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Caliber for primitive weapon season?

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25 January 2009, 18:06
MLindsay
Caliber for primitive weapon season?
Louisiana has now allowed "calibers 38 and larger manufactured prior to 1900 used in a single shot rifle with exposed hammer" for primitive weapon season. Nearly everyone is using 45-70 or 444Marlin but I would like someting different. Any ideas?

Thanks
Mike
25 January 2009, 20:04
buckeyeshooter
50-110 winchester
25 January 2009, 21:00
MLindsay
I think I would like a smaller caliber since I am shooting whitetails. However I do hunt regular gun season with my 375!
25 January 2009, 21:15
Bill/Oregon
Mike: A Marlin in .38-55 with 250-grain FN lead bullet over a case of black would do the job. Then there are all the lovely Sharps and rolling block chamberings, from .40-70 on up. Don't forget the .50-70 government or the 12.7X44 Swede, which is often available in very reasonably priced antique Swedish rolling blocks. Deer killers all of them.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
26 January 2009, 03:11
jkingrph
Posted 25 January 2009 18:06
Louisiana has now allowed "calibers 38 and larger manufactured prior to 1900 used in a single shot rifle with exposed hammer" for primitive weapon season. Nearly everyone is using 45-70 or 444Marlin but I would like someting different. Any ideas?

How would 444 Marlin qualify as it was developed in the mid 1960"s??


JJK
26 January 2009, 03:42
wrongtarget
It's the firearm kind or type manufactured prior to 1900, not the cartridge.

http://www.wlf.state.la.us/news/?id=1029

quote:
L.D.W.F. ISSUES LIST OF APPROVED PRIMITIVE WEAPONS FOR 2008-09 PRIMITIVE HUNTING SEASON

Release Date: 07/08/2008

In a response to the recent approval of Act 51, which partly consists of changing the language from a muzzleloader season to a primitive firearm season, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has issued a list of approved primitive firearms for the 2008-09 Primitive Firearm Season.

All of the approved primitive weapons meet the criteria set forth by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission as authorized primitive firearms. The criteria is a single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifle with metallic cartridges loaded with either black powder or modern smokeless powder, .38 caliber or larger, of a kind or type manufactured prior to 1900 and replicas, and reproductions or reintroductions of that type rifle having an exposed hammer. The pre-1900 distinction applies only to the firearm and not the ammunition. All approved primitive firearms may be fitted with magnified scopes.

Approved single shot breech loading primitive weapons:

· Sharps rifles or replicas
· Remington Rollingblock rifles or replicas
· Ballard rifles
· Maynard rifles or carbines
· Burnside carbines
· Frank Wesson rifles
· Farrow rifles
· Remington Hepburn rifles
· M1873-1888 Springfield (Trapdoor) rifles and carbines and replicas
· Snider (British) rifles and replicas
· Wesson & Harrington 1871 rifles
· New England Firearms or Harrington & Richardson Handi rifles in caliber larger than .38
· Winchester M1885 Hi Wall or Lo Wall rifles or replicas (Also Browning B78 or 1885) .38 or larger
· Knight KP-1 in caliber .38 or larger
· CVA Optima Elite in caliber .38 or larger
· Traditions Pursuit break-open single shot in .38 caliber or larger

Non-approved single shot breech loading rifles:

· Ruger Number 1 and Number 3 (Reason: No exposed hammer)
· Thompson Center Contender or Encore Carbines (Reason: Designed after 1900)
· Mossberg SSi Single Shot Rifle (Reason: No exposed hammer and designed after 1900)

A primitive firearm license, formerly sold as a muzzleloader license, is required for the taking of deer during the primitive firearm season in addition to the required basic and big game hunting licenses. During the still hunt and with-or-without dogs segments of the (conventional firearms) deer season, the primitive firearm license is not required.

For more information on Louisiana hunting regulations, visit the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.

For more information, contact Jimmy Anthony at 225-765-2348 or janthony@wlf.louisiana.gov.

2008-196

26 January 2009, 05:59
MLindsay
Thanks Wrongtarget, I thought it was the caliber.
I have been studying things and it seems that the 38-55 Winchester has a bore of .375. I could use some of my Barnes bullets for this caliber.

Mike
28 January 2009, 03:49
nordrseta
Unless you're inclined to choose a pistol cartridge such as the 38 WCF, 44 WCF, or 45 Colt for close range venison harvesting I'll throw in with the fellas who recommend the 38/55. Plenty of gun for deer and with the correct twist and a heavier bullet enough juice for thicker critters.
28 January 2009, 05:47
Troy Hibbitts
.405 Win?

a lot of the African big bore rounds would be a lot of fun as well . . .

.470 NE?


Troy


http://thehibbitts.net/
Brackettville, TX
29 January 2009, 07:04
rocket56
I am buildindg a 38-56 on a American Gun co 1885
actionwith a McGowen barrel on it .38-56 is 45-70 NECKED DOWN TO 375. It pushes a 250 Barnes 2450 fps
30 January 2009, 19:53
El Deguello
quote:
Originally posted by MLindsay:
Louisiana has now allowed "calibers 38 and larger manufactured prior to 1900 used in a single shot rifle with exposed hammer" for primitive weapon season. Nearly everyone is using 45-70 or 444Marlin but I would like someting different. Any ideas?

Thanks
Mike


38/55 in a Win. M94 or HiWall.


"Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen."
30 January 2009, 20:35
Ken in VA
What about 375 Winchester. Heckuva deer cartridge.

Ken
02 February 2009, 08:11
rocket56
To be legal the gun must be a single shot.
03 February 2009, 00:55
900 SS
405 win and tell me about it, I want one.
03 February 2009, 04:01
wrongtarget
It just takes money, here's my 405 Winchester H&R Target, a rebored and rechambered 38-55, 300gr SP @ ~2500fps.


04 February 2009, 13:35
rocket56
Hold the press.LaDWF will meet this Thursday and will consider going to 35 cal for this season. Mississippi who started this trend whent to 35 cal. this year.I will go to the meeting this week to check it out .358 Win.
would be great or 35 Whelen would just be a killer.A 180 gr. 358 @2800 or a 35 Whelen 180
@ 3000 or a 200 @2800 is great for the whole season.