My max distance is pretty much dependent upon how steady my rest is. I felt pretty steady with my hold on that bison. Accuracy is a limiting factor of course. The .500 will certainly hold to a 6" group off of the bench at 200 yards. Soooooo....I reckon if I felt my hold was steady I'd go to 200 yards. It still has lots of punch with that 440 grain bullet. It makes a BIG hole. Lastly a lot depends upon what I am shooting. It penetrated almost completely through that bison at 110 yards stopping at the hide at the far side. He was big and tough.

Recoil