Straight walled rifle?

[Bob-WY]

Just moved back to NH and there are so called "shotgun only" areas for deer. The description actually says "rifles with straight walled handgun cartridges .357 or greater"

I have a ruger in .44 mag, i have this question in to NH FG as well. The rifle shoots .44 mag handgun loads, is that what is described above?

 

[LCH]

That's how Indiana was up until this year. 44 Mag makes a great deer round within 150 yards or so.

We had physical dimensions a round had to fit within. For example, 450 BM was legal, 45-70 was not. Better read the actual regs to see what cartridges you can use.

 

[Dave N]

Just moved back to NH and there are so called "shotgun only" areas for deer. The description actually says "rifles with straight walled handgun cartridges .357 or greater"

I have a ruger in .44 mag, i have this question in to NH FG as well. The rifle shoots .44 mag handgun loads, is that what is described above?

Yes.

 

[std7mag]

You could also use 45 Colt.

Have to buy a new rifle.

I really don't see a down side there...

 

[RealMuddyboots]

The coolest part is I sent the straight wall rifle program that was used to launch in MI to NH several years ago. It has been transplanted in quite a few states since 2009.

 

[targetpanic]

Welcome back home Bob! I believe the 44 mag is acceptable in NH.

 

[Spud0242569]

I use a 44 mag in Michigan

 

[Gellar]

My kid used his grandpas 44 magnum rifle for his first deer this year. Sweet gun !

Iowa went through this a few years ago, I forget the verbiage but it was similar to yours in stating that the straight wall caliber had to be bigger than .357. It was determined the way our regs read 350 legends were not legal after 1000s of Iowans went out and bought 350 legends. The next year they listed all the straight wall calibers that were legal and included 350 legend.

 

[Spud0242569]

I use a 44 mag in Michiga

Similar laws

My kid used his grandpas 44 magnum rifle for his first deer this year. Sweet gun !

Iowa went through this a few years ago, I forget the verbiage but it was similar to yours in stating that the straight wall caliber had to be bigger than .357. It was determined the way our regs read 350 legends were not legal after 1000s of Iowans went out and bought 350 legends. The next year they listed all the straight wall calibers that were legal and included 350 legend.

yeah the +- in Michigan makes it legal since it uses the .355 bullets so dumb

 

[RealMuddyboots]

My kid used his grandpas 44 magnum rifle for his first deer this year. Sweet gun !

Iowa went through this a few years ago, I forget the verbiage but it was similar to yours in stating that the straight wall caliber had to be bigger than .357. It was determined the way our regs read 350 legends were not legal after 1000s of Iowans went out and bought 350 legends. The next year they listed all the straight wall calibers that were legal and included 350 legend.

And how dumb does Winchester look not performing due diligence on state minimum caliber regulations? Seriously, did they think nobody would notice?

 

[std7mag]

There is always the 357 Maximum.

Think elongated 357 Mag.

 

[SFC B]

New kid to town is the 41 Great Lakes (out of Michigan) as well. My son shot his first deer with a 44 mag Handi Rifle single shot. Nice lil 8 pt. Good thing about the 350 and 450, you can get AR uppers for them as well.

 

[WookieBowcaster]

Related:

Would you ever choose to use a straight wall cartridge in an area that does not require them?

One piece of property I hunt: I’m very conscious of the houses creeping closer each year. And I do wonder, however improbable it might be, that a 308 round would travel to one of those homes.

So, I’m beginning to wonder about a slug gun or a straight wall gun.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Related:

Would you ever choose to use a straight wall cartridge in an area that does not require them?

One piece of property I hunt: I’m very conscious of the houses creeping closer each year. And I do wonder, however improbable it might be, that a 308 round would travel to one of those homes.

So, I’m beginning to wonder about a slug gun or a straight wall gun.

Are you worried about ricochets going a really long way?

 

[mevertsen]

Related:

Would you ever choose to use a straight wall cartridge in an area that does not require them?

One piece of property I hunt: I’m very conscious of the houses creeping closer each year. And I do wonder, however improbable it might be, that a 308 round would travel to one of those homes.

So, I’m beginning to wonder about a slug gun or a straight wall gun.

If the houses are too close for the .308, the straight walls are too powerful as well.

 

[WookieBowcaster]

Are you worried about ricochets going a really long way?

Exactly.

There is a ton of thick brush, trees, and even some terrain in the area. The idea of a 308 round traveling through all that seems incredibly improbable.

But, you just never know how a bullet may tumble through the brush or ricochet.

 

[Addicting]

Related:

Would you ever choose to use a straight wall cartridge in an area that does not require them?

One piece of property I hunt: I’m very conscious of the houses creeping closer each year. And I do wonder, however improbable it might be, that a 308 round would travel to one of those homes.

So, I’m beginning to wonder about a slug gun or a straight wall gun.

Nope, given the option of a bottle neck vs a straight wall I would go bottle neck all day long.

A lighter fragmentation bullet moving fast will stop faster than a big heavy slug on contact.

I have to hunt with a straight wall and it isn’t any safer than a 308 with a 100g fragmenting bullet.

If it was the CWD hit squads that do sample hunts in the city would use straight wall. They don’t, they use a 308 with 100g fragment bullets and shoot neck shots.

 

[WookieBowcaster]

Nope, given the option of a bottle neck vs a straight wall I would go bottle neck all day long.

A lighter fragmentation bullet moving fast will stop faster than a big heavy slug on contact.

I have to hunt with a straight wall and it isn’t any safer than a 308 with a 100g fragmenting bullet.

If it was the CWD hit squads that do sample hunts in the city would use straight wall. They don’t, they use a 308 with 100g fragment bullets and shoot neck shots.

Makes sense. Would a fragmenting round be labeled as such on the box? Right now, I use a 130 grain all-copper out of the 308.

 

[Addicting]

Makes sense. Would a fragmenting round be labeled as such on the box? Right now, I use a 130 grain all-copper out of the 308.

They use custom loaded rounds. I’m not sure what the make of bullet is they use. One of the shooters is a friend and he told me that is their choice. He said they do not get pass thru so it has to be a jacketed powder type round similar to a pistol paper puncher round.

I would bet that you would be fine with a Berger or ELDM type.

 

[TX Trophy Hunter]

Makes sense. Would a fragmenting round be labeled as such on the box? Right now, I use a 130 grain all-copper out of the 308.

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