What’s your practical effective range?

[CP]

After a good deal of experimentation and range time I’d say the practical range of my rifle and me is 50 yards offhand, maybe 120 yards with a good solid rest and some time for the shot.  I doubt if I’d take a shot over 100, just can’t be 100% certain of a clean shot in the vitals and 90% certain doesn’t cut it.

[Snowman]

Depends on what rifle I'm using. If it is my 7mm mag then offhand would say 50yds as it being scoped, now my lever 44mag I have shot deer at 150yds offhand open sights. To me depends on what your shooting and comfortablity to shoot offhand

If I have good rest for my 7mm than I would shoot out to 500yds, I'm comfortable with the shells I use and I know my guns effective range with the shells I use

[Sagedawg]

With the equipment we are allowed here I allow myself right at 100 - 125yds for hunting.Though I try to get closer. For target shooting I have hit gongs out to 350 with my inline, but its not easy. Fun but tough. Id NEVER attempt a shot on game past my effective range, unless it was a coyote. Just my thoughts and experiances.



   Sage

[bobcat]

Unless I find more time to get out to the range and practice, 100 yards is the farthest I would feel comfortable taking a shot. Even with more practice I don't see myself shooting more than about 120 yards.

[actionshooter]

When I'm shooting a lot I feel good at 125yds, I use peep sights btw.

[snohohunter]

I feel confident at 100 yards, but have had to take a couple longer shots in the past. 

[BoomWhop]

Black Diamond inline, 100-110 the drop off is drastic after that.  Even at 115-120 the gun may have the power but I can't hold any type of consistant group.   

[Whitelightning]

I took a white tail at 200 yrds a couple of years ago, longest shot I have taken. Most with the M/L are closer 20-100 no problem.

[Navyhunter]

Shot a bear 3 years ago at 250 off hand with my 300UM.  (Shepherd scope, trigger job and muzzle break)  With a comfy rest, a steady pulse and easy breathing, 547, no problem.  (the range I shoot at is 547 yards max for some stinkin' reason)

[bobcat]

Hey guys, this is the "Muzzleloader Hunting" forum, so the question is in regards to your maximum range with a muzzleloader. Not your high powered "modern" rifle.

[wastickslinger]

With a rock solid rest(prone for me), full view of vitals broadside, calmed nerves, I will comfortably shoot out to 150. I have killed one at 75 yards free hand, one at 50 yards free hand, one at 100 yards with rest on a buddies shoulder and one at 140 with a rock solid rest(clipped his lungs, he laid down and I crawled in and put a second one in his neck at 50). I have not wounded one to date with a muzz.

I know the new magnums are deadly up to 200 but I cant shoot that far with open sights.

[SHANE(WA)]

Open sights on my black diamond with a solid rest 120 max

[dawhunt]

100 yds max,i know my gun will shoot further but I'm much more comfortable at 100
and thats what counts.

Iron sights will just about block out a deer at a 100 yds .
Bob

[Gobble]

Iv'e had my 30-06 for 20 years and it is a tack driver. I shoot the Federal High Energy 180 gr. Nosler bullets and generally won't shoot past 300 yrds. I have taken coyotes out at 400 yrds. I  taped the ballistic/windage data on a small piece of paper right onto the stock to take any guess work out of how much the bullet drops at any given distance. Most of my animals were taken in 150 yrds or less

[MagKarl]

My eyesight and the thick front blade sight on my rifle limit me to about 100 yards max.  I can group reasonably well at that distance with a rest.  Offhand probably about 50 yards or so.  I shoot in a roundball summer league and monthly matches when I can, so I have a pretty good idea of what I'm capable of.  I can ring the ~200 yard gong at the range with a rest but I'd never shoot at an animal that far, I have to hold a couple feet high to do it. 

[edmondshunter]

With my Black Diamond Muzzle, I can make a 100-120 yrd consistant group shot. Iron sights.  With my 30-06, over 400 on a good day with 5 inch group, Nikkon scope. Thats with top ammo..

[Brushbuster]

With my Knight 54 cal I think 120 yards. Going shooting this weekend so I'll have better data next week. I'm gonna try switching to 325 grain all copper expander MZ bullet which is a lot lighter than the 425 grain lead Maxi Hunter I used to use in WA & see if I can reach out a little farther. I'm going to New Mexico in less than 2 weeks & they allow scopes so this should be a good way to get better groups.

How do these hunters get 200-250 ranges? Do they use in lines & 150 grains of powder? (The max my Knight is 120 gr)

[SHANE(WA)]

they shoot 200-250 gr bullets, with scopes

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

they shoot 200-250 gr bullets, with scopes

Actually.... I have shot regular powerbelts for about 10 years. I use a rear Williams peep, front Lyman 17a globe with crosshairs. Farthest kill is 252 yards cow elk- dead one shot.  3 point Muley at 209 yards-then again at 215 yards. Killed a blacktail doe at 225 yards- dead one shot. Killed plenty of blacktail deer at 100 to 150 yards over the years even with my old side hammer out to 125 yards.

You just have to practice a lot more I guess.

With my current Winchester X-150 I honestly ran about 500 shots through it before its first season. Every muzzleloader seems to shoot different and it sometimes takes a while to find a good accurate combo of powder, caps, bullet, sights.

Just my 

[CP]

they shoot 200-250 gr bullets, with scopes

And 209 primers - it's hard to get any bullet over 2000 ft/sec without them. 

[gadwall]

When I'm shooting a lot I feel good at 125yds, I use peep sights btw.

I agree.  125 is about my max comfortable range although I would shoot to 200 on a big mule deer with a good rest.  Hey Actionshooter, what peep are you using and how do you like it?  I am going to a Williams peep this year for deer and elk on a CVA inline.

[SHANE(WA)]

no kidding, before my 07 muzzy elk I shot close to 200 rds thru my black diamond and 7 different bullets to find the best.There is a huge difference in accuracy from one manufacture to another and one gun to another.My BD loves the 300 gr Barnes X 90g of triple 7

[Buschingc]

Im shooting a Knight Big Horn 50 Cal. and I feel pretty darn confortable up to 150 yards.. I've never shot any further than that... Gotta love open sights... I sure wish Washington wasnt so darn picky about everything...