IHMSA - I used to shoot this years ago until the range closed down so houses could go in.Guys shoot silhouettes at 200m with iron sights
I picked up the 44 because it's not too large or heavy. Those X frame Smiths are sweet but with the size and weight involved, I'll leave them to the dedicated hand gunner.100yds is a poke with a 44, course you can step up to a 460S&W and headout to 300yds to say long range. Not sure on the 500smith, but its a powerhouse, not a speedster like the 460.
I was thinking maybe 200, just cuz that's what I limit myself to with my leverguns. I'll have to look into what sort of drop the big 44 has between 100-200 yards. Adding optics defeats the purpose I have for it as a conveniently packable light backup.Been shooting 44 mag. since the late 70's Larry Kelly of Mag-na-Port lived down the street from me and JD Jones is a friend and has built many guns for me...I've shot a lot of deer never more that 100 yards with a 44 mag.....only use Hornady 240 gr. HP every deer has only gone the maximum of 50 yards after being shot....
Depending how good your vision is 100 yards is a longer shot with most iron sights....put a dot or scope with 2X on it will help make longer shots easer....
Remember with a 44 mag. you start getting past 100 yards thats when bullets for a handgun starts slowing down a lot....
All I can say is practice and practice some more shooting a handgun and being good takes a lot of practice much more than a rifle....