There is no doubt in my mind that there are guys who can and do effectively and regularly, and ethically kill elk at 400 yards. I do not want to sound like I am saying it can't be done, or sound like I am saying there isn't anybody frequenting this forum that can do it.

My point is to the many more who may be limited to a 100 yard public range or who don't have an opportunity to shoot at long range and thus really learn what it entails and yet who may think that long range hunting is merely a factor of buying the right gadgets, chronographing their loads, rangefinding and computing the distance. Oh, yeah, then breaking the trigger.

The long range competitors here can pipe up and give examples of what wind does to a bullet, but here we see an example of it on a day when the breeze was noticeable but not severe. And remember, the bullet that matters most is the first one. In the field, judging wind is very difficult.

One last point. Most fellows I have seen at the range believe they have a good zero of whatever height above POA at say, 100. But any deviation to center of impact laterally will grow with range. This is particularly so in the direction of twist. Twist will cause the bullet to drift slightly. But a rifle with a zero that includes an inch right or left of center will add more deviation to the impact at extended ranges.

Bottom line is that a fellow who only has access to a 100 yard range cannot merely buy a bunch of gizmos and go kill a deer at 400. It might work, or he might wound {possibly unknowingly} a number of critters before one falls-down-go-boom to stay.

I shoot enough at 200 to try my best to do my hunting at 100, or less.