I concur with 3DogMike. Sights were set in yards in US and in UK and in meters on the continent.

Also I read that the extreme long range sights were used in South Africa for lobbing bullets at unfriendly natives.

I can understand someone who doesn't read about guns or hunting thinking that the sights must be in feet after looking at a rifle with a somewhat rainbow trajectory that has sights going out to 900. However, it would be better for that person to do some basic reading before opining.