"Assault rifles" are less powerful than most hunting rifles.

[Tim01]

I've heard lots of rumors about how powerful "assault rifles" are. They are more powerful than handguns, but less powerful than most average rifles. In fact, they are near the bottom of the list. Power is expressed in foot lbs. This is most of the common hunting calibers. The "assault rifle" calibers are labeled to the right as AR15 and AK47. They are listed by power, least to most, top to bottom.



Caliber_____________________Energy in ft lbs

.22 Hornet (45 Sp)_________ 723
.357 Mag. (180 HP)_________ 960
.30 Carbine (110 RN)_______ 967
.222 Rem. (50 Sp)__________ 1094
.223 Rem. (55 Sp)__________ 1282____ AR15
.204 Ruger (33 BTSP)_______ 1308
7.62x39 (125 Sp)___________ 1552____ AK47
.45-70 (405 FP) ____________ 1590
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 FP)_____ 1650
.22-250 Rem. (55 Sp)_______ 1654
.220 Swift (55 SpBT)_______ 1765
.223 WSSM (55 SpBT)________ 1810
.30-30 Win. (170 FP)_______ 1827
.30-30 Win. (150 FP)_______ 1902
.32 Spec. (170 FP)_________ 1910
.35 Rem. (200 RN)__________ 1921
.243 Win. (100 Sp)_________ 1945
.243 Win. (80 Sp)__________ 1993
6.8mm Rem. SPC (115 Sp) ___ 2002
.257 Roberts (120 Sp)______ 2060
6.5x55 SE (140 Sp)_________ 2100
8x57 JS (170 RN)___________ 2100
6mm Rem. (100 Sp)__________ 2133
.243 WSSM (100 Sp)_________ 2147
.45-70 (300 HP)____________ 2182
7x57 Mauser (140 Sp)_______ 2200
.300 Sav. (150 Sp)_________ 2303
.260 Rem. (140 Sp)_________ 2351
.25-06 Rem. (120 Sp)_______ 2382
.25 WSSM (120 Sp)__________ 2382
.303 British (180 Sp)________ 2420
7mm-08 Rem. (140 Sp)_______ 2542
.338-57 O'Connor (200 FP)__ 2558
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 Sp)____ 2576
.308 Win. (150 Sp)_________ 2648
.270 Win. (130 Sp)_________ 2702
.270 Win. (150 Sp)_________ 2705
.308 Win. (180 Sp)_________ 2743
6.5mm Rem. Mag. (120 Sp)___ 2744
6.5x68 S (140 Sp)__________ 2779
.280 Rem. (140 Sp)_________ 2797
.30-06 Spfd. (150 Sp)______ 2820
.264 Win. Mag. (140 Sp)____ 2854
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 Sp)____ 2910
.30-06 Spfd. (180 Sp)______ 2913
.444 Marlin (240 FP)_______ 2942
.35 Whelen (200 Sp)________ 3177
7mm Rem. Mag. (150 SpBT)___ 3221
7mm Rem. SAUM (150 Sp)_____ 3221
.270 WSM (150 Sp)__________ 3304
7mm WSM (150 Sp)___________ 3410
.350 Rem. Mag. (200 Sp)______ 3419
.450 Marlin (350 FP)_______ 3427
.300 Rem. SAUM (180 Sp)____ 3501
.300 Win. Mag. (180 Sp)____ 3501
.270 Wby. Mag. (150 Sp)____ 3502
.300 WSM (180 Sp)__________ 3526
9.3x62 (286 SpBT)__________ 3544
7mm Wby. Mag. (150 SpBT)_____ 3627
7mm Ultra Mag. (160 Sp)____ 3637
.338 Win. Mag. (225 Sp)____ 3860
.300 Wby. Mag. (180 Sp)____ 4195
.300 Ultra Mag. (180 Sp)____ 4221
.375 H&H Mag. (300 Sp)_____ 4262
.338 Ultra Mag (250 Sp)____ 4540
.340 Wby. Mag. (250 Sp)____ 4801
.458 Win. Mag. (500 RN)____ 4850
.416 Rigby (400 RN)________ 4990
.375 Ultra Mag (300 Sp)____ 5073
.416 Rem. Mag. (400 Sp)_____ 5115
.378 Wby. Mag. (270 SP)____ 6062
.460 Wby. Mag. (500 RN)_____ 7504
Cartridge (Wb + type)_______ ME (ft lb)