maximum range

how do you guys determine your maximum hunting range?
I've heard about the 1000ft/lbs rule but what about in terms of accuracy, I'm thinking group size isn't as important but more hitting within a certain distance of point of aim. the kill zone on a deer/tahr must be 10 inches at a guess?
I might just shoot until I get to a point where my wind reading ability fails me, I guess that will be my max range.
I just shot a target off the deck at 640 and my group was just above .5moa with the furtherest poi being about 8 inches away from my point of aim. not to bad considering there was a bit of wind.
be interested to see what others do to determine maximum range

On an animal, I would be happy in perfect conditions and able to retrieve it, to around 6-650m Have shot 2 animals a bit further. I try not too make a habit of it. Steel and paper is a different story. Its just shooting at those ranges imo anyway. If I stay with in those ranges and there is no extreme variables I can happily do it on a drop chart. Beyond that you really need too have your shit together.

What R93 said, I dont do enough longish shooting to be any good at guessing wind, and with the mighty 308 ANY wind blows it round heaps!
600 is about it for me and then it has to be nil or very nearly nil wind.

My maximum range is as close as I can get, but certainly less than 600 for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by R93

Its just shooting at those ranges imo anyway.

---

I agree, at a point its just not even hunting, I only use long range stuff when I can't get any closer. Nothing beats stalking up to within 50 yrds of a stag!

Agree, up close and personal is best, when you can actually hear and smell him is the most exciting!

But to your point your maximum range is the one you have practiced to and are confident of making a clean kill, may vary depending on the conditions.

I guess a lot of it will depend on what animal, as a larger animal would require more energy to drop it? Longest shot on a medium sized animal was 350 yards on quite a large stag, but furthest shot was on a wallaby at 680 yards. Again, all depends on the conditions for me, such as wind and amount of light.

I like to shoot steel out as far as I can....but animals it depends on the conditions, 400 in average windy days are fine, still I will stretch it to 600 if needed and with my 243AI and goats 550yrds on a still day :)

..I bank on about half the range you can do on steel first shot in the same conditions :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by leathel

..I bank on about half the range you can do on steel first shot in the same conditions :)

---

Pretty much sums it up for me. Half what you can achieve normally in perfect conditions. Smart way to operate, I reckon.