Just looking for opinions on max range for open sighted gun on whitetail sized game.
The reason I ask is Im 52 and my eyes are getting worse.
I went shooting today testing loads and sitting with shooting sticks Im guessing 30-40 is max for me.
At 25yds I put 5 in a 3 inch circle which I was real happy with.
But we went back to 65-70yds and wow (broadside of a barn was safe)

anyway in the woods 25 yds is a fair shot IMO.

It really depends on several factors for me. Do I have a any sort of rest, what's the light like, how well can I see the target, etc. 50 yards is relatively easy, 75-100 is doable with good light and some sort of ability to get steady and an animal in the open and broadside. If you're only good to 30-40 then accept that as your limit and stay within that range. I use a 10" evil roy plate to practice on and that's my measure of how far.

I used to shoot milk jugs at 100yds on a regular basis but between my eyes and hand tremors now I hold to around 30 or so off hand and 50 or so with a field rest.

When I was a little more steady and my eyes a little sharper I took this guy at 115yds off hand on the run. I shot him with a Reeder 4 5/8" 475 and 400gr XTP's. It took two shots to get the lead down but #3 did the trick.

With these I shoot well enough for deer size game @ 100+

With a standard notch and blade, maybe 50.....

Depends on so many variables. I would shoot deer out to 50 but I have only shot handgun a little over a year.

Still I am upgrading to a red dot sight.

I am nothing to brag about, but feel comfortable with a good rest and good light out to 50 yards on deer sized game. Thats just me, and I prefer em closer.

I have two .44 Magnums that I hunt with; a scoped 9 1/2" Super Redhawk and the other is a 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk.

With the SRH, I have it sighted dead on at 100 yard, but it is scoped.

The SBH will not wear a scoped and with my aging eyes (need cheaters to read, look at computer, etc) that front sight is getting hard to see. With iron sights, I limit myself to 50 yards.

Festus - I prefer the fiber optic front for my hunting guns...although my groups are not as tight as with a patridge style front ramp, I can see the bead in varying lig conditions much, much better. Spending on light and rest, I can stretch it to 100 if all is right.

If I plan to shoot at distance with an open-sighted revolver, I find it easier with a 6 o'clock hold as the brisket line is easier to make out than the midline at range.

thats why I went to red dots, much easier on the eyes when you get past 50 yards(using iron sights),I can keep both eyes open,giving me that much more light to see the game-john

Again, as others have said; there are a lot of variables. The main two are the shooter and the accuracy of the gun/load combo.

This doe 'lope was taken at about 45 yards; probably my max for a kill zone of that size:


By going to a red dot sight, I took this buck at literally sneezing distance:


http://www.handgunhunt.com/promo/membership/features/readNewArticle.php?oid=28&title=.500 Muley Buck

At the far end of my spectrum, I killed this bull elk at a little over 100 yards; again with a red dot sight:



http://www.handgunhunt.com/promo/membership/features/readNewArticle.php?oid=63&title=MARCH TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM, OR INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS?

IMO the red dot sight will increase your range a little; esp. when the eyes get a bit older.