Gun Effective Ranges?

[IIxNATHANxII]

I've been scrolling the internet and forums for hours, trying to get a definitive list of the guns and their effective ranges with different ammo types.
I noticed in game regardless of what gun you select or even what ammo you select the effective range remains at 150m or even below for some ammo types.
Despite this i've seen people using the 7mm rife and softshell tip ammo at 300m+ and drop diamonds no problem.
I ask this as id like to know hoe close i need to get with each gun before firing and scaring away my target, do i get in the specified range on the store screen of 150m everytime with every gun or can some guns and ammo's allow me to keep more of a distance.

I play on the more open maps as i find it more fun and trying to get within 150m of a high level animal is seeming impossible.

Any help welcomed, Thanks and happy hunting :)

[Mr. Ed]

Some of the rifles (like they 45.70) are close quarter types and some are okay to use at distances of 250-300 meters. Once I exceed 200 meters I wind up with single lung penetration more frequently no matter what caliber I use. I've killed a lot of animals at 300 meters, one at 411 meters. The really big animals (classes 8-9) have tough skill and at 300 meters even the .300 or .338 can have penetration problems. The bottom line is that at 150 meters you have a really good chance of taking out both lungs. The further away you get after that the less chance you have and the longer a blood trail you may have to follow. Bullet drop can be rather severe with some rifles so go to the range in Hirsh. Don't use soft points unless you have to.

[Pinger]

Go by the rounds effective range and work from that. After that its all about your skill in hitting the heart at long range to guarantee a quick kill or go for double lung. But you risk getting a single lung due to range and less penetration, it will drop but will run for at least 200m+

[IIxNATHANxII]

I just didnt understand why the store told me 150m but people are getting 300m+ instant drop kills, just made no sense to me. I understand now that 150m is pretty much (at the right angle) a certain double lung kill anything over that and the penetration fall off so less likely. I mainly use the 7mm rifle and the 270 rifle as im just starting out but have found that the 7mm rifle isnt as accurate as the 270 even though it has a higher power

[El Poto]

If I understand correctly, the 150 mark or corresponding for other types is where the default "zeroing" will be if you don't have the "zeroing" perk activated.
I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the penetration - as in more distant less penetration. Never seen anyone talking about that and neither have any idea of how someone would test it. Possibly irrelevant with the rendering distance cap.

[Mr. Ed]

Shoot a Cape Buffalo at 300 meters with the .300 mag rifle then shoot one at 100 meters. You will def see a difference in penetration.

[Goltzhar]

The penetration in COTW is far from exact science, not even themselves can explain what it is.

We have requested some clarity on how the ammo and penetration works since day 1.
I guess if you dont say anything you cant say anything wrong.

The only way to know is to try it out. You can't trust any info to even remotely steer you in the right direction. Try look at what others say works and try it out.

For example if you use polymer tip on a fox, you can go right thru it in any position , if you use a soft point from the front, it does not even penetrate the fur.
I was in a tripod and put nine .300 polymer tip bullets in a Cape buffalo who was beneath me..... he ran away and survived..... I think have pics of similar incidents of 6-7 shots from above with the .300 polymer tip and not penetrating the skin.

Use polymer tip for everything if possible, shoot at 150-200m, and be aware of the wind, it can sometimes have more impact on the bullet than you know (+250m).

My load out for (almost) every reserve is .300, M1, .243, .22 (polymer tip when possible) And sometimes change out .300 for .454 Revolver hard point. The .454 shoots thru everything, have made +200m shots straight tru on a moose with it.

It is very boring not to be able to use other weapons but I tried the first 2 years to alternate but it became so frustrating and confusing.
I'm not using the bow because they have messed it up and fixed it, and messed it up again so many times that I have lost even the little faith I had for it.

But I have adapted. Still the best hunting game by far.