my personal best was with a 300short mag at 604 yards,closest place to the deer( the rangefinder would grab..)with a 180gr barnes mrx..i know of people who are makin a 1000 yards this year...that is their goal anyways...your gun is fine, a steady rest is always good and might oughta put some paper in the spot and pop a few off....btw sounded like you have a dead deer out there...did ya check real good..maybe goin back to your blind and havin a buddy walk in where you saw the deer last, and then catch up with him and look for some blood.. probably too late huh?