-volume cartridges for competition, training and varmint work.

.223 Remington

Varmint hunting, AR-15 service rifle, club-level precision, training and steel matches inside 600 yards.

.300 AAC Blackout

Suppressed and short-barrel AR-15 carbines, home defence, and hog and deer hunting inside 200 yards.

6mm Creedmoor

PRS and NRL precision rifle competition, long-range steel, and medium varmint hunting.

.260 Remington

Precision-rifle competition, F-Class and long-range target shooting, and deer-sized game.

.308 Winchester

Service rifle, F-TR and tactical competition inside 1,000 yards, deer and hog hunting, and general-purpose precision.

Big game

Flat-shooting hunting cartridges for deer- to elk-sized game in the field.

.243 Winchester

Varmint and predator hunting, deer and pronghorn in open country, and low-recoil training.

.270 Winchester

Deer, sheep, pronghorn and elk hunting in open country to moderate ranges.

.280 Remington

Deer, sheep, elk and other big game in mixed and open country to around 400 yards.

.30-06 Springfield

All-round big-game hunting from deer to moose and large bears, and vintage / M1 Garand shooting.

.303 British

Deer and similar game, historic military-rifle competition, and shooting surplus Lee-Enfields.

.450 Bushmaster

Deer and hog hunting inside 200 yards, especially in straight-wall-only states and dense cover.

Rimfire

Small-bore cartridges for close-range practice, competition and small game.