Is there any chance that I can shoot my 32-40 with a 28" barrel and 1-in-16" twist and 180gr bullets at 600yd with any reasonable expectation of hitting the MR-1 target? I would go out and give it a try, but with 18" of snow/ice on the ground and another big storm coming in tonight I don't think I'll be on the range until March. And, if I'm trying to 'pee up a rope' with the 32-40, I need to find a 38-55 or something heavier. Thanks.

In 1995 we got to shoot at 600 yards at camp edwards, MA, on cape cod. Once I shot the Maynard M 16 32-35, after doing some figuring to get on the paper. With 12.5 IMR4227 and A Hoch 165 grain bullet, prone, after getting in the black, the gun kept the bullets in the black = 36" on a windy day. The hooked butt plate made this gun very painful to shoot prone. I think 600 yards is not impossible for any accurate rifle on a calm day, once it's sighted in. You won't win, but you should be able to keep in the black, and it's a lot of fun. The 45-70 was easy at 600 yards, and the M1 shooters did just fine. 
joe b.

We have a 600 yard range at our club and from time to time I will shoot rifles that are not good for distance for the fun of it.  Problem is getting on the paper 32 is a light bullet and hard to see the misses strike.  You can't see bullet holes at that range through a scope very well either. 

However with good conditons I have used a 03 Springfield with 200 gr cast bullets and got it to ring our 500 yard gong consistently. This with a good spotter walking my bullets in and working first at 200 then 300 then 400 before going to the 500 yard gong The 03's ladder sight has plenty of staff to work with. Same range a 58 Caliber Minne ball is easy to spot and hits targets much better than you would think it would. Big bullet makes it easier to sight in and spot. You often can see the Minne whole way down range through the scope. 850 FPS muzzle it takes it a couple seconds to get there.

38/55 300 gr is about the mimimum for good 600 yard work with a single shot. 

Boats

I shot at a Coyote about at least 400-500 yards away with a .22. I held what I thought was 12 feet over.  I hit it but it turned out to be my neighbors Irish Setter. That Setter did a complete flip in the air and ran for home.  It looked like a coyote to me and my wife. 

              Joe. 

i once shot a bumble bee off the 600 yd. target frame with my daisy air rifle...... then i woke up    art