Why did early modern gunners usually fire cannon from less than 1,000 yards away?

During the early modern period, gunners typically fired smoothbore cannon at ranges of 1,000 yards or less primarily due to the inherent inaccuracy of the technology. Because these weapons fired spherical projectiles, they lacked the precision required for effective long-range engagement.1

Gunners generally aimed by sighting along the top of the barrel, a method known as "by the line of metals," and relied on simple rules of thumb to estimate elevation. While tools like the gunner’s quadrant helped manage the relationship between range and elevation, the lack of sophisticated fire control meant that accuracy dropped significantly at greater distances. Consequently, for tactical operations such as attacking fortress walls, gunners preferred much closer ranges—often between 60 and 80 yards—as distances of 300 yards or more were considered excessive for reliable results.1