Determining effective shooting range

Sure, but what exactly would you do? I see a lot of guys go to the range and check the rifle zero at 100 yards and then go hunting (and presumably taking shots beyond 100 yards). What do you do to decide where to draw the line?
Adding to this: I practice enough that I have a pretty good idea how my group size changes with different shooting positions, what MOA I can typically maintain. That's my starting point for checking with single shots where I'll have to add in wind, elevation, and ideally, some time pressure. I want to be able to consistently hit an 8" steel with my hunting setup from actual hunting positions, that's my check on what shots I can confidently take as I lead up to hunting season.
 
+1
the question doesnt make any sense to me
My point was, how and when do you decide your effective distance? There has to be a cutoff somewhere when you aren't fiddling with gear any longer and you pick a number for your effective distance. In other words, you're out of time to make adjustments; you're going hunting. You've done something before the trip to determine what your distance is: what is that something?
 
Scenario: it's the week before your rifle hunt. You aren't buying any more gear, you aren't adjusting your scope or rifle or shooting accessories or changing ammo; you have what you have and your shooting form is what it is. What steps do you take to determine your effective shooting range for the hunt?

 
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My point was, how and when do you decide your effective distance? There has to be a cutoff somewhere when you aren't fiddling with gear any longer and you pick a number for your effective distance. In other words, you're out of time to make adjustments; you're going hunting. You've done something before the trip to determine what your distance is: what is that something?
Shoot progressively longer distances until you cant consistently hit the target on the first shot. Using hunting positions. This isnt something you do the week before you go. It may take time and research to find somewhere to do this. If the farthest you can find to shoot is a distance you are always right on target you may be comfortable extending past thst 50 yards or so. This is the best/easiest way to know your range.
 
Thank you, everyone who commented. And thank you @ElPollo for reposting Form's thread from 2020 (which I had not seen before). In retrospect, I shouldn't have included the part about it being a "week before the hunt" because it confused people and that wasn't the important part of the question. I just wanted to see different perspectives on how you practice and then determine your effective range. I appreciate the feedback.
 
Scenario: it's the week before your rifle hunt. You aren't buying any more gear, you aren't adjusting your scope or rifle or shooting accessories or changing ammo; you have what you have and your shooting form is what it is. What steps do you take to determine your effective shooting range for the hunt?

I'da figured that out long before a week prior to the hunt. Most likely would have done that by actually shooting and seeing where things went to hell on me. All the while knowing that there is a good chance the wind and fog are going to decide my max range for me
 
My point was, how and when do you decide your effective distance? There has to be a cutoff somewhere when you aren't fiddling with gear any longer and you pick a number for your effective distance. In other words, you're out of time to make adjustments; you're going hunting.


You are really overthinking it. If you have been practicing at all, you will know where you stop having first round hits. You will know where the wind starts to get the better of you. Its that simple.

You've done something before the trip to determine what your distance is: what is that something?

It is called actually shooting the gun.
 
My point was, how and when do you decide your effective distance? There has to be a cutoff somewhere when you aren't fiddling with gear any longer and you pick a number for your effective distance. In other words, you're out of time to make adjustments; you're going hunting. You've done something before the trip to determine what your distance is: what is that something?
Effective distance is not a constant. Conditions dictate max distance. I've been in situations where 150 yards is a long shot and 400 was a no brainer.

Also, despite all the YouTubers and keyboard snipers, very few people are 90% effective past 250 to 300 yards.

Watch the latest hunttalk.com episodes of their Montana bear hunt. Perfect example of a guy not know his limits or the situation.
 
Target size. A 16" round gong at 700 or a 24x30 at 900 are fun and build confidence. They do not tell you you're good to go at that distance if you can hit it (even consistently).

I'd say most guys, if they're shooting a 16" gong at their home range from the bench on a nice day, if they use that to determine the max distance they should shoot an animal at, are at least double what their realistic limit should be.



On another forum...

"My rifle shoot's 1/2 moa and 1/2 moa at 100 is 1/2 moa at 1,000, and I hit the 1,000 yard gong every time"

me; How big is the gong?

" 2 feet x 2 feet "
 
You are really overthinking it. If you have been practicing at all, you will know where you stop having first round hits. You will know where the wind starts to get the better of you. Its that simple.



It is called actually shooting the gun.
What I like about this thread is people sharing what they actually do when they practice shooting. @ElPollo reposted Form's practice regimen (which is intense), while other people use different size targets and scenarios. All very helpful, thanks.
 
Lots of good responses here.

Okay here's mine and it's an opinion so grain of salt and all.

Determine what you believe to be your max range. Shoot from the bench to ensure your rifle groups well at said range and your dope (elevation) is good. Preferably early in the morning so no wind or mirage issues.

Now, shoot from field positions at roughly a 10 inch target. Paper plate, steel or paper target. This is where you'll learn your max range for each position. Extreme examples are prone with a bipod and standing with no support.

Now, factor in your skill / experience with the wind and conditions at the shot will change your max range again.

Here's my example.
Perfect wind, lighting, broadside and still animal shot prone off a bipod-800 yards.
Any of the above not perfect then the max range gets reduced accordingly and typically does.
 
What I like about this thread is people sharing what they actually do when they practice shooting. @ElPollo reposted Form's practice regimen (which is intense), while other people use different size targets and scenarios. All very helpful, thanks.
The timed positional drill in that thread is a really great way to humble yourself and reevaluate your own capabilities. Anybody who hasn't shot it with their actual hunting setup, I'd really encourage to give it a try.
 
My process (whatever that’s worth)
Cold bore.
Milk jug (or 8-10” gong)
1800fps as true max range goal.

If I hit. Then start breaking and building positions with single shot in between until I can hit the target on command.

If I miss. Then bring it 100yds closer, and repeat.

I’ve also been enjoying the 4,3,2,1 drill this summer. I stole it from a post originally by @mxgsfmdpx
-4 hundred ish yards
-3 shots
-2 moa target
-1 min
Start fully packed up.
Then need to range, build position, dial dope, and get shots off. Goal is 100%. Run through all your common shooting positions.
 
It's a yearly process for me. I shoot in widest range of conditions possible and am constantly double checking zero and validating my ballistic solver at different ranges, practicing field positions, and shooting in the wind. Now that I have everything dialed in and it's been consistent, I know my limitations. Doing the cold bore challenge really helped as well, and I pretty much replicate it with my first shot of every shooting session.
 
Form’s drill works on your base shooting skills and speed in field conditions. That’s way more important than knowing your max range. Most people are not able to shoot enough in the conditions they hunt in to ever really know what their max range is. They might know what it is on a flat range, but it’s a fraction of that up in a steep canyon with variable winds.

If you can do Form’s drill a lot (3-4x/month) and get out and shoot rocks or targets at longer ranges a couple times a month in the conditions you’ll hunt in with a buddy as a spotter, you’ll at least have a decent idea of of what your skillset really is. If you can’t do the longer range practice in field conditions, focus on getting closer and staying within your known skillset.
 
I wish there was an arbitrary thing we could do to determine what an ethical max range is for ourselves. But there is not.

Trigger time is needed in a lot of different positions, environments and under stress.

Some days or situations it might be a hundred yards, others five hundred. The only way to learn what you’re capable of is to shoot.

Some of the drills above can humble someone who dosnt understand when to consider getting closer or building a more stable position.

Good luck.
 
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