Max Range

[Cam Gillespie]

I am just starting into long range shooting and hunting and am curious what everyone thinks is the max range for a ethical kill on a large animal (moose or Elk ) with a 7 mm rem mag. It seems that there many differing opinions on the subject.

 

[oldno7]

Max range will be that distance at which you and a given,capable round are proficient.

 

[Remmy700]

Often times than not that max ethical killing range on game is dictated by you and your proficiency and skill with that given weapon. However, if you have put that trigger time in and know your weapon then you can simply look at where the energy level given your velocity and bullet weight fall to unacceptable amount for that specific game whether that is 1000 ft-lbs 1200 ft-lbs whatever it is. You can find this number on most any descent ballistics calculator.

 

[adam32]

7 miles...one for each millimeter.

 

[Cam Gillespie]

Often times than not that max ethical killing range on game is dictated by you and your proficiency and skill with that given weapon. However, if you have put that trigger time in and know your weapon then you can simply look at where the energy level given your velocity and bullet weight fall to unacceptable amount for that specific game whether that is 1000 ft-lbs 1200 ft-lbs whatever it is. You can find this number on most any descent ballistics calculator.

Thank you

 

[Rich Coyle]

It appears no one can answer your simple question.

Let's say the best shot in the world is shooting, what is the simple answer?

 

[cohunt]

It appears no one can answer your simple question.

Let's say the best shot in the world is shooting, what is the simple answer?

where is he gonna shoot it? shoulder, head, neck, vitals, spine? what is the animals weight? bull or cow? what does "he" consider minimum energy? what bullet is he using? what is the minimum expansion threshold for that bullet? what speed is he shooting those bullets at? what altitude is he shooting at? --all questions that could sway the "max range" answer

 

[adam32]

It appears no one can answer your simple question.

Let's say the best shot in the world is shooting, what is the simple answer?

Depends on the bullet...the BC...the muzzle velocity... atmospheric conditions...etc etc etc...

 

[JCow14]

I think the better question is how comfortable you are shooting in the wind? 500, 700, 900. This is the only variable you wont be able to control. IMO it is the most critical component to long range shooting, the more time you put into this the better you can make that judgment call on max range.

 

[Remmy700]

All of these things = skill and proficiency

 

[OldGuyHunts]

As I said, I'm old school. My suggestion would be to look at how far I could shoot into a 4" diameter target in all kinds of wind conditions, check that distance for the retained velocity and then check that velocity with the bullet manufacturer for reliable expansion and then call that my longest distance to ethically shoot at an animal.

 

[Canhunter35]

Your max effective range is discovered by how far you can repeatedly make 1st round hits.
For most of us, it's inside the ballistic capabilities of our rounds.
In terms of numbers from a ballistic calculator, bullet selection is more important than cartridge. My 7rm with 180 elds has enough energy or velocity to be 1000-1150yd elk killing cartridge depending one which parameter you set.
I don't know how the 180s perform yet, but once I have some game down with them I will be able to judge my threshold, but it's more dependant on conditions than ballistic capability.

 

[ATH]

Pretty much only two considerations:
1) How far can you reliably put bullets into a circle of a diameter you consider acceptable? (I won't define this here as that is an ethical consideration and we don't debate that here)
2) What is the minimum expansion velocity of the bullet being used? Energy on target is great but not the only important consideration because it means zip if the bullet pencils through. Most jacketed hunting bullets will have lower expansion velocities than a solid copper, for example.

If the range at which the bullet falls below 2 is less than 1, the answer is still 2 regardless of skill.

 

[bigngreen]

I would encourage any new long range hunter to work against the idea that there is a set range for anything, this lets you focus on staying inside the best ranges every time you pull the trigger based on the realities of each shot not a single predetermined range.
I have days where it's pretty much if I get a range and my impact velocity is high enough to open the bullet I'm cutting one loose, then there are the days I'll have to see the whites of their eyes before being comfortable with the shot, impact velocity and conditions, that's what determines green light red light!