So far answers range from 50 yards to 1200. That's about what I figured we would get (although 1200 is a little more of an asinine # than I expected, but he did mention a NightForce scope & a 300 something…). I set up the scenario with known yardage. If you take away that & no range finder, the (“true”) answers go WAY down. Guys with RF reticles could still do decent if they know what they are doing though.
I think a lot of guys get to thinking about "groups" (several even mentioned then in their post) & what they could hit last time at the range consistently (what the rifle is capable of). But do you remember the one or two shots it took to get “centered” & not on the edge? Even at 1200 yards, I have no doubt that someone can hit a .5 MOA target (.477 in this situation to be exact) but it would be lottery type luck to hit it on the first shot. One click up, down, left or right & you missed; even if the gun shot perfect.
A 6” piece of steel sounds pretty big (I mean all of our rifles shot ¼” groups), but you really only have 3” to play with either way when talking about aiming center… Now go back & rethink how far you can shoot your FIRST shot without missing your POA more than 3 inches. Don’t really matter how good your “groups” are if you’re 2-3 clicks high does it. I agree, a good shooting rifle is a must, but to be within 3” of aim at distance is strong shooting! Think about it. At 600 yards, your aim/dial has to be better than ½ MOA, even if you’re shooting a laser. Now add in the error of your gun (still assuming the trigger pull & hold is perfect). Does your $100 still feel safe?
The guys that shoot a lot at distance: how many times have you seen your dope be 1 or 2 clicks different from one cold morning to the next warm evening? How much is your elevation “knob” off, going to other clubs/ranges (pressure/ altitude/ shooting angle changes)? Ever leave your rifle or ammo sit in the sun long???
I guess it’s unfair to ask the question & not give my answer… so here goes. I’ve spent the time & have some decent equipment. On my personal range (assuming I could verify in somewhat recent time before “the shot”), I would bet my with very high confidence out to ~500 yards with my best rifle on a favorable day. I am a gambling man & for $100 bill, I’d be willing to go to 600 yards (but there it starts getting iffy, & only if I'd shot that spot recently). I would only be interested in betting a cold adult beverage, warm tea or crumpets past that
. If the wind was up, conditions extreme, or I hadn’t shot that range/spot lately; distance comes down.
I have a few other rifles that shoot well. I’d be willing to bet I could keep 5 shots on 6” steel (after 1 or 2 sighters) a good bit past 600 yards with them; but I wouldn’t go 600 yards on cold bore with them, for something I wanted to keep. Knowing what conditions are doing to you & making the first shot hit were you want is much harder than shooting good groups.