I've practiced at 500, my longest shot is 350 (right through the heart). The vast majority of my shots are within 50 yards.

I take shots at varmints I wouldn't take on game animals.

A good shot is when it falls in a pile, an acceptable shot is when it runs less than fifty yards.

I've gut shot one animal in my whole life, a Fox.

I have had bullets hit something between the muzzle and the Deer. One deer turned out looking like road kill, another looked like it had been hit by a shotgun.

I'm for any kind of hunting that kills them dead in a reasonable amount of time and distance. Wounding them and having them hide in the brush to suffer and die a slow death, is wrong.

I was a guide/overseer for a couple of decades. I've tracked down, I don't know how many wounded Deer. I always said a little prayer when I finally put them to rest.

Personally I'd leave anything over around 400 yards to target shooting, just my opinion. To many things can go wrong, even shooting through different air temperature layers can change a bullets path significantly. Ambient temperature can change how fast the powder burns. To many variables for me to be comfortable with it. I've done enough longer range shooting to make a few self discoveries about it. I got good enough at it, that I was more accurate than the rifle and ammo was, so I could make informed corrections.

I found out along time ago some people are just talented and can do things I can't. I try to stay within my limitations.

One of the better 500 yard rifle shooters I know uses a model 98 and casts his own bullets. He reduces the muzzle velocity to avoid excessive lead fouling. He shoots that thing almost like a mortar. His ammo expands just enough to seal the breach and not much more, minimum loads.