Author Topic: Indiana Deer Rifles (Read 8211 times)

Jack Ryan · « **on:** May 28, 2007, 10:11:10 PM »

Given a case length of no more than 1.625 and a minimum bullet diameter of .357...

Any on got any ideas?

Nobade · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2007, 02:16:02 AM »

35 BR. if you've got a standard bolt face. 350 Rem mag with the body shortened to make the right length if you've got a magnum bolt. Either one'll knock 'em dead.

jedman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2007, 12:53:39 PM »

I would try a 44 magnum, in a rifle its good to maybe 125-150 yards. I have a older Ruger carbine in 44 mag. and like it alot.
jedman

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2007, 01:08:33 PM »

No need for a wildcat, 357 Rem Maximum...

or .45 Colt..

or 445 Supermag...

If ya gotta have a wildcat, 357/44 Bain/Davis

Or maybe a 357/445 Supermag wildcat!!

Lone Star · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2007, 11:22:14 AM »

I wonder at the OP's question considering the extremely firm stand the state of Indiana has historically taken against the use of rifles for deer. Handguns are currently allowed, the minimum caliber is .243 and the minimum case length is 1.16". What are you trying to accomplish here?

.

Jack Ryan · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2007, 08:12:17 PM »

A little backround.

I already own a couple 44 mags revolvers, a 45-70 NEF and I've got dies for them and for 357.

I'm just sort of shopping some ideas and the 357 maxim was first to come to mind but the 500S&W is also the exact maximum lenght allowed. Sort of made me wonder what a 357 would do out of a 500 cartridge. Might get that up around 2500fps or a little more out of a rifle barrel.

I like the NEF for the barrel program but their 44 mag barrels are over bored and I don't like the idea of keeping track of two sets of 44 mag amo. One fit's pistols and one for the rifle. I wouldn't want a tight one getting in my 629 by accident. A 35 remington is a heck of around so to duplicate that with a little shorter and a little fatter case might be a pretty hot item.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2007, 08:39:13 PM »

Current production 44mag Handis aren't as overbore as previous barrels were, those bought since the first of the year have slugged at .430" and shoot 2moa with jacketed bullets.

Tim

Quote

On May 22, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission approved an administrative rule making rifles suited for pistol cartridges legal hunting tools. The deer firearms season will run from Nov. 17 to Dec. 2 and allow all rifles, muzzleloaders, shotguns and pistols of proscribed calibers as legal firearms....

Not every rifle capable of shooting short case cartridges will be legal. Indiana's legal deer hunting rifles must meet three criteria:

a) Fire a bullet that is three hundred fifty seven thousands of an inch (.357) in diameter or larger;

b) Have a minimum case length of one and sixteen hundredths (1.16) inches;

c) Have a maximum case length of one and six hundred twenty five thousandths (1.625) inches.

To give broader examples of what's what and what's not, here are some — but not all— IDNR approved cartridges: .357 Magnum, .38-40 Winchester, .41 Magnum, .41 Special, .44 Special, .44-40 Winchester, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh, .50 Action Express and .500 Smith & Wesson.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/may/27/indiana-plans-rifle-season-using-cowboy/

Jack Ryan · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2007, 08:57:51 PM »

Yes, I've read that a couple or three times.

That 475 Linebaugh made from cutting the 45-70 down to 1.5 looks interesting. It could be left at 1.62 and then just ream the chamber a little deeper.

I think I can already get 2 inch groups at a 100 yards with a 12 guage shot gun. The only advantage there would be if I could produce the ammo cheaper. Aren't they doing better thatn that with the 357 maximum barrels?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2007, 09:04:08 PM »

Quote from: Jack Ryan on June 02, 2007, 08:57:51 PM

Yes, I've read that a couple or three times.

I didn't put it there for you, I figured you already knew it!

I saw the proposal months ago, there also was a post about it in the NEF forum in January.

The 357 Mag barrels have always been good shooters, they don't make a 357 Max any more. I had my 357 mag>max barrel rechambered to 35 Remington, shoots moa just like it did as a mag and a max which is what is was rechambered to before the 35 Rem.

The 45 Colt Carbine would be another good choice, see my reply to your post on the .500.

Tim

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2007, 09:10:38 PM »

Here's some of the 44mag reports.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,115216.msg1098367484.html#msg1098367484

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,114906.msg1098365311.html#msg1098365311

jedman · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2007, 12:53:50 AM »

If you like the idea of a cut down 45-70 to start with, I think you could take a 350 Rem. mag sizing die and cut ( grind ) off the bottom of the die until you reached the point where you are at .501 to .503 dia. and size the 45-70 case. It would be a llittle under 1.625 in length and you can use a standard 350 mag reamer to cut the chamber until it works with your sample casings. With .357 or .358 bullets you have would a wildcat that should be good for deer and larger game.
I hope that gives you a idea ? jedman

wgr · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2007, 05:07:31 PM »

i read the rules they say that the rifle used has to use a round that was made for a handgun 357/44s and ect. wile the 35/45-70 and others are chambered in handguns they were made for rifles.u might get by with cutting down a 45-70 but i would check first not worth it when u have the 44mag /45long colt plenty of range for indiana

brasskeeper · « **Reply #12 on:** August 10, 2007, 07:33:10 AM »

480 ruger?

indydave · « **Reply #13 on:** September 26, 2007, 01:49:10 PM »

i went with a handi in 500 S&W i can ALWAYS load down youth stock(i am a shorty) 16 oz c&h mercury recoil reducer 400 sxt ( black talon technology)winchesters fact load @ 2100-2200 fps my handload of 325grain Barnes xpb spitzer in starline brass 44.3 grains of LIL-GUN and a benchrest primer @ 2275 fps and i can go to a max load of h-110 and a 350 grain sierra JHC @ 2100 i see no reason i cannot use any of these loads from whitetails to bear

Spector · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2007, 05:42:03 PM »

We had an Indiana Conservation Officer speak before our conservation club membership at our September meeting. He said that although the new center-fire rifle rules for deer hunting were designed for pistol/revolver cartridges that this first year anything that meets the caliber and cases specifications is to be allowed.

I'll be using a sporterized Swiss Vetterli that I converted to center-fire. Modified 348 WIN cases trimmed to a little less than 1.625'' loaded with Lee 310 grain .430'' dia. lead GC bullets. New member........Mike

sportsman223 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2007, 02:42:29 PM »

I will be using a G2 in 357 Maximum with a .358 bore to shoot hornady 180g SSP bullet
Basically a 35REM when loaded right.

brasskeeper · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2007, 04:07:43 PM »

On another forum a guy in Indiana re-barreled a model 70 and chambered it for 35-25wssm. He necked up 25wssm to .358". He is using 200 grain bullets and is getting close to 2500 fps with his fire forming loads. It meets the regs the way I understand it. He got it done in time to kill a doe last weekend.

varmint917v · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2007, 02:28:29 PM »

I am from indiana and I think this new rule will either get changed to only cartridges that are chambered in pistols or there will be some very interesting wildcats around this state by opening day of next year. I am thinking some type of Super Short wildcat. Its not that I need something other then a 12 gauge to hunt deer but I do like collecting guns and I think this is going to be a way to use some obscure rifle cartridge that otherwise would just punch paper.

sportsman223 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2007, 03:15:12 PM »

The 357 Max was in a Ruger pistol

Greenhunter · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2008, 09:55:47 AM »

For some odd reason I keep coming back to the .475 Linebaugh Long
as what I want in my rifle to hunt deer with next season.
I wonder if I can use that caliber on my Contender G-2 frame?

onesonek · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2008, 03:46:48 AM »

For me in that situation, I would look at the S&W .500 and .460 case's and neck them down to either the .358 or .375 calibers for use with the lighter weight rifle bullets for better BC's. I haven't run any theoretical loads but kinda think they'll do better than traditional pistol bullets giving some increased range. As long as you keep the impact velocities above 16-1800 fps, they should perform nicely, I think.

Dave

Greenhunter · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2008, 08:53:46 PM »

Looks like i will use my Marlin 1895 lever gun in .44 magnum for Indiana's general firearms season this year. It shoots very well and I have no doubt that the Hornady 240 gr. HP rounds are capable of doing their part on the deer.

brasskeeper · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2008, 04:18:02 PM »

Last fall I was reading about a bolt action with a wildcated 25 wssm. I believe it was necked up to 35 caliber. I will see if I can find it. The guy who built lived in Indiana and wanted a bolt action.

brasskeeper · « **Reply #23 on:** November 05, 2008, 04:24:26 PM »

Here is the link:

http://www.reloadbench.com/ubb/Forum28/HTML/000646.html

another option is to neck up 7.62x39 to 35 cal

Cornbelt · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2009, 09:38:23 AM »

What about a chopped .223 case, say 1-1/2" x 8mm? Being a hoosier, I've been thinking the same thoughts, and with good take-off mauser bbls available & surplus 8mm ammo for bullets, it might be a workable (not too costly) idea. Might even feed thru a GI mag. Anyone here done anything similar?

Cornbelt · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2009, 03:38:15 PM »

Maybe the above would be better applied to a heavy, slower, quieter type load. 9mm Win magnum ballistics weren't that impressive, and had a bit more case to use. .44 automag rifle ?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** April 26, 2009, 03:53:10 PM »

Why reinvent the wheel, the 357 Max works well for Indiana hunters.

Tim

http://357maximum.com/

243dave · « **Reply #27 on:** April 27, 2009, 06:20:30 AM »

If I wanted to squeeze out the most range out of a " Indiana rifle" and cost wasn't a issue I'd go with a 358wssm. If I wanted to go the cheap route to get the most powerful bigbore I'd slap a 460 S&W barrel on my encore and trim the brass down to 1.625. Of course I'd seat the bullets out far enough to keep the same C.O.A.L. as the original 460, keeping the same powder capacity as the original too. You might not be able to use some of the short bullets but I prefer a 300gr bullet in 452 diameter anyway. Just my thoughts(thank goodness I can hunt with what ever)

. Dave

teddy12b · « **Reply #28 on:** April 27, 2009, 07:48:50 AM »

It's not really a wildcat, but it's also not a very common cartridge, the 458socom. I know some guys where using it in AR platforms because the new regs also say nothing about capacity. I jumped on the 44mag leveraction bandwagon and I haven't looked back. I took a buck last season at 60 yards using a puma 20" 44 and it made me a believer. I like to keep it simple, like the 44mag, but the 458 socom would be a fun one to try out also.

Spector · « **Reply #29 on:** May 08, 2009, 07:14:49 AM »

How about a Mosin Nagant carbine in a shortened 7.62x54 necked up to 35 caliber. I think the magazine could just be modified internally.

Or a shortened 7.62x54 necked up to 44 caliber. That would require a more extensive magazine modification.......and of course new barrels on either conversion.

I figure those conversions would be the easiest to get them to feed properly in a Mosin Nagant. Do a Finn type trigger modification and add a tang safety. It might well make an excellent little carbine. Think Mannlicher Schoenauer or scout rifle...........Mike.