H&R MAY NO LONGER BE #1 IN MISSISSIPPI PRIMITIVE WEAPON

[Natty Bumppo]

This is how i heard it came about....Initially a small group of shooters who shot primarily trapdoor rifles using only black powder loads petitioned the "powers that be" to allow them to using their rifles for primitive weapon... Then the state legislature took the law and butchered it.... They allowed smokeless powder in a pre 1900 design rifle using any caliber of at least .38....Now they are allowing any single shot with a hammer as long as its 35 caliber or larger.... My biggest problem is not the rifle being used but the calibers they are going to allow..... A 375 H&H magnum or 350 remington magnum being used on our average 130lb white tail....The largest deer I have seen here were only 200lbs and they aren't common....

I have a 1859 Sharps .54 paper cartridge breech loader - interestingly, this rifle seems to fall in a "gray area" of the Louisiana and Mississippi statutes.  The statutes say that all breech loaders must have external hammers and use metallic cartridges.  The 1859 model has an external hammer and uses black powder, but doesn't use metallic cartridges.  I guess the 1872 model Sharps is more "primitive" than the 1859 model.  Hmmm, guess I'll use the .45-70 to be safe.

[John R.]

I live in Mississippi, and as long as it's legal what's the problem. If certain people want to hunt with a flintlock, I sure don't have an issue with it. For that matter you can hunt with a recurve all year if it makes you happy. I say hunt with whatever you like as long as it's legal and don't put other folks down for hunting with the weapon of their choice.

[doeroller]

Whine, whine, whine. MS has a severe overpopulation of deer. By easing up on the regulations, more people will have the opportunity to get into the woods with firearms they already own. Also T/C won't be on MS behind. As far as a .375 H&H, several big macho guys want the biggest and baddest. I have recommeded the big Holland. I will be doing load development specifically for deer. I plan to use 225 Hornadys and 235 Speers at 3/4 throttle. What these guys are looking for is range. I will report on how this load work with the .375 works out. I could not in good conscience recommend a .416 Rigby. A little too much, even for me, but I bet some yuppie who does not know better buys one and hunts deer with it. 

[Awf Hand]

I'm kinda late to this party so maybe somebody asked this:

Would my 455 Martini Henry "Zulu" rifle not be allowed because of it's lack of exposed hammers?

'twood seem a glaring omission on their part.   

[doeroller]

No hammer no fun.