.357 Magnum Legal in MD
#1
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60
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From: Western, MD
Hello, i've been tring to figure out a good pistol to use for hunting whitetail in maryland. I know a .357 is more than enough to kill a deer, but is it legal to use? I've not been able to find the ft/lbs on the shells i've looked at.
I was looking at a .44 magnum, which is enough, but i ran across a ruger redhawk for about 350.00 Does any one else hunt with a .357 mag in Maryland? Have you had any issues with the DNR?
Thanks
I was looking at a .44 magnum, which is enough, but i ran across a ruger redhawk for about 350.00 Does any one else hunt with a .357 mag in Maryland? Have you had any issues with the DNR?
Thanks
#2
Spike
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11
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From the 2011-2012 MD Hunting booklet
Handgun Regulations
Handgun Regulations
•
Modern and muzzleloading handguns
may be used to hunt forest game (handgun
hunting for turkeys only during the fall
season), upland game (except doves
and wood****), coyotes, fishers, foxes,
nutria, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and
woodchucks.
hunting for turkeys only during the fall
season), upland game (except doves
and wood****), coyotes, fishers, foxes,
nutria, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and
woodchucks.
•
Modern handguns may be used to hunt
deer only in those counties where the
use of a breech-loading rifle for deer
hunting is permitted with the exception
that modern handguns may be used to
hunt deer throughout Frederick County.
Any modern handgun used for deer and
bear hunting must have a barrel length
of 6 inches or more and use ammunition
which produces a muzzle energy of 700
foot-pounds or more.
use of a breech-loading rifle for deer
hunting is permitted with the exception
that modern handguns may be used to
hunt deer throughout Frederick County.
Any modern handgun used for deer and
bear hunting must have a barrel length
of 6 inches or more and use ammunition
which produces a muzzle energy of 700
foot-pounds or more.
•
Muzzleloading handguns (both single shot
bullet or ball at a single discharge.
and revolvers) may be used to hunt deer
in all counties. Muzzleloading handguns
used for deer and bear hunting must be at
least .40 caliber in size with a barrel length
of at least 6 inches and use not less than 40
grains of black powder (or a black powder
equivalent) and propel one all-lead, lead
alloy or copper soft-nosed or expanding in all counties. Muzzleloading handguns
used for deer and bear hunting must be at
least .40 caliber in size with a barrel length
of at least 6 inches and use not less than 40
grains of black powder (or a black powder
equivalent) and propel one all-lead, lead
bullet or ball at a single discharge.
#3
Spike
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11
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#4
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Wherever liberalism must be eradicated.
#6
Fork Horn
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 182
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.357 is under a .40 caliber. Its a dumb arbitrary restriction, as the .357 clearly has more stopping power than a .40S&W, but that's what it is. So you can use your full sized glock, but not the 5 inch Ruger Blackhwak.
FWIW, I have a Blackhawk in 45LC. I killed a deer with it last fall at about 50 yards.
FWIW, I have a Blackhawk in 45LC. I killed a deer with it last fall at about 50 yards.



