How do you interpret this?

[Atticus]

From the Ohio DNR Hunting Regulations.

Hunters may use: "a handgun with a 5-inch minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger….â€

I called for clarification and got, "well.. whatever the book say's."

Wouldn't that mean that one could use a 5" 1911 in .45acp, or Glock .40, etc? Wouldn't they be considered to be straight-walled.

I haven't hunted deer with a handgun in years, but I believe the regs used to specifically state that a 5" or longer revolver in .357, .41mag, .44mag and .45Colt were the only combo's allowed.

 

[P95Carry]

Can't speak for OH but ... what is written would seem to include a 5" 1911! And IMO .45acp ain't a hunting round!!

I would want ... even leaving reg's aside ...... a top load 357 as a minimum ... and preferably 44 mag or even 454 Casull. I would also reckon that a minimum should be a 6" tube ....... better still, 7 1/2 and longer.

It would be better IMO if specifications covered such things as minimum muzzle energy .. that way people would know the point at which to start ...... it would not I think be efficient or sporting to be ''under-gunned'' when handgun hunting.

Just a 0.02

 

[BigG]

Gee! Just what we need: more gomit regulation! Why didn't I think of that?

 

[dakotasin]

the rules in sd are pretty cut and dried. they give minimum requirements for handgun muzzle energy w/ factory loads, and go on to state that no handgun smaller than the 357 mag is permitted. the energy requirements rule out the 45 acp, 9mm, etc., regardless of how hot you can load your 25 acp, she ain't a gonna make it because of the factory load requirement.

and, yeah, if what is posted about ohio's laws is complete, i would interpret that as meaning the 45 acp is among the legal cartridges.

 

[Bigjake]

as a really good excuse to pick up one of them new s&w cannons, just to be sure, wouldn't want to get caught undergunned!

 

[Atticus]

I have a 6.5" inch S&W Model 25, and never even considered it for deer, since I didn't think it was legal. Assuming it is legal, and since my shots are generally taken under 30 yards, I might try it out this year.

The conversation with the DNR lady was pretty funny...in a sad sorta way. I asked her if I could use my .45 acp, and she asked me if it was bigger than 3- 5-7.
I told her that it was bigger in diameter, yadda, yadda, and she said, "well...if it's bigger than 3-5-7 then you can use it, just like the book say's". Me. "Ugh....OK". I think I'll make a few more calls just to verify...this just seems too easy for Ohio.

Jake: Regarding handcannons- I've also got a model 625 that I'm thinking of converting to .460 Rowland. That would have been illegal under the old rules as well...but seems like a better idea now.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've finished off a couple of crippled whitetails with a GM, once with the 185 gr Silvertip load and t'other with a 200 gr SWC loaded to a hair under the red line. I do not recommend the 45 ACP for deer hunting.

Md's regs require 1200 ft/lbs of energy and a 6 1/2" barrel. Handguns meeting these specs can be used in counties where centerfire rifles are allowed for the taking of deer. Muzzleloading handguns meeting these specs can be used where and when ML rifles are allowed.

 

[kudu]

In Indiana the minimum caliber is.357 but it also includes that the case length must be a certain length which rules out the .45ACP. You also cannot use a .38 special as the case length is not long enough even though the caliber is .357.
As I posted this I realized that the regs changed a couple years ago now allowing some of the smaller calibers of rifle bullets in handguns. I have not kept up on all of them as I don't hunt deer very often anymore.

 

[Bigjake]

aa 625 into .460 rowland????? dang. that would pry pass as enough gun.

 

[FireInTheHole]

Opinions on taking pigs and deer with a hot glock 10mm?

 

[Atticus]

"aa 625 into .460 rowland????? dang. that would pry pass as enough gun."

Definately enough gun- but still may be illegal. That was really the motivation for my looking into the regs and calling the ODNR. I don't relish the thought of trying to explain to a Game Warden what a .460 Rowland is - or why the moonclipped cartridges look like .45acp - or why my revolver is marked .45.

 

[Art Eatman]

FireInTheHole, I'd figure that if Bambi or Piggie was inside of 50 yards or so, and if I could pretty regularly bounce beer cans at that distance, the 10mm would work. It's right at equal to a .357 Maggie.

I'd probably wanna be a bit closer on big pigs, though...

, Art

 

[Rebeldon]

According to that regulation, technically, you could use a .38 Special cartridge. It doesn't say .357 magnum, does it? It says ."357 caliber". Interesting.

 

[redneck]

Its been awhile since I read the complete ODNR regs, but if I remember right they even permit use of .410 shotguns, so it wouldn't seem that they're real concerned with making you bring a cannon to the field.

I would try to follow the letter of the law, but your going to have to bring some of your own ethics too. Just cause you can legally take something doesn't mean its a good choice.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Amazing.
I would research beyond the answer lady.

Sam

 

[Chuck Dye]

Confidence building…or confirming?

Doesn’t it just warm the cockles of one body part or another that the Ohio regulations exclude bottlenecked cartridges and so make illegal a host of "hand rifles" such as the Thompson Contender et al?