I learned to shoot long range (1k+ yard) with a 30-06. Effectively... a Winchester Vietnam era sniper rifle. Realistic distance while hunting "out west" is typically within any cartridge's max point blank range. Not all shots east of the MS are long shots and most are under 300 yards. You can certainly get into 500 yards but the vast majority of the time you are going to be able to get within a few hundred yards. I tried to shoot a deer this past season @ around 500 yards and I could not do it while hunting. I could not get the rifle steady enough.

That's reality.

Out west... 180 Partition for elk. 165 Accubond for everything else.

here in Alabama put a 165 Sierra on the whitetails.

It will get it done today just like it got it done 100 years ago and still with ZERO fuss.