Cartridge & energy by game
Ethical hunting means bringing enough gun to kill cleanly. This guide lines up the common game classes with example cartridges and the widely cited minimum retained energy for each. Treat the energy figures as a floor, not a target - and remember that a well-placed shot from an adequate cartridge beats a poorly placed one from a magnum every time.
| Game class | Typical animals | Example cartridges | Minimum energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐇 Small game & varmints | Rabbit, squirrel, fox, coyote, bobcat | .22 LR, .17 HMR, .22 WMR, .223 Rem | ~100-400 ft-lb |
| 🦌 Deer-sized game | Whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, hog, black bear | .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .308 Win, .30-06 | ~1,000 ft-lb at impact |
| 🫎 Large game | Elk, moose, caribou, larger bear | .308 Win, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag | ~1,500 ft-lb at impact |
| 🐗 Big & heavy game | Large bear, bison, the biggest game | .300 Mag class, .338, .375 H&H | ~2,000+ ft-lb at impact |
🐇 Small game & varmints: Match the round to the size: rimfire for small game, a centrefire like .223 for coyote-sized predators. Placement matters more than power at these sizes.
🦌 Deer-sized game: The classic all-round deer cartridges. Around 1,000 ft-lb of retained energy at the target is the widely cited ethical floor for deer-sized animals.
🫎 Large game: Step up in energy and, just as importantly, in bullet construction - a tough, controlled-expansion bullet that holds together and penetrates deep.
🐗 Big & heavy game: Heavy, deep-penetrating bullets and a cartridge with the energy to reach the vitals from any angle. Know the specific rules for the animal and area.
The rules of thumb
- Placement beats power. Energy gets a bullet to the vitals; it does not excuse a bad shot. Know your effective range and pass anything beyond it.
- Bullet construction matters as much as calibre. On bigger game, a tough bullet that penetrates deep does more than raw energy from a soft one.
- Energy drops with range. The figures here are energy at the animal, not at the muzzle. Check your load's energy at the distance you actually shoot.
- Check the law. Many states and countries set minimum calibres or energy for each species - the legal minimum is not always the ethical one, so meet whichever is higher. See the deer caliber rules by state.
Shooting a bow? Use the arrow kinetic energy calculator for the archery equivalent. Then confirm your rifle's drop with the zero & holdover calculator, place the shot with the shot placement guide, and always check your local regulations first.