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Post by chaded on Jul 3, 2015 13:38:41 GMT -5
This may be a dumb question. Would the .375 muzzleloaders being built be legal to deer hunt with in Ohio? The rules state the minimum caliber is .38. I have just assumed for awhile it isn't legal but was reading something that sparked my question. My limited understanding of the .38 caliber is that the actual measurement is less than .38? Just wondering how this all ties in here.
*I know I can just contact odnr but I wanted to get some thoughts from you guys. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 13:45:11 GMT -5
It is a vague description they give at best. Since there is no 38 cal rifle it's up to interpretation. A 38 cal pistol will be .357 but I'm unsure how your dnr officer will interpret it. I've never seen a warden with calipers but I suppose if you mess up big time they might look into it. I have out muzzle brakes on most of the .375's I've done and they measure .395+ inside so..... It's a toss up! I think you'll get by with it, they have legalized .375 caliber rifles on the select rifle list.
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Post by chaded on Jul 3, 2015 14:33:19 GMT -5
That is my thoughts as well. I started looking for an actual .38 caliber muzzleloader and I found that Green Mountain sells rifle barrel blanks in ".38 caliber" and they have in the description ".38/.357" and they also have "bore .347/.356 grove diameter."
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Post by norseman1 on Jul 3, 2015 16:11:48 GMT -5
Have the barrel stamped 38 caliber.Problem solved.
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Post by rossman40 on Jul 5, 2015 20:14:37 GMT -5
The intent of the law was to ban guys using .36 muzzle loading squirrel rifles on deer, wounding more then they killed. Those used a .350 diameter patched ball which weighed about only around 65grs and I think around 1800fps with 40grs of true black powder. Dixie Gun Works had some .38 and .40 cal rifles made to get around the rule.
A rifle or single shot pistol takes a patched .350 diameter ball where as a .36 revolver uses a .375 or .380 diameter ball because you want to "shave a ring" during loading to seal the chamber.
I've been this route with the DNR when I was wanting to build a SML on a .357 Mag or .358 Whelen Handirifle for the grandson. If I was building a .375 for hunting here in Ohio I would have it stamped or marked .38 or 38-55.
I was told by one old time game warden (long retired) that the way they would check in the past is they would take one of their .38 Special rounds for their duty weapon and use it as a plug gauge. Now they carry .45s but my luck the guy would have a J-frame as a back-up.
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Post by savagebrother on Jul 6, 2015 10:32:27 GMT -5
Yes I think you will be fine, at one time guys were using 36 cal. Guns because ODNR wardens were using 38 smith and Wessons and they were using a cartridge to check muzzleloader bores for proper size. This worked until some one explained that the 38 smith and Wesson were actually 35 cal. 357 to be exact and could be fired in 357 mag guns. I had a .380 lead in the top 1/2" in it in case it was checked in my 9.3 barrel.
SB
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Post by savagebrother on Jul 6, 2015 10:57:46 GMT -5
Sorry rossman i didn't read your whole thread, hey speaking of 38-55, there is a lot of confusion on it proper actual size and length of brass. I just had a 30-30 I had rebored to 38-55, that being said there is a sister cartridge to it called the 375 win. Now when Winchester made it they shortened the 38-55 case .100" and beefed up the brass as its SAMMI rating is 55,000CUP where the 38-55 is 28,000 CUP. The idea was that if someone loaded a 375 in an older 38-55 the extra lead at the throat would be enough to lower pressures to safer levels. Now jump to today, Winchester makes 38-55 marked brass and 375 marked brass, they are the same length and size the only difference is the head stamp. They have loaded 38-55 and 375 win. I couldn't get them to tell me why this is I can only figure since both the brass and loaded ammo is only run once a year that it made it cheaper to run them this way and make more money on two cartridges. The actual bore on new 38-55's is .375 same as 375 win. Older guns, especially turn of the century guns can run from .375-.380 and some have been slugged to .383, ballard's actual spec. For the bore is .3775". My rifle that I had rebored to 38-55 can handle 375 win pressures so I can load it with a hornady 220 HPFT at 2350 FPS!!!, and it's a nice light (8.5lb.) repeater rifle. Sorry this got long winded.
SB
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Post by driven2tri24 on Jul 8, 2015 1:27:38 GMT -5
Rules specifically state "Muzzle-loading rifles .38 caliber or larger". I doubt a WO would look beyond the barrel markings, but then again it's your hunting privileges being gambled as well as confiscation of the gun and any equipment used in taking that animal should something go wrong in the conversation. I've seen my share of "routine checks" and/or responses to calls get heated and end badly...
IMHO it's not worth the risk at all.
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Post by rossman40 on Jul 8, 2015 10:28:55 GMT -5
Driven is right, some of these newer WOs are a$$holes and will try all the tricks to make you slip up. They must have the same instructors as the OHP and when in doubt will right a ticket and let the court sort it out if the guy wants to fight it.
It's a gamble on the .375 which I think you could get away with. I didn't want to try it with a .358-.357 so that is why I went for a wavier instead.
With using a .38 special as a plug gauge, on a .36 caliber the lands would mark the bullet. On a .38 cal the lands would mark the case.
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