The Remington .30-06 Springfield is one of the most versatile and proven hunting cartridges in the world. On average, a standard Remington 150-grain Core-Lokt leaves the muzzle at 2,910 feet per second (fps) with 2,820 foot-pounds of energy, dropping just 8.2 inches at 300 yards (with a 200-yard zero). For larger game, the heavier 180-grain Core-Lokt sacrifices a bit of speed but retains over 1,600 ft-lbs of bone-crushing energy out to 300 yards.
Below is the complete ballistic data for Remington’s most popular .30-06 loads, followed by a breakdown of how to translate these numbers into field performance.
Remington .30-06 Multi-Load Ballistic Chart
(Note: Trajectory data assumes a 200-yard zero and a 1.5-inch sight height above the bore.)
| Remington Load Type | Weight (gr) | Range (yds) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Drop (in) |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 125 | 0 (Muzzle) | 3140 | 2736 | -1.5 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 125 | 100 | 2780 | 2145 | +1.5 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 125 | 200 | 2447 | 1662 | 0.0 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 125 | 300 | 2138 | 1269 | -7.4 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 125 | 400 | 1853 | 953 | -22.4 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 125 | 500 | 1595 | 706 | -47.6 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 150 | 0 (Muzzle) | 2910 | 2820 | -1.5 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 150 | 100 | 2616 | 2279 | +1.8 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 150 | 200 | 2340 | 1823 | 0.0 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 150 | 300 | 2081 | 1442 | -8.2 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 150 | 400 | 1839 | 1126 | -24.4 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 150 | 500 | 1619 | 873 | -51.3 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 165 | 0 (Muzzle) | 2800 | 2872 | -1.5 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 165 | 100 | 2609 | 2493 | +1.8 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 165 | 200 | 2425 | 2155 | 0.0 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 165 | 300 | 2249 | 1853 | -7.8 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 165 | 400 | 2081 | 1586 | -22.4 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 165 | 500 | 1919 | 1349 | -44.9 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 180 | 0 (Muzzle) | 2700 | 2913 | -1.5 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 180 | 100 | 2469 | 2436 | +2.1 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 180 | 200 | 2250 | 2023 | 0.0 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 180 | 300 | 2042 | 1666 | -9.0 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 180 | 400 | 1846 | 1362 | -26.3 |
| Core-Lokt PSP | 180 | 500 | 1663 | 1105 | -54.0 |
| Core-Lokt Tipped | 180 | 0 (Muzzle) | 2745 | 3011 | -1.5 |
| Core-Lokt Tipped | 180 | 100 | 2560 | 2618 | +1.9 |
| Core-Lokt Tipped | 180 | 200 | 2380 | 2263 | 0.0 |
| Core-Lokt Tipped | 180 | 300 | 2210 | 1951 | -8.0 |
| Core-Lokt Tipped | 180 | 400 | 2045 | 1671 | -22.8 |
| Core-Lokt Tipped | 180 | 500 | 1890 | 1427 | -45.5 |
| Core-Lokt SP | 220 | 0 (Muzzle) | 2410 | 2837 | -1.5 |
| Core-Lokt SP | 220 | 100 | 2130 | 2216 | +3.1 |
| Core-Lokt SP | 220 | 200 | 1870 | 1708 | 0.0 |
| Core-Lokt SP | 220 | 300 | 1632 | 1301 | -13.1 |
| Core-Lokt SP | 220 | 400 | 1422 | 988 | -39.3 |
| Core-Lokt SP | 220 | 500 | 1246 | 758 | -82.8 |
| Premier Scirocco | 150 | 0 (Muzzle) | 2910 | 2820 | -1.5 |
| Premier Scirocco | 150 | 100 | 2700 | 2428 | +1.6 |
| Premier Scirocco | 150 | 200 | 2500 | 2081 | 0.0 |
| Premier Scirocco | 150 | 300 | 2310 | 1777 | -7.0 |
| Premier Scirocco | 150 | 400 | 2130 | 1510 | -20.1 |
| Premier Scirocco | 150 | 500 | 1960 | 1279 | -40.5 |
How to Read the Ballistic Stats
Understanding these four core metrics will help you select the exact right Remington load for your specific hunting or shooting application.
1. Bullet Weight (Grains)
A grain is a unit of measurement for mass (there are 7,000 grains in a pound). The weight you choose dictates how the bullet behaves in flight and upon impact.
- 125gr to 150gr: Lighter bullets travel faster and have a flatter trajectory, making them excellent for medium-sized game like whitetail deer and antelope at moderate ranges.
- 165gr to 180gr: The sweet spot for the .30-06. These weights offer an ideal balance of speed, flat trajectory, and deep penetration, making them the go-to choice for elk, mule deer, and black bear.
- 220gr: A heavy, slower-moving bullet (often round-nosed) designed for maximum penetration through heavy brush and thick hide. It drops off rapidly past 200 yards but hits like a freight train up close.
2. Velocity (fps)
Velocity measures the speed of the bullet in feet per second. High velocity means the bullet reaches the target faster, which reduces the effect of wind drift and gravity. Furthermore, hunting bullets like the Remington Core-Lokt require a minimum impact velocity (usually around 1,600 to 1,800 fps) to mushroom and expand properly upon entering the target. Notice in the chart how the 150gr Core-Lokt maintains reliable expansion speeds well past 400 yards, while the heavy 220gr drops below that threshold shortly after 300 yards.
3. Energy (ft-lbs)
Kinetic energy is the measurement of the bullet’s striking power in foot-pounds. This is the primary indicator of knockdown power.
- 1,000 ft-lbs is the widely accepted minimum ethical energy required to cleanly harvest a deer-sized animal.
- 1,500 ft-lbs is the recommended minimum for elk and moose.Looking at the chart, a 180-grain Core-Lokt remains an ethical elk cartridge out to about 350 yards, whereas a 150-grain bullet drops below the 1,500 ft-lb threshold around 275 yards.
4. Drop / Trajectory (inches)
Bullet drop shows how gravity affects the projectile over distance. The chart uses a 200-yard zero, which is the standard for modern centerfire hunting rifles.
- When zeroed at 200 yards, the bullet will strike roughly 1.5 to 2 inches high at 100 yards.
- This setup is highly advantageous for hunters: it allows you to aim directly behind the shoulder of a deer anywhere from 0 to 250 yards without needing to calculate holdover, as the bullet will never rise or fall more than a few inches from your line of sight within that window.