Are hardcast LBT's legal in your area?

15 October 2003, 17:33

Here in California, the regs specify, "SOFT NOSE OR EXPANDING BULLETS" for hunting big game with a handgun. Do you folks think LBT bullets fit that description? What's the law in your area.

Elmo

15 October 2003, 18:05

asdf

In Illinois "Only soft point or expanding bullets, including copper or copper alloy rounds designed for hunting, are legal ammunition."

I stuffed Federal .357 Cast Cores (an LBT style hard lead bullet) in my Contender and went hunting anyway. I never got close enough to connect, but the fun is in the chase...

Apparently the guys in the capitol simply don't read the reports put out by the experienced hunters. Of course, the same govt fools not only say a .30 Carbine is ok for deer (but only in a handgun!) but also that the .44 Special is illegal. The rules are a bit vague, but it appears the .45 Colt is illegal as well.

Obviously, these people just want to be ignored.

Karl

15 October 2003, 22:32

Lloyd Smale

even bullets cast out of lynotype will expand if they hit something hard enough. Try shooting them into about 6 inches of oak board.

quote:
Originally posted by elmo:
Here in California, the regs specify, "SOFT NOSE OR EXPANDING BULLETS" for hunting big game with a handgun. Do you folks think LBT bullets fit that description? What's the law in your area.

Elmo

16 October 2003, 00:42

Mike in SC

Guessing at the intent of the rulemakers (always a risky endeavor) would lead me to think they just didn't want full metal jacketed bullets being used. Also, this may be a carryover from regulations on rifle bullets, never mind any question of effeciveness, or diffences in construction.

16 October 2003, 02:53

Jim in Idaho

The exposed lead tip in a Jacketed Soft Point ("soft nose") bullet is what allows the bullet to start expanding.

A cast bullet is basically a 100% exposed lead tip as far as the legal beagles are concerned. They really don't care about the Brinell hardness of that tip.

As stated earlier, the law was written to prevent people from using military surplus full metal jacketed bullets that are expressly designed not to expand.

16 October 2003, 05:10

Lar45

I'll go with the hard cast will expand. They don't specify how much it has to expand though. Here in Idaho, the Fish and Game have started carrying 223's with FMJ to dispatch wounded critters. It wouldn't be my first choice, but they say it works well enough with a correctly placed shot.

16 October 2003, 15:55

Greg K

quote:
Originally posted by asdf:
In Illinois "Only soft point or expanding bullets, including copper or copper alloy rounds designed for hunting, are legal ammunition."

I stuffed Federal .357 Cast Cores (an LBT style hard lead bullet) in my Contender and went hunting anyway. I never got close enough to connect, but the fun is in the chase...

Apparently the guys in the capitol simply don't read the reports put out by the experienced hunters. Of course, the same govt fools not only say a .30 Carbine is ok for deer (but only in a handgun!) but also that the .44 Special is illegal. The rules are a bit vague, but it appears the .45 Colt is illegal as well.

Obviously, these people just want to be ignored.

Karl

The 44 Special is legal as long as you can show there is a factory load available that generates over 500 ft-lbs at the muzzle. This one makes the grade:

http://www.cnccartridge.com/44.htm

And there's one for the 45 Colt too:

http://www.cnccartridge.com/45.htm

16 October 2003, 23:22

p dog shooter

The only thing that isn't legal in wis is fmj's up until about 10 years ago they were until some anti got in put in. I think they want a excuse so when they try and ban mil ammo we can't say we use it for hunting.