When you’re picking a hunting or shooting cartridge, you want something that’ll keep your trajectory as flat as possible—at least for the distances you plan to shoot. But not all rounds are built to stretch. Some of them start dropping fast past 150 or 200 yards, and unless you’re constantly spinning turrets or holding over like a sniper, you’re going to miss. These cartridges might still get the job done in the right conditions, but you’ve got to know their limits. If you plan on reaching out past moderate ranges, these are the ones that’ll leave you dialing more than shooting.
.45-70 Government
At close range, the .45-70 hits like a sledgehammer. But once you step past 150 yards, that big, slow bullet starts falling fast. Even with modern loads, it still has the trajectory of a thrown rock.
You can make it work with a good scope and a chart taped to the stock, but the drop is extreme enough that even a small misjudgment in range can cause a clean miss. It’s a solid brush gun and works great on big game inside 100 yards, but don’t expect it to hang with flatter-shooting modern cartridges.
.30-30 Winchester
The .30-30’s been filling freezers for over a century, but you’re going to have a hard time stretching it past 200 yards. Its bullet shape doesn’t do it any favors in the air. Between low ballistic coefficients and moderate velocity, it drops off hard once it’s past its prime range.
If you’re hunting thick woods or short clearings, it still earns its keep. But if you try to take a poke across a wide canyon with it, you’ll be holding feet—not inches—over the target. There’s a reason most lever-actions wearing .30-30 barrels never get dialed past 150.
.44 Magnum
The .44 Magnum has plenty of punch at handgun ranges, but as a rifle round, it’s still limited. Once you stretch out to 100 yards or more, the bullet loses speed fast, and it starts dropping like a stone.
It’s great for close-range hogs, deer in thick timber, or anyone who likes the thump of a big bore without excessive recoil. But it’s not built for reach. Even with flat-nose bullets in a lever-action, you’ll see the arc start early. You’ll want to zero it tight and stay disciplined with your range estimation.
.35 Remington
You don’t see a lot of .35 Remingtons anymore, and there’s a reason for that. Its ballistics are pretty soft compared to modern cartridges. That big, round bullet carries energy well at short range, but it bleeds velocity quick and starts to arc sharply beyond 150 yards.
Plenty of black bears and whitetails have dropped to the .35 Rem, but it’s not forgiving if your distance calls are off. If you’re still running one, stick to shorter shots where you know exactly how far you’re reaching. It’s not a cartridge that plays nice with guesswork.
.300 AAC Blackout
The .300 Blackout was never meant to be a long-range performer. It shines in short barrels and suppressed setups, but when you stretch it, the limitations get obvious fast. Even supersonic loads don’t carry well past 200 yards, and subsonic drops so quickly it’s more like archery than rifle shooting.
At 100 yards, it’s still usable. Beyond that, you need to do some serious math to keep it on target. Most folks overestimate how far they can push it. Unless you’re dialed in with a ballistic app and solid rangefinding, it’s not forgiving.
.450 Bushmaster
Built for close-range knockdown power, the .450 Bushmaster brings a heavy bullet at modest velocity. That means serious drop once it gets past 150 yards. It’s a popular straight-wall option in states where bottleneck cartridges are restricted, but you better know your distances.
Zeroed at 100, you could be 10 inches low at 200. That’s not something you want to figure out after the trigger breaks. It’s not a bad cartridge within its lane, but when you start dialing for distance, you’ll find it runs out of altitude in a hurry.
.444 Marlin
The .444 Marlin sits between the .45-70 and .30-30 in terms of performance, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a long-range option. It fires a heavy bullet at decent speed, but it drops off quick once you leave close-range comfort.
It’s a capable cartridge for woods hunting, and the extra energy is appreciated on bigger game. But most folks using it aren’t running scopes with BDC reticles or custom turrets. If you’re not careful with your holds, a 200-yard shot can turn into a clean miss or worse—an injured animal.
.38-55 Winchester
An old-school round that still sees a little use in cowboy action and traditional lever guns, the .38-55 isn’t made for speed. It lobs a large, slow bullet with plenty of recoil and not much flat trajectory.
At 100 yards, you’re still fine. Past that, the drop comes fast and heavy. Most loads push a 250-grain bullet at around 1,200 to 1,500 fps. That’s enough for close deer or black bear, but it’s definitely not something you want to take across an open field. Know your zero, and don’t stretch it.
.41 Magnum
The .41 Magnum is a fine revolver round that occasionally makes its way into lever-action rifles. But in terms of trajectory, it doesn’t do much better than the .44 Magnum. It’s got the same heavy-bullet, slow-velocity combo that makes it drop like a brick once it’s out there.
Hunters who use it tend to keep their shots short and their ranges known. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re used to dialing for a flatter-shooting round, this one will have you scratching your head by the time it crosses the 150-yard line.
.32 Winchester Special
Meant to offer something between the .30-30 and .35 Remington, the .32 Winchester Special didn’t age well. Its performance is nearly identical to the .30-30 in terms of trajectory—and that’s not a compliment.
It lobs a bullet that gets the job done close in, but the arc past 150 yards isn’t friendly. With few modern ammo choices and limited rifle options, it’s mostly for folks who like nostalgia and know how to shoot within a tight envelope. If you’re holding more than a few inches high, you’ve probably already passed its comfort zone.
.357 Magnum
Out of a rifle, the .357 Magnum gets a nice little velocity bump. But it’s still a handgun cartridge at heart. That means bullet drop is dramatic even inside of 150 yards. Some hunters use it for deer in thick brush, and with good shot placement, it’ll do the job.
But if you’re thinking of dialing it for distance, you’re in for a rough ride. Holdover becomes an issue quick, and most .357 loads weren’t designed for long-range accuracy anyway. Keep it short, keep it tight, and leave the long shots for something else.
12-Gauge Slug (Standard Loads)
A rifled slug out of a smoothbore shotgun hits hard—but it doesn’t fly well. Even with modern sabots in rifled barrels, you’re looking at serious drop beyond 100 yards. Standard Foster slugs drop nearly a foot by 150.
It’s a point-and-shoot system for short distances, and for that it works. But the second you start dialing for elevation, you’ll realize how much that chunk of lead slows down once it’s in the air. If your hunting style gives you long-range shots, this isn’t the setup for it.
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*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
