One thing I rarely see addressed with regards to long range is bullet performance. Some of you guys who have killed game at "oh-my-gosh" ranges surely recovered some bullets. My concern would be this: If you're hunting, surely you're not just long range hunting, which would mean you also prepare for shots at close(r) ranges. So, if your bullet will perform properly at, say 150 yds., will it also perform properly at 600 yds.?
That means that it will have to hold together at the high velocities of a close range shot, yet still expand at the extreme ranges.
Anyone have any recovered bullets?

Also, I've been thinking (more than typing) about this subject, and I think my biggest fear/complaint is this:

You get some ol' boy who buys the latest, greatest Fad-Magnum chambered in a shiny, stainless steel rifle with a deafening muzzle brake (don't you just hate to see someone uncase a muzzle-braked rifle at the range?)screwed to the already 26" barrel, mounts a 6.5x20 scope, screws one of those bipods to the stock, drops several hundred dollars or more on a rangefinder, loads a ballistics program on his computer, then calls himself a long range hunter/shooter.
FWIW
35Whelen

I have avoided most of these "long range" debates because it really does boil down to each persons abilities. I think the vast majority of hunters I have encountered are far less talented than they believe. It does nothing to their confidence when they miss, and yet they continue to take long shots.

I regularly practiced all summer out to 400 yards with my 7mm RM so when hunting season rolled around I'd be ready. I suffered a scope failure just prior to season and had to take rifles hunting I had little practice with, and limited my elk taking distance to 250 yards because of it. I passed up a smaller 5 point at 370 yards while holding a .25-06, and although I saw one of the finest specimens of the Rocky Mountain Bull Elk I've ever seen, I didn't take a shot at him either! I couldn't seem to get within my distance limit for the .338 I was using. I too feel I am a very good shot, I practice quite a bit, and I still think that these long range shooters ( for the most part) need to be encouraged to NOT shoot.

There are some who can take these shots, but fill some milk jugs with water and set them out at unknown ranges, even at less than 300 yards on a hill side and the average guy can't hit them.

I have a hard time believing the stories of 5-600 yard shots from most anyone. The braggers are usually the least talented. Nate

Ethical hunters/shooters take only the shots they can make. I don't care what the distance is. If you're huffing and puffing and spazing from buckfever then you don't have an ethical shot be it 25 yds or 500yds.

Simple rule: Take only the shots you are capable of. If your shooting at an animal only hoping to hit it then you shouldn't be hunting. If you missed an animal then you took a shot you shouldn't have.