I have killed 2 bucks with a 30-30. Neither ran more than 30-40 yards. It did alot of damage inside the deer, but one was at about 50 yards and had a small exit wound, and the other was at maybe 15 yards and the bullet was stuck in the fat and hair on the exit wound . (Barely made it through) I would prefer not to use it over maybe 75 yards, but it is an excellent gunfor tight quarters hunting.