Originally Posted by
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The bullet will have enough punch to do the job at that range. The question is whether the shooter can place the bullet in the right spot. At distances approaching a quarter of a mile there are a lot of things that can happen. For instance there may not be any wind where you are but there may be wind where the elk is and wind can make a difference. Also at that range the flight time of the bullet will be long enough that the elk can take a step which means the bullet won't hit where you want it. Like I said, the cartridge is capable. the question is: Are you?
I grew up shooting a 7mm Mag and I've taken and seen taken more than 120 elk and in my experience there really isn't any reason to push the envelope and take shots at over 400 yards. Too easy to blow it and it isn't too hard to get closer unless you're shooting across a canyon in which case I direct your attention to my comment on wind.
I'm with you. I do appreciate my limitations and certainly intend to hunt within them. I do not want to chase a wounded elk; even less do I want to lose a wounded elk.
Yes, many things can go wrong. An odd variation in the load of one cartridge (probably unlikely, but possible). An odd variation in the shape of the tip of the bullet, maybe from being bumped sometime and misshaped slightly by the impact (this seems more plausible to me, but maybe not). Sweat in the eyes or condensation on the inside of eye glasses from hustling over 1/2 mile, with a lot of warm clothes on, to get in place for a shot before shooting light is gone at the end of the day (been there, done that -- but I did make the shot in this case). Wind. At longer ranges, possibly an offset in elevation between the target and the gun (uphill shot or downhill shot) can change the expectations of vertical bullet drop. Plain old limits of marksmanship when cold, excited, tired, shooting from an improvised field position.
I would also acknowledge a point made that it isn't enough, at long range, just to know what your marksmanship is. It may not be enough to know the elk is within my maximum range, it may be necessary to range the elk at 380 yards instead of 350 yards, because the bullet drop may be significant and may need to be factored into the shot.