Rifle Caliber Ballistics Comparison Chart

This rifle caliber ballistics comparison chart details the standard ballistic performance metrics of popular rifle cartridges. It provides an objective look at muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, and retained performance at 100 yards to help shooters evaluate projectile speed, striking power, and trajectory potential across different cartridge classes.

Please note that no single ballistic figure is universal. Performance varies significantly depending on bullet weight, specific ammunition loads, projectile design (ballistic coefficient), and the firearm’s barrel length. The data below utilizes representative factory ammunition to establish a baseline for direct comparison.

Caliber/Cartridge	Bullet Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy	Velocity at 100 Yards	Energy at 100 Yards	Typical Use
.223 Remington	55gr FMJ (Federal American Eagle)	3,240 fps	1,282 ft-lbs	2,855 fps	995 ft-lbs	Target, Varmint
5.56 NATO	62gr FMJ (Winchester M855)	3,100 fps	1,323 ft-lbs	2,770 fps	1,056 ft-lbs	Military, Target
.22-250 Remington	50gr V-MAX (Hornady V-Match)	4,000 fps	1,776 ft-lbs	3,500 fps	1,360 ft-lbs	Varmint, Predator
.243 Winchester	95gr SST (Hornady Superformance)	3,185 fps	2,139 ft-lbs	2,940 fps	1,823 ft-lbs	Deer, Predator
6mm Creedmoor	108gr ELD Match (Hornady)	2,960 fps	2,101 ft-lbs	2,810 fps	1,894 ft-lbs	Long Range, Target
6.5 Creedmoor	140gr ELD Match (Hornady)	2,710 fps	2,283 ft-lbs	2,565 fps	2,045 ft-lbs	Long Range, Deer
6.5 PRC	143gr ELD-X (Hornady Precision Hunter)	2,960 fps	2,782 ft-lbs	2,810 fps	2,508 ft-lbs	Big Game, Long Range
6.5 Grendel	123gr SST (Hornady Custom)	2,580 fps	1,818 ft-lbs	2,390 fps	1,560 ft-lbs	Medium Game, Target
.260 Remington	130gr ELD Match (Hornady)	2,840 fps	2,328 ft-lbs	2,680 fps	2,073 ft-lbs	Target, Big Game
7mm-08 Remington	140gr Core-Lokt (Remington)	2,860 fps	2,542 ft-lbs	2,595 fps	2,093 ft-lbs	Deer, Big Game
7mm Remington Magnum	162gr SST (Hornady Superformance)	3,030 fps	3,302 ft-lbs	2,850 fps	2,921 ft-lbs	Elk, Large Game
7mm PRC	175gr ELD-X (Hornady Precision Hunter)	3,000 fps	3,497 ft-lbs	2,865 fps	3,189 ft-lbs	Large Game, Long Range
.270 Winchester	130gr Core-Lokt (Remington)	3,060 fps	2,702 ft-lbs	2,780 fps	2,230 ft-lbs	Deer, Elk
.270 WSM	145gr ELD-X (Hornady Precision Hunter)	3,120 fps	3,133 ft-lbs	2,945 fps	2,793 ft-lbs	Big Game, Elk
.308 Winchester	168gr BTHP (Federal Gold Medal Match)	2,650 fps	2,619 ft-lbs	2,465 fps	2,266 ft-lbs	Target, Big Game
.30-06 Springfield	180gr Core-Lokt (Remington)	2,700 fps	2,913 ft-lbs	2,460 fps	2,418 ft-lbs	Big Game, Elk
.300 Winchester Magnum	190gr BTHP (Federal Gold Medal Match)	2,900 fps	3,548 ft-lbs	2,725 fps	3,133 ft-lbs	Large Game, Tactical
.300 PRC	212gr ELD-X (Hornady Precision Hunter)	2,860 fps	3,850 ft-lbs	2,735 fps	3,521 ft-lbs	Large Game, Long Range
.300 WSM	180gr CX (Hornady Outfitter)	2,960 fps	3,501 ft-lbs	2,750 fps	3,022 ft-lbs	Large Game, Elk
.338 Winchester Magnum	225gr SST (Hornady Superformance)	2,800 fps	3,916 ft-lbs	2,615 fps	3,416 ft-lbs	Dangerous/Large Game
.338 Lapua Magnum	250gr Scenar (Lapua)	2,950 fps	4,830 ft-lbs	2,800 fps	4,351 ft-lbs	Long Range, Tactical
.375 H&H Magnum	300gr DGS (Hornady Dangerous Game)	2,530 fps	4,263 ft-lbs	2,315 fps	3,570 ft-lbs	Dangerous Game
.450 Bushmaster	250gr FTX (Hornady Custom)	2,200 fps	2,686 ft-lbs	1,840 fps	1,880 ft-lbs	Brush Hunting, Deer
.458 Winchester Magnum	500gr DGS (Hornady Dangerous Game)	2,140 fps	5,084 ft-lbs	1,935 fps	4,156 ft-lbs	Dangerous Game
.50 BMG	750gr A-MAX (Hornady Match)	2,820 fps	13,241 ft-lbs	2,705 fps	12,185 ft-lbs	Anti-Materiel, ELR

Rifle Caliber Velocity Comparison

This table isolates the muzzle velocity data from the representative factory loads to highlight initial projectile speed.

Caliber/Cartridge	Bullet Weight	Muzzle Velocity
.22-250 Remington	50gr	4,000 fps
.223 Remington	55gr	3,240 fps
.243 Winchester	95gr	3,185 fps
.270 WSM	145gr	3,120 fps
5.56 NATO	62gr	3,100 fps
.270 Winchester	130gr	3,060 fps
7mm Remington Magnum	162gr	3,030 fps
7mm PRC	175gr	3,000 fps
6mm Creedmoor	108gr	2,960 fps
6.5 PRC	143gr	2,960 fps
.300 WSM	180gr	2,960 fps
.338 Lapua Magnum	250gr	2,950 fps
.300 Winchester Magnum	190gr	2,900 fps
7mm-08 Remington	140gr	2,860 fps
.300 PRC	212gr	2,860 fps
.260 Remington	130gr	2,840 fps
.50 BMG	750gr	2,820 fps
.338 Winchester Magnum	225gr	2,800 fps
6.5 Creedmoor	140gr	2,710 fps
.30-06 Springfield	180gr	2,700 fps
.308 Winchester	168gr	2,650 fps
6.5 Grendel	123gr	2,580 fps
.375 H&H Magnum	300gr	2,530 fps
.450 Bushmaster	250gr	2,200 fps
.458 Winchester Magnum	500gr	2,140 fps

Rifle Caliber Energy Comparison

This table details muzzle energy, a primary metric for determining the kinetic impact and stopping power of a cartridge as it leaves the barrel.

Caliber/Cartridge	Bullet Weight	Muzzle Energy
.50 BMG	750gr	13,241 ft-lbs
.458 Winchester Magnum	500gr	5,084 ft-lbs
.338 Lapua Magnum	250gr	4,830 ft-lbs
.375 H&H Magnum	300gr	4,263 ft-lbs
.338 Winchester Magnum	225gr	3,916 ft-lbs
.300 PRC	212gr	3,850 ft-lbs
.300 Winchester Magnum	190gr	3,548 ft-lbs
.300 WSM	180gr	3,501 ft-lbs
7mm PRC	175gr	3,497 ft-lbs
7mm Remington Magnum	162gr	3,302 ft-lbs
.270 WSM	145gr	3,133 ft-lbs
.30-06 Springfield	180gr	2,913 ft-lbs
6.5 PRC	143gr	2,782 ft-lbs
.270 Winchester	130gr	2,702 ft-lbs
.450 Bushmaster	250gr	2,686 ft-lbs
.308 Winchester	168gr	2,619 ft-lbs
7mm-08 Remington	140gr	2,542 ft-lbs
.260 Remington	130gr	2,328 ft-lbs
6.5 Creedmoor	140gr	2,283 ft-lbs
.243 Winchester	95gr	2,139 ft-lbs
6mm Creedmoor	108gr	2,101 ft-lbs
6.5 Grendel	123gr	1,818 ft-lbs
.22-250 Remington	50gr	1,776 ft-lbs
5.56 NATO	62gr	1,323 ft-lbs
.223 Remington	55gr	1,282 ft-lbs

Rifle Caliber Ballistics at 100 Yards

Because projectiles immediately begin decelerating after leaving the muzzle, 100-yard ballistics offer a highly practical baseline for hunting and target shooting scenarios.

Caliber/Cartridge	Velocity at 100 Yards	Energy at 100 Yards
.22-250 Remington	3,500 fps	1,360 ft-lbs
.270 WSM	2,945 fps	2,793 ft-lbs
.243 Winchester	2,940 fps	1,823 ft-lbs
7mm PRC	2,865 fps	3,189 ft-lbs
.223 Remington	2,855 fps	995 ft-lbs
7mm Remington Magnum	2,850 fps	2,921 ft-lbs
6mm Creedmoor	2,810 fps	1,894 ft-lbs
6.5 PRC	2,810 fps	2,508 ft-lbs
.338 Lapua Magnum	2,800 fps	4,351 ft-lbs
.270 Winchester	2,780 fps	2,230 ft-lbs
5.56 NATO	2,770 fps	1,056 ft-lbs
.300 WSM	2,750 fps	3,022 ft-lbs
.300 PRC	2,735 fps	3,521 ft-lbs
.300 Winchester Magnum	2,725 fps	3,133 ft-lbs
.50 BMG	2,705 fps	12,185 ft-lbs
.260 Remington	2,680 fps	2,073 ft-lbs
.338 Winchester Magnum	2,615 fps	3,416 ft-lbs
7mm-08 Remington	2,595 fps	2,093 ft-lbs
6.5 Creedmoor	2,565 fps	2,045 ft-lbs
.308 Winchester	2,465 fps	2,266 ft-lbs
.30-06 Springfield	2,460 fps	2,418 ft-lbs
6.5 Grendel	2,390 fps	1,560 ft-lbs
.375 H&H Magnum	2,315 fps	3,570 ft-lbs
.458 Winchester Magnum	1,935 fps	4,156 ft-lbs
.450 Bushmaster	1,840 fps	1,880 ft-lbs

Rifle Caliber Ballistics by Bullet Weight

Bullet weight, measured in grains (gr), scales dramatically across rifle calibers. Lightweight projectiles span from 50gr to 62gr for .22 calibers, mid-range weights scale from 120gr to 143gr for 6.5mm, and heavier standard rounds sit between 150gr and 212gr for .30 caliber variants. Specialized extreme long-range and anti-materiel cartridges utilize massive projectiles scaling up to 750gr in the .50 BMG.

Bullet weight directly impacts muzzle velocity. Lighter bullets are driven to much higher initial speeds by expanding powder gases, resulting in flatter short-range trajectories. However, because they lack mass, lighter bullets bleed velocity quickly and are highly susceptible to wind drift downrange.

Conversely, heavier bullets typically leave the muzzle at lower velocities but possess higher ballistic coefficients (BC). This increased mass and aerodynamic efficiency allows heavy bullets to overcome air resistance, retain their velocity, and deliver significantly higher terminal energy at extended ranges.