Straight Sided Rifle Cartridge Season

[Kilo Charlie]

Could add the restriction that the bullet must weight, say, 365+ gr...keep it from defying gravity for too long.

Maybe. But people would push hard if someone developed, say, a 7mm/140 grain combo at 2800 fps. People would want it BAD! It's evident to me that what most hunters have wanted, since special seasons started maybe 50 or 60 years ago, is to get in on the time afield, but without the additional challenges that were supposed to be part of the deal. Look what happened to archery: it went from primitive bows to modern bows and crossbows very quickly, which drastically decreased the level of challenge. Ditto muzzleloader season. If modern, inline, scopeable, 200+-yard-capable front loaders had existed in the 1960's, there never would have been a season set aside for them.

[MikePal]

Ditto muzzleloader season. If modern, inline, scopeable, 200+-yard-capable front loaders had existed in the 1960's, there never would have been a season set aside for them.

You're right, but like some states do , their restrictions on their Traditional Weapons hunt keep it under control. Same can be done to clarify cartridge size and bullet weight etc...

Colorado’s muzzleloader regulations are laid out extremely well and are very direct:

Only legal muzzleloaders are allowed during muzzleloader seasons;

In-line muzzleloaders are legal;

Must be a single barrel that fires a single conical projectile or round ball;

For deer, antelope, and bear, a conical projectile must be at least .40 caliber and a round ball must be at least .50 caliber;

For elk and moose, conical bullets must be at least .50 caliber and round balls must be at least .54 caliber;

From .40 to .50 caliber, bullets or round balls must weigh at least 170 grains;

If greater than .50 caliber, a bullet or round ball must weigh at least 210 grains;

209 Shotshell primers and B.O.R Lock MZ System bullets are legal;

Pelletized powder systems are prohibited during muzzleloader seasons; and
Cannot be loaded from the breech during muzzleloader seasons.

Only open or iron sights are legal during muzzleloader seasons. Sights using fiber optics or fluorescent paints are legal. Scopes or sights using artificial light, batteries, and other electronics are prohibited during muzzleloader seasons.

Sabots are prohibited during muzzleloader season. Cloth patches are not considered sabots. Bullet designs such as the Powerbelt are legal for use.

Smokeless powder is prohibited during muzzleloader seasons. True black powder or black powder substitutes are legal.
Electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be attached or incorporated into a muzzleloader during muzzleloader seasons.

[MihajloSimsic]

I don't think your shotgun accuracy issue is normal. There is a problem there that is probably fixable. Dirty barrel, scope not holding a zero etc.

I checked the barrel for any abnormalities (even though it seemed unlikely as it was barely used and relatively new) and it looked good as new. I also tried a second scope after returning the first one, maybe I just got unlucky with scopes. Anyways I gave up on it, only time I'd ever be able to use it would be if I were lucky to draw a shotgun tag.

[MihajloSimsic]

I wholeheartedly disagree with the first half of your post.

True it is a bit generalizing, but there really are people that are passing laws about firearms and hunting that have no idea what they're doing. Such as making AR platforms restricted and making the Mini-14 unrestricted, and this ridiculous new tag system that gives more loopholes for poachers just to name a couple.

[ninepointer]

Shotgun-only deer seasons originated when the only shotgun projectile options for big game were Foster-style slugs or buckshot out of smooth-bores. Both of these arrangements have inherent range limitations which were considered safe for populated areas.

Since then innovation and technology have brought us sabot slugs and rifled shotgun barrels that have substantially improved a shotgun's effective range, while our rural areas have only gotten more populated.

Now we're discussing pushing the envelope even further, perhaps to the point where the original purpose and intent of the long-standing restriction might be exceeded.

Careful not to push the envelope too much.

[Cayuga Kid]

The .275 caliber restriction was originally implemented so that military hardball ammo was not used in populated areas. After WW2 there was a plethora of surplus military ammo in 30 cal IE: 303 British, 30-06 Springfield etc.

[overtheir]

Ok how do we start the ball rolling would it be through OFAH ,petition how

[Fox]

The .275 caliber restriction was originally implemented so that military hardball ammo was not used in populated areas. After WW2 there was a plethora of surplus military ammo in 30 cal IE: 303 British, 30-06 Springfield etc.

Yet there is no restriction for target shooting in many of those municipalities.

[MikePal]

Yet there is no restriction for target shooting in many of those municipalities.

Not surprising as the restrictions are a safety measure. Target shooting is usually a controlled shoot into a known backstop. It's the errant round shot during a hunting scenario that is the safety concern.

[Fox]

Not surprising as the restrictions are a safety measure. Target shooting is usually a controlled shoot into a known backstop. It's the errant round shot during a hunting scenario that is the safety concern.

Target shooting at range is, lots of guys sight in their deer rifles in SW Ontario in an open farmers field, would not really be any different than shooting at a coyote.

That aside, the rule is a stupid one, a 270 WSM is legal, a 9x19 is not legal for small game.