effective range
Operational striking distance
Effective range is the distance within which a weapon, tool, or signal can reliably accomplish its intended purpose.
For firearms, it's the maximum distance at which a shooter can consistently hit a target with useful accuracy and stopping power: The rifle's effective range is about 500 meters.
Radio transmitters, Wi-Fi routers, and sensors also have effective ranges—beyond which signal quality degrades too much for practical use.
The term acknowledges that theoretical maximum range often exceeds the distance at which something actually works well.
- distanceSpace between two points
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- reachExtend to touch
- point blankAt very close range
- line of sightDirect visual path, unobstructed
target · ballistics · trajectory · bullet drop · maximum · firearm · weapon · weapon system · scope · precision · shot · projectile · lethal · stopping power · operational · coverage · signal · transmission
- combat rangepoint blank, melee, close combat, hand to hand, close quarters
- weapon traitsaccuracy, damage, recoil, durability, lethal
- ballisticsballistics, bullet, bullet drop, cartridge, trajectory
- gun specscaliber, barrel length, muzzle velocity, rate of fire, magazine capacity
effective, range, effect, effects, effected, effecting, effectively, effectiveness, ineffective