while reflecting on loads, target shooting, and occasional long shots that I've made it would seem that the BC values of bullets poetically hint at their optimum range limitations.

A bullet with a BC of .400 has a pretty good ability to resist wind drift and can be reliably used out to 400 yards.

A bullet with a BC of .300 starts to drift a little too much out at 400 yards and may best be reined in to 300 yards.

Yes, a .500 BC might be expected for hunting out to 500 yards.

I don't do 700 and 800 yard hunting, but if I did, it would be with a bullet with an .800 BC.

Poetic rhyme for hunters. Maybe a nice rule of thumb.

That's an interesting theory but not so practical in the real world, for me. If you want to limit yourself to those ranges based on the BC, Feel free to do so but you'll be missing the boat on some fine, productive LR shooting.

Obviously you're right that higher BC bullets are usually called upon for the longer shots and are desired over the very low BC choices but there is a balancing act with bullet length/weight/shape v velocity since it takes both in order to perform and to generate true BC. Otherwise, we'd all be using 250 grain bullets in our 6.5's.

I've also heard that the SD is suppose to equal to the caliber for big game penetration but that theory doesn't hold water for me either.

as usual, just my 2 cents and it cost you nothing.
Zeke

I agree with Zeke. Especially if you take in to account some of the lightweight overbores such as the 257Wby. I have a much easier time adjusting to wind with 100 grain TSX at 400 yards than I do with my .260 with a 130 Accubond. the .1 BC difference is not equal to the 900FPS velocity difference. Both are very capable at 400 yards, the .257Wby just makes it much easier, in my limited experience.

Yes, any rule of thumb will appear out of sync when approached from a cartridge that produces radically different velocities. But when I compare a .243 with a .331 BC at 3200 vs. a .270 with a .463 BC at 3100, I would go with the .463 for the longer shot. It is borne out in wind drift tables. Now there is a .243 bullet with .367 at 3500fps and it gets within an inch of the .270 wind drift table at 400 yards. So yes, speed can partially overcome the general pattern.

But the pattern appears useful. And it is good to keep a 400 yard 10mph wind drift to 12" or less for my kind of hunting.

The issue with G1, is that you need a program that can calculate the trajectory for three different BCs.

That is what motivated Brian Litz to develop the G7 formula. Prior to that, he was involved in design work on Air to Air Missiles for the AF.
I've posted a few things gleaned from his books (all 5 of them)and the Berger Reloading Manual.

Fascinating reading if LR shooting interests you.

Keep life simple at 400 to 1000 yards shoot the 200 gr. Accubond or its equivalent in 30 caliber, the 175 in the .284 and so on at max velocity for the caliber, the rest is confusing and misleading.