I am new to the crossbow and assume he was talking in a hunting situation. IMO and all things considered I would say 40-45 yrds max. Now at the range where the target doesn't jump a string and the wind isn't kicking up and you have a steady rest. I would have to say from my recent experience I was shooting 60 yrds on average in a 4-6" circle group.

Its not a long distance weapon,we all play at longer distances
but the norm is about 35' yards max.Its a bow not a gun.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me how far a 175 crossbow will shoot a 20 inch arr
 

Between 50 to 60 yards accurately with the correct scope. There's an acog with a great range finder built in. It accounts for bolt drop too. Very cool, but costly. Mult-reticle scopes (with enough practice) can help you adjust for drop too, starting at 20yrds (the main cross line) then to 40, 50 , 60 you just volley from a given yardage until you are comfortable with eyeballing the distance and using your multiret to accommodate for drop... Very cool stuff!

Exactly...

Stationary targets and deer are 2 different things. In a hunting situation, I would say 40 yards is max, and that would be only under ideal conditions. The longest shot I've taken at a deer was 37 yards and I missed under the deer (this was before I had a range-finder and was shooting a slow x-bow with peep sights). The longest shot I've made on a deer was 26 yards. I've also taken a turkey with the x-bow at about 40 yards.

Definately more great advice. I feel pretty comfortable shooting @ a calm deer out to 30-35 yards no problem. I too have taken one deer at 40 yards but it was a perfect shot op with the deer broadside, in the open, with his head down eating. Now target shooting off a bench is a blast too. Banging out 50 yard bulls is a blast. I have even made some 60yard bulls holding over just to see if I and the CB could do it. NO PROBLEM! But in all honest I woukld prefer all of my hunting shots 20-30 max.

We all want the deer to be in close for the kill shot, but practicing at longer ranges helps a hunter become more successful at shots he wasn't comfortable with before. When I practiced every day, I didn't think anything of a 50 yard shot. I suppose the same can be done with a cross bow. You just have to know the limitations of your specific equipment, then practice so your ability is equal to that of your bow.

I've shot to 80yds at a backyard target, but game would have to be half that or less.

But surprising just how well my Xbow shoots at target ranges I thought to far before I bought it. And the 12-14" deep arrows in the targets wayyyyyyy out there also came as a welcome surprise to a point........Problem is that at 30 yd. range they go through my target and bye bye fletchings.....

I have seen shots in excess of 200yds at targets, but out to 50yrds for an ethical kill shot.

Wow, excess of 200yrds with a crossbow. I would love to see that. No way my Vortex would do it, that's for sure. Did hit some 50-60 yard bulls off a bench on a calm day though. I guess some of the newer CB's could do it. Mine is 200lb draw recurve. May be a little older, but still love the quality and reliabilty.