My buddies old Ruger 44 mag semiauto (with receiver sight) could keep its shots on a clay pigeon at 100 yards, but that was about it for "long range accuracy".
I borrowed the rifle for a few hunting seasons, and (being a bit of a rifle looney), I tried to tune it up a bit for my friend. I tested 3 or 4 brands of ammo, I polished up the trigger slightly, and I tried several bedding methods, but I could never improve on that accuracy. Just the nature of the beast, I guess!
Still, in the dense forest my friend usually hunted, I doubted he ever saw a deer past 50 yards. The accuracy of the rifle was sure more than good enough, and the rifle (with only a receiver sight, no scope) was a joy to carry and very fast to bring on target.
I think he has been happily using the rifle since about 1972 or so... most years his .30-06 stays in the gun cabinet and the light little Ruger goes hunting.
John
