pistol caliber rifles

[redneckrob]

rumor is that ohio is considering legalizing PCR's. i have been chicking out some different guns but i am not sure what all my options are. what guns are available and what caliber to go with. what i have been looking at is 44 mag,454 casul, and 500 s&w, but i would like to hear from some of you with some more experience than me. thanx.

[redneckrob]

also been considering 460 but cant seem to find any rifles that are available in this.

[Rifleman]

IMO the only one you mentioned worth the salt is the 44 mag. The 454 and 500 are hard kickers, expensive ammo, and don't really add effective max range. The 460 if it was available in a rifle would probably add some distance, but it is very expensive to shoot. The 44 mag in a rifle with the right loads and a good shooter is a 150yd gun easy, and 200 yds if you are a little better then average. Guns are plentiful with differencet choices in actions and price. Ammo is reasonable and it is a very good deer killer. I have been hunting with 44 mag handguns since 1989 and rifles for the last few years, it is a great deer caliber. Now the real ?? is how Ohio writes the regs, 'cause if they right them like Indiana, you can go with a wildcat in 35 cal, called over here in IN. by different names like the 35 BFG, bascially a WSSM trimmed to mmet max length spec and blown out to 35 cal. Guys are getting 2700 plus with 35 cal bullets and get real centrfire rifle performance. Another option if you like the AR-15 platform if either the 450 bushmaster or 458 Socom. Right now only the Socom is legal in Indiana. 45-70 performance in an AR-15. Lots of choices depending on how the regs are written and how deep your pocket is.

[deadon]

Many yrs ago I hunted with a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 mag using 20 grs of IMR 4227 and the Elmer Keith semi wad cutter. It was a deer stompers up to 30yrds. I later purchased a Marlin lever action 44 mag and a Ruger 10 22 style 44 mag Rifle. Both were deer killers up to 75 yrds IMHO. Rusty

[dans]

If Ohio mandates a straight walled case and a maximum overall length, your caliber choices will be dictated by those parameters. Speaking of the 44 mag, there are various lever guns such as Marlin that will work. The NEF handi rifle is a lower priced option and they shoot pretty good. Mine shoots better than my Marlin lever action. Another option is the handi or lever in 357 mag. My grandson has taken two deer with his using 158 grain softpoints. My son has a 357 handi reamed out to 357 maximum and has taken 3 deer with it, the farthest at 195 yards using reloads with a 180 grain Hornady single shot plistol bullet. The 45 long colt also in the handi or lever is a good option as well.

[redneckrob]

the way i understood it, it says straight walled pistol cartridge of 357 or larger. now i am sure that this state will put a max limit on that but we will just have to see. i was sort of leaning to the 44 mag or the 454 with more interest in the 44. i am in southern ohio in a state forest and you are hard pressed to get a shot of 150 yards due to the heavy brush.

[mountainam]

I didn't think that Ohio specified a max length on the case. But they do have a min. BBL length of 5" req'd. You can use a 45/70 in a Contender pistol.
Rob, Not that the .44 mag is bad, but the .454Casull generates 70% more energy than the .44 Mag. I handload for both and really don't see where the .454 is more costly. If you do over the counter--- now that's another story. We have one in a Ruger Super Redhawk Hunter and use a Millet red dot. It will do considerable more damage than a .44 mag at any range with the FA 260gr hp's. A 100 yd round without a doubt. If your mind isn't already made up, give it a second look. With Lil' Gun powder it will reduce the pressure of the full power load. You could always load you .454 DOWN to a .44 mag full power load if you can't handle the additional power.

[rossman40]

Ruger brought back the 77/44 but the rotary mag sucks cause it limits your OAL. Personally I would wait before jumping. They tried back in 2002 IIRC and it went down in flames. I talked to a DNR guy up at the goose during the summer and we talked about it and he seriously doubted it would happen like in Indiana.

If they go by the current pistol caliber rules it is any caliber .357 or larger with a straight walled case. That would allow the 375 Winchester, 450 Bushmaster, 45-70, 444 or 450 Marlin, which would open a whole new path.

Myself I hope they do not, too many idiots slinging lead now. I can imagine the Shawnee SF, instead of tree stands you would have fox holes. The law says plugged shotguns but I hear too many strings of 5 rounds even during ML season. Still trying to find out who makes that repeating ML.

[whyohe]

I have a 44 mag Marlin leveraction and have gotten several deer with it. I shoot Moutaineer Custom Carterage 200 grn loads. it cronos at 1950 Fps 10 feet from the muzzle. and is very accurate. it is a pleasure to shoot. also it is short and nice to carry around in heavier brush.

[redneckrob]

i hope they do pass it. it would be a lot safer in my opinion. i couldn't tell you how many deer we kill in the late ML season that have been wounded.

[ourway77]

Another choice would be the 445Super Mag, You can shoot a variety of bullets as well as cartridges. i have a bullberry that shoots VG with a break and I can download it to shoot 44 Mag loads. Good Luck Lou

[pposey]

.44mag would be a good all around performer out to 150 yards, 357Max would be awsome

[deadeer]

I am using the 357 Max in an Encore rifle. I had the T/C Custom shop make it, 24" heavy barrel contour. I shoot the Hdy 180gr SSP, 180gr XTP, and the 200gr Hdy FTX. They all shoot great, and have the same point of impact at 100yd, then the FTX stays alot flatter to 225yd. Velocity is 2200fps and change. I killed with both the SSP and FTX this year, and damage was exactly the same on broadside shot deer. Both bullets broke shoulders and existed, so they both work fine. The barrel is throated so deep, with the FTX seated only .125" into the brass, I still can't touch the rifling. I may try the 225gr Partions just to see if they will touch. The FTX shoots alot flatter than the SSP, so maybe the Partion will gain me a little more? Very happy with performance and accuracy of this combo now, including lack of recoil. One of the best setups I have used for deer in Indiana.

Jay

[wildman]

Here in Indiana the pcr rifles were limited to case length 1.625 that said back two years ago, now in 2011 they are proposing case length to 1.800 so go figure, the ruger 77/ 44 does a great job on deer the .454 would be a great caliber, and i think u can get it in a Thompson center rig.

[pposey]

a buddy usta have a 357max in a contender pistal,,, hand cannon it were