Legal pistol for MN deer?

[182a]

I know you can use a pistol pistol for deer in MN as long as it is one of the calibers listed in the regs.   But can you use a 270 308 etc in a encore pistol set up?  Does the barell have to be a certain length then it can be considered a rifle?  I know many people who use them all the time for deer but have never got a good explanation of how they are considered legal or not?

thanks   

[billy_56081]

Yes you can use any caliber that is 23 caliber or larger and a case length of I believe 1.1 inch or longer in all parts of MN open to firearms deer hunting. In both the rifle and slug zones they are legal.

[blhof]

Check your state game and fish regs..  Some states have a minimum barrel length, I know of none that have a max. length; except for Federal law of 15" for pistol an min 16" for rifle.  The longer barrel gives a few hundred fps for longer shots or better expansion with jacketed ammo.

[Keith L]

What is your reference for a federal max pistol barrel length?  If you are right then all the Super  16 Contender barrels would be illegal.

[Graybeard]

There is no federal maximum barrel length on handguns ONLY a minimum on rifles which is 16". If you wanted to you could put a 40' (foot not inches) barrel on one. Now that would be some kinda sight radius if you used irons wouldn't it?   

[Who Me?]

If you go to the Minnesota DNR web site under hunting --> deer --> in the center column at the top of the page it has a section named: "Legal big game rifle & pistol cartridges & shotgun shells".  Click on that & you will see what is legal.  Here's the basic definition:
 " Legal Big Game Rifle & Pistol Cartridges & Shotgun Shells
M.S.A 97B.031
At Least .23 caliber and case length of at least 1.285 inches"
                                                                                     
Here's the link for you to read listing all legal calibers:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/hunting/legalcartridges.html[url]]http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/hunting/legalcartridges.html

[quickdtoo]

If you wanted to you could put a 40' (foot not inches) barrel on one. Now that would be some kinda sight radius if you used irons wouldn't it?   

Ummm, I'd need a scope to see the front sight!!!

Tim

[GRIMJIM]

If you wanted to you could put a 40' (foot not inches) barrel on one.

Think galco makes a holster for that one? A little hard to get through the woods too.

Back to the original post, definately check the regs. In Illinois you can only use straight walled ammo, no bottleneck cartridges.