Thread: WHAT IS A "LONG RANGE GUN/RIFLE"?

Hi everyone,
Been thinking(and start to smell - just a joke) about many threads about "long range" rifles/guns, so came the question, "what is a long range rifle/gun?"
In my small experience in shooting i learn that "long range" has A LOT to do with "gun" capability, such as, a pistol will be "more" accurate at "short" distances(5-15mts), but still capable to shoot "long range" 15+ meters in a capable "hands".
A rimfire rifle is also very accurate(depending the manufacturer configuration and "intention") up to 50-80 meters but also will shoot accurate a lot further if "designed" or "tuned up" for it.
Now, when we talk about a centre fire rifle what is long range? i saw videos of people shooting with accuracy .223 remington as far 1000 meters+ knowing it would not be enough to "kill" anything with the end velocities and from there many other calibers capable to do the same and further, a lot further.
To the newbies looking for "A" first rifle what are your intentions with it? is it a hunting, target or for both? If hunting, what are your targeted animal(s) or what is the "largest" animals specie you intend to shoot? is your rifle capable to do the job(kill) "humanely"?
I read a thread where a member ask for advise for a "all around" rifle, capable to shoot accurated at ranges from 50-80 meters and sometime "long range" 100-150 meters. In the same thread he mention something about shooting from goats to "beasts", so what would be a good rifle and caliber?
Sometimes we think at long range been distances over 600, 800 meters, but are these distances really "long range"? What accuracy are we looking for in our rifles at ranges starting from here(600+ mts) with factory loads? Yes, factory loads. We have a great number of people that "craft" their own ammunition but we still have the "others" who use the factory loads that suits better their firearm.
Please, someone here that could leave a little "Lecture" about general Accuracy, long range hunting and long range target shooting? Anyone who can give basic information mainly to the newbies searching for their first rifle and "why" or "what" the options are?

Thank you for your time and be safe out there, have fun!

Mac