Bullet weight runs from a few dozen grains to more than five hundred across this shelf, and the energy gap is far larger.

Bullet weight is measured in grains, and across this shelf it runs from about 36 grains in a common .22 LR hollow point to 570 grains in a .500 Nitro Express. The heavy bullet weighs about sixteen times as much, and the energy gap is far larger.

Energy in foot-pounds is the bullet's weight in grains times its velocity in feet per second squared, divided by 450,240. A 40-grain .22 LR bullet at 1,070 feet per second, a standard-velocity figure, carries about 100 foot-pounds. A 36-grain hollow point at 1,260 feet per second carries about 127.

The rimfire end

CCI loads standard-velocity .22 LR with a 40-grain lead round-nose bullet at about 1,070 feet per second, and its loads are at cci 22lr ammo.

Federal's Champion .22 LR hollow point is a 36-grain load rated at about 1,260 feet per second, and Federal's loads are at federal 22lr ammunition.

Winchester's 40-grain .22 LR loads are at winchester 22lr 40 grain ammo.

The mid-weight big bores

The .450 Bushmaster fires a .452-inch bullet, and Hornady loads it with a 250-grain bullet. Buffalo Bore, known for heavy-for-caliber loads, also loads it, and its loads are at buffalo bore 450 bushmaster ammo.

The .450 Marlin was introduced with a 350-grain bullet at about 2,100 feet per second, which works out to about 3,400 foot-pounds, and its loads are at 450 marlin ammo for sale.

The .458 SOCOM is loaded with a wide range of bullet weights, and its 350-grain loads are at 458 socom 350 grain ammo. The .458 HAM'R, designed by Wilson Combat as a higher-capacity companion to the .458 SOCOM, is rated at more than 3,000 foot-pounds from an 18-inch barrel. Its loads are at 458 hamr ammo.

The heavyweights

The .460 Weatherby Magnum fires a 500-grain bullet at about 2,600 feet per second, roughly 7,500 foot-pounds, and its 500-grain loads are at 460 weatherby magnum 500 grain ammo.

The .500 Nitro Express is traditionally a 570-grain bullet at about 2,150 feet per second, which works out to about 5,850 foot-pounds, and Kynoch's loads are at kynoch 500 nitro express ammo. The .500 Jeffery's early loads used a 535-grain bullet at about 2,350 feet per second, about 6,550 foot-pounds, and its loads are at 500 jeffery ammo for sale.

What the numbers cannot tell you

Heavy bullets are not only more energetic. They are also longer, which helps penetration. But energy is not a measure of how a bullet performs on an animal, and a .22 LR is a small-game and target cartridge however the arithmetic comes out.

Energy figures are calculated from published weights and velocities and are not guarantees of performance. Check the maker's data for the load, and confirm current stock and state shipping restrictions before ordering.