Proposed changes to MI Deer Hunting Regs

[Michiganiac]

Here's a question for you - there is a bill that has been introduced in the Michigan legislature that would allow the following in the shotgun only zone during deer season:

(d) A .35 caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled
cartridges with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum
case length of 1.80 inches.

Basically we could use a rifle that is chambered for handgun calibers (within the defined limits).

The three questions I have are:

What rounds commonly used for handgun hunting do you guys think are good options in this scenario?

Out of those options, are any an honest 150 yard round -  meaning accurate and decent knock down ?

What options for rifles are there that fit this bill?

Please keep in mind that I am not looking at this from a re-loader's perspective.

Thanks in advance!

[Drilling Man]

  44 mag. rifle sounds like a good choise to me...  Properly loaded, out of a rifle, it's a decent 150 yard deer round.

  Depending on new, used, or if your willing to look for used, the Rem. 788 would be a excelent choise in a bolt gun...  Easier to get is the Ruger semi auto's, and levers.  Then there's the new Marlin and Henry levers, plus a couple other imports.

  DM

[Masterblaster1]

Michiganiac, do you know what the bill's name is? I have not read about this yet in any of my MUCC bi-weekly emails. I would be very supportive of this as the modern mz's and slug guns can shoot just as far as a pistol caliber carbine...

[buck460XVR]

  44 mag. rifle sounds like a good choise to me...  Properly loaded, out of a rifle, it's a decent 150 yard deer round.

I agree.....altho I myself like my .357 carbine,  I don't tend to push it past 100 yards. Both the .357 and .44 are a totally different load from a rifle as opposed to a 6'' barreled revolver, rivaling the infamous 30-30. With my .357 carbine and factory irons, I consistently shoot clay pigeons set up on the berm @ 100 yards.

[Michiganiac]

Michiganiac, do you know what the bill's name is? I have not read about this yet in any of my MUCC bi-weekly emails. I would be very supportive of this as the modern mz's and slug guns can shoot just as far as a pistol caliber carbine...

Sure thing - it's house bill 5416 of 2009. It was just introduced on the 17th of September. I doubt it's made much news yet.

http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2009-HB-5416

[Thebear_78]

Marlin makes lever guns in 357 mag, and 44 mag and either will do a good job on whitetails.   The 44 definately has the edge in power and probably range but both can be very successful.  My dad has a marlin 357 magnum that has taken over 20 whitetails.  We always used 158gr JSP and shots under 125 yards or so.   Its really not that limiting when hunting in swamps, hardwoods or standing corn fields.   I can remember lots of times when that short fast handling carbine  was the perfect corn stalking weapon, where ranges are generally less than 50 yards.  The 357 has very little recoil and it also doubles as a pretty decent small game weapon with lead 38 special ammuntion.

The ruger 44 carbin is another good one to look at.

Another option would be a handy rifle or encore in 460 or 500 smith rounds.  THey are very powerfull and the 460 definately would hold the edge in range over all the other mentioned.

[1sourdough]

 In WI there has been some expansion of the rifle zone in CWD areas. They used some studies to show that rifles had no higher accident rates than shotguns. This was for any type rifle. For the straight wall type restrictions I think you could look at some of the other states that went that way recently, IN comes to mind.

[buck460XVR]

Another option would be a handy rifle or encore in 460 or 500 smith rounds.  THey are very powerfull and the 460 definately would hold the edge in range over all the other mentioned.

I was gonna suggest that also but was confused as to whether this referred to just case length or COL.......if it's COL then they don't qualify.

(d) A .35 caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled
cartridges with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum
case length of 1.80 inches.

[theoldarcher]

My brother in southern IN shoots some hot .45 long colt loads out of a Henry Arms lever gun that is awesome.  Hitting rocks across the lake from his porch is no problem--these shots are in the range of 130 to 150 yards.  If the rules do allow for this, I fully intend to have this set up.

Arch

[Scibaer]

MasterBlaster and Michiganiac,
 link to the thread about the new legislation is here---> http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,175560.0.html

[Muddyboots]

Michiganiac,
I've got a .500 S&W Mag barrel coming from MGM for my Encore. 26" heavy, SS, throated for Hornady 350 gr XTP at 0.025 to lands. This will allow smaller jump for the 300 gr FTX as well. I should have it by end of enxt week if all goes well. They have been great to work with on this. According to Hornady, the 300 FTX out of 26" barrel with H110 should be around 2300 fps. Ran through my ballistics program and pretty impressive numbers pop up. over 3600 ftlbs at muzzle and over 1600 ftlbs at 200 yards. Sighted in at 150 yards, it is 2" high at 100 yards and 4" low at 200 yards. Recoil shouldn't be all that bad when comparing to slugs out of my Encore or even 300WM. Lots of calibers to look at, 44 mag, 445 super mag is real interesting, 357 max, .480 SW Mag all meet this requirement. The new slug sabots are right there with the 500 SW so not much difference. The 12 ga. Hornady SST is about 2000 fps + which is close enough to 500 SW. Plus, the 500 SW is legal in IN where I hunt mostly so I will have same rifle for both states assuming this goes through as written.
Muddyboots

[Muddyboots]

Buck460SVR,
the bill refers to case length not COL. Good point monitor to make sure it is not changed to reflect COL.
Muddyboots

[jdt48653]

to bad a 444 marlin would`nt fit in.