What Maximum Effective Range Means

[Talyn]

The term "maximum effective range" gets thrown around a lot, but often incorrectly.

What Is Effective Range

Also, Federal ambassador and competitive shooter Jim Gilliland clears up confusion over what it actually means and reveals the maximum effective range of three popular cartridges.

 

[PacNWvike]

Interesting, always happy to learn something new.

 

[Bassbob]

So what’s the correlation between trans sonic and effective range? I mean how is it measured ? To be a scientific fact it has to be repeatable under the exact same conditions right? So what is the criteria for “ effective “ ? In other words if his max effective range is 900 yards but it can be shot accurately at 1000 does that mean it will not kill a deer or destroy a target past 900 yards.

We know snipers have taken out enemies with a .308 at much further distances than 1000 yards.

 

[Talyn]

As bullets slow from supersonic speeds (fps) (varies with altitude & environmental factors) they become less stable and accurracy suffers.

Although the old "buffalo" guns threw a heavy chunk of lead at speed lower than modern cartridges but with a greater curved trajectory. Sort of like shooting a slug out of a shotgun nowadays.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

And so many others give their meaning to this also. And it still doesn't clear it up much, well as for me? Between reading and hearing what others say/think, I still don't have a clear understanding. If it's in transonic transition, then yup, there is a gap on effective range in several hundreds of yards/meters. As far as 300wm and 338lm goes most state it's within 100 yards of the 2 and some give over 300 yards of separation. I think "effective range would be the distance at which 1 would be able to kill with 1 shot (or disable if needed)? Using a mod70 264wm (26" barrel) with certain weight bullets MER is near 1 mile, but with the 50bmg snipers have made kills over 2 miles. That being stated the 50cal goes transonic many of hundreds of yards/meters before that. So there goes MER on how it's defined! If they use "less stable" as a part of description/describing, then the transonic part is meaningless.

 

[BoJangles]

I seem to recall being taught in my Army days that it was the max range you could consistently hit your target.

 

[RickAnderson]

We need a thread on Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR)....

 

[Bassbob]

We need a thread on Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR)....

I'm sure the topic has been brought up multiple times.

 

[Bassbob]

I seem to recall being taught in my Army days that it was the max range you could consistently hit your target.

I was always under the impression that it meant the maximum distance you could shoot accurately and still be lethal to your target. Which clearly will have to be subjective since there is no repeatability or even a realistic average of what velocity, weight and speed is necessary for lethality.

 

[RickAnderson]

I always saw it as a weapon systems restraint. Sorta a planning, command & control type restraint.
Infantry equipped with mostly M16, must close to within 800 yards to engage the enemy.... ...outside of that, they are just wasting ammo...

 

[Keystone19250]

I was always under the impression that it meant the maximum distance you could shoot accurately and still be lethal to your target. Which clearly will have to be subjective since there is no repeatability or even a realistic average of what velocity, weight and speed is necessary for lethality.

KinEthics.