IN legal firearms

[Monster Whitetails]

Indiana this year introduced the use of rifles this year fordeer season.I dont really know rifle calibers that well and was wondering if anyone would have a list a all the legal hunting rilfes you can use in IN.

[jaybe]

From page 16 of the Indiana Hunting Regulations:

Rifles with pistol cartridges that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches are legal to use only during the deer firearms season. Some cartridges legal for deer hunting include the 357 Magnum, 38-40 Winchester, 41 Magnum, 41 Special, 44 Magnum, 44 Special, 44-40 Winchester, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger, 50 Action Express, and 500 S&W.

So this would exclude all of the normal "rifle" cartridges such as the .30-30, .30-06, .270, 7MM, etc. I'm not positive about all of them, but I think most of those legal cartiridges are "straight-walled", meaning they have no neck, like the majority of rifle cartridges.

Good Luck

[Monster Whitetails]

So what would be a good suggested caliber if I was to buy a rifle for IN deer hunting.

[Ridge Runner]

depends what ya wanna spend, I know a guy on another forum that rechambers NEF rifles to 357 rem max, another guy is tooling up to build AR's in a indy legal 357/25wssm wildcat, or you can get a marlin in 44 mag, or an AR in 458 socom from RRA
lots of choices.
RR

[jaybe]

I have heard a lot of good things about the Ruger .44 mag. It's a short "carbine"-style rifle that is proven to be reliable, and with a good, medium-pricedscope will take down whitetails out to 100 yards with good shot placement.
Check out this site http://www.galleryofguns.com/shootingtimes/articles/DisplayArticles.asp?ID=38
I did a quick search and discovered Ruger has come out with a newer version of the .44 carbine.

Good Luck

ps - after reading the entire article, it looks like you'll be spending around $800 for this new versionand a scope. You might want to check out the used guns at your local gun shop or on gunbrokers.com or e-bay if you can't affor that much.

[IndyHunter83]

I'm tryin my lever action357 mag. If your lookin for a rifle you can use for the next two weekends and wanna buy one now, you might try 44 mag. Gander Mountain on the south side of Indianapolis has 6 of theHRs chambered in 44 mag for around $250.I know a guy in madison who can get ya a TC Pro Hunter 500 S&W, they say it kicks like a mule but it'll drop the deer. Some others that I would suggest lookin at would be a 45LC, 357 mag, or 454 Casual. Saw a Puma chambered in 454 casual for around $500. If you are lookin to hunt long then I would get a muzzleloader. Go for a 50 cal. You can get a good one that is inexpensive. I'm usin a CVA Wolf that I bought last year and have dropped two deer with it. The only other thing I'll suggest is giving the 12 or 20 gauge one last try. They are effective if you take the time to work with them. As is the muzzleloader

[Paul L Mohr]

If this same law passes in Michigan I will be getting a lever action 44 magnum.

Paul