If you have never had any formal rifle training, I agree with the guy that said to go to a Project Appleseed event. I have been shooting since I was a young kid and I learned a lot there.
As for distance, with the 91/30 I would start at 100 yards and see what you and the rifle/ammo are capable of. Then go from there.
My longest shot with iron sights was an legitimate shot on a steel plate at 1000 yards. I don't know the size of the plate but I will guess it was 24x24. It was big enough that I could see it at 1000 yards with the naked eye.
I was at a rifle match where we shot military surplus rifles (supposed to be unmodified "rack grade" military rifles, not match rifles) from about 200 yards out to 800 yards at steel plates. There was a known distance portion of the match as well as a portion where you walked along a trail and they had firing points with targets at unknown ranges.
After the match was over, they had a fun match at 1000 yards for anyone that had brought a scoped rifle to shoot (they announced this ahead of time so you could bring your rifle). I didn't bring a scoped rifle but before they got started, I asked if I could try a couple shots before they got started. I was using a 1903 with the ladder sight from prone with a sling. I had a guy spotting for me. I fired a shot and he told me where it hit. I made a sight adjustment and hit the plate. I worked the bolt and hit it again. At that point, I went and had dinner and drinks.
Could I do it again ? I doubt it, but maybe, but definitely not with a 1903. I can no longer see through the sights and haven't been able to for more than 10 years. Maybe with something else though ? I would like to try it again and I probably will at some point. These days I am really into shooting steel plates at long range with a scoped rifle (from a bench) and I have thought several times about taking a rifle with iron sights and seeing what (if anything) I could do with it at long range.
As for distance, with the 91/30 I would start at 100 yards and see what you and the rifle/ammo are capable of. Then go from there.
My longest shot with iron sights was an legitimate shot on a steel plate at 1000 yards. I don't know the size of the plate but I will guess it was 24x24. It was big enough that I could see it at 1000 yards with the naked eye.
I was at a rifle match where we shot military surplus rifles (supposed to be unmodified "rack grade" military rifles, not match rifles) from about 200 yards out to 800 yards at steel plates. There was a known distance portion of the match as well as a portion where you walked along a trail and they had firing points with targets at unknown ranges.
After the match was over, they had a fun match at 1000 yards for anyone that had brought a scoped rifle to shoot (they announced this ahead of time so you could bring your rifle). I didn't bring a scoped rifle but before they got started, I asked if I could try a couple shots before they got started. I was using a 1903 with the ladder sight from prone with a sling. I had a guy spotting for me. I fired a shot and he told me where it hit. I made a sight adjustment and hit the plate. I worked the bolt and hit it again. At that point, I went and had dinner and drinks.
Could I do it again ? I doubt it, but maybe, but definitely not with a 1903. I can no longer see through the sights and haven't been able to for more than 10 years. Maybe with something else though ? I would like to try it again and I probably will at some point. These days I am really into shooting steel plates at long range with a scoped rifle (from a bench) and I have thought several times about taking a rifle with iron sights and seeing what (if anything) I could do with it at long range.