HB1231 passes in house- (Centerfire rifles for deer hunting)

[Paul30]

I am far from a legal guy, but they are allowing .40 cal ammo in a pistol, but it also has to be at least 1 1/16 inch long cartridge case. So the 40 S&W and the 10mm are less than 1 1/16 inch long so they would still be illegal. So I guess handgunners have gained nothing? The five rifle rounds picked seems crazy, but heck it is a start I guess. I hunt public land so I really gained nothing from all this.

If they name them, they would be an exception to the case length. Referencing some other posts on the 300, they also make a 300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) that uses a shorter larger diameter case, a 300 Weatherby Magnum as well as a few others. The 300 should stay as is and simply let it fly. The 300 B.O. is close to a 30.30 and plenty to take a deer. it is also one of the more popular calibers, it is a carbon copy of the 300 Whisper or the 300 Fireball. All use the same case, same bullet, with just enough difference in case length to keep the 3 from being able to sue each other. The 300 is already legal as a pistol, might as well leave it as is and then add a much better written version next year that clarifies mostly all calibers that should be legal without trying to name every cartridge.

 

[gunselman]

I am far from a legal guy, but they are allowing .40 cal ammo in a pistol, but it also has to be at least 1 1/16 inch long cartridge case. So the 40 S&W and the 10mm are less than 1 1/16 inch long so they would still be illegal. So I guess handgunners have gained nothing? The five rifle rounds picked seems crazy, but heck it is a start I guess. I hunt public land so I really gained nothing from all this.

Straight from the legislation: "Notwithstanding any rule prescribing minimum length of a handgun cartridge case, a hunter may use a handgun that fires a commercially available bullet of ten (10) millimeters in diameter to hunt deer."

It says NOTWITHSTANDING , so it doesn't require this amendment to meet any of the current handgun hunting regulations.

 

[cschwanz]

Ill be interested to see what the final wording is if/when it passes on what cartridges can be used. I'm ok with the idea of limiting to a certain number of cartridges for a baby step right now. I think that's what got a lot of people scared last time was the fact that anyone could go out with any rifle up to the giant magnums, BMGs, etc and hunt. This might make those people a little more comfortable with the idea and itd be a nice test to see what adding some rifles do for us.

As for a special season, eh. I'd guess they will be available during "firearms" season since they are firearms after all. This bill is just changing which firearms are legal to hunt with. A special rifle only season would cause more confusion I think. Would only the new ones be available during the special season? what about other rifles like 358 Hoosier or 44 Mag, are they out? I'd say for simplicity's sake, leave it as firearms season and whats legal is legal.

 

[JeremiahJohnson]

In Wyoming they say any center fire firearm of at least .24 caliber and firing a cartridge of at least 2 inches overall length, or any center fire firearm of at least .35 caliber and firing a cartridge of at least 1.5 inches overall length. Seems a lot simpler.

My two cents. Maybe we'll get there.

 

[d80hunter]

If passed eventually it will be a minimum case length and bullet diameter and possibly a maximum case length and bullet diameter. A large selection of HPR's will be made legal along with all the PRC's, shotguns, muzzleloaders and rifles that were already legal before HB1231.

 

[dieselrealtor]

Even if it is not amended to make other "common sense" deer calibers legal I can live with the caliber list as it stands, as mentioned many times previously it is a step in the right direction.

 

[Tynimiller]

That's a bummer! I was hoping the 300 was 300 BLK. Who needs a 300 WM in Indiana?!

Thanks, Dinny

Need? That is all from hunter to hunter...I've long thought who needs more than a good inline muzzleloader if firearm hunting is your thing.

 

[padawan]

Even if it is not amended to make other "common sense" deer calibers legal I can live with the caliber list as it stands, as mentioned many times previously it is a step in the right direction.

Agreed. It is a step in the right direction to get hunting regulations on par with other states.

 

[Hookeye]

Not at all. But they do have the most difficult and confusing firearms hunting laws of the 50 states, so one can assume that will generate a lot of questions. The only saving grace is that if they've lived in IN long enough, theyre used to wading through baffling inconsistencies.

I still have faith in IN. I know they can eventually get there. It may take twice as long as the other poster said. But, one day, one day IN will catch up to the 20th century. I envision a bold new world where IL doesnt have better firearms laws than us. I have a dream...

Yeah, we can have zones and seasons like Colorado (but with magnifying scopes in our MZ stuff).

 

[Tynimiller]

Yeah, we can have zones and seasons like Colorado (but with magnifying scopes in our MZ stuff).

Yup, incoroporate zones that at times mean division within even counties...different seasons for differing zones, various different start and finish dates within these zones for various weapon use....

...not everything done by other states need mimicked

 

[GoBlueHoosier]

Where do we go online to see what they passed?

 

[avboiler11]

Since so many are asking instead of reading back through the thread...

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1231

The "Bill Actions" tab on left show you its progress and votes

The "Bill Versions" tab on the left gives you options; the House Enrolled Bill (#5, the top option) gives you what the language will be.

 

[GoBlueHoosier]

Can be used south of Indy, not the entire state??

 

[avboiler11]

The CCR bill approved by both the House and Senate headed toward Pence's desk contains:

NO 10' elevated requirement
NO geographical restrictions
NO magazine capacity limit

The bill permits rifles chambered in the following ONLY:
243
30-30
308
30-06
300

The above chambered highpower rifles are ONLY for use on privately owned land, must have barrels 16" or longer (so no SBRs), a hunter using an above chambered HPR may not have more than 10 rounds of ammunition on their person while hunting deer, and FMJ projectiles are prohibited for hunting deer.

The bill also allows handguns of 10mm or larger bullet diameter, regardless of case length.

DNR does have the power per the bill to "establish other requirements" - only time will tell what if any those happen to be - they could permit 10mm but not 40SW for handguns, and they could define the above chamberings more specifically (example: 243 Winchester but not 243 WSSM, 300 Win Mag but not 300 AAC Blackout).

The bill needs to be signed into law then digested by DNR, but will be in effect for the 2016 hunting season beginning 1 July.

 

[Expatriated]

Yeah, we can have zones and seasons like Colorado (but with magnifying scopes in our MZ stuff).

I dont think anyone's complaining about anything other than the firearms laws. I havent read anything and certainly didnt say myself anything about copying zone laws. Just firearms laws.

Although, ive lived and hunted in the states with zones and thats preety simple to understand. And work within. The vast majority of hunters i know tend to hunt in the same area or areas each year. So its not like you have to memorize 20 different wmu's.

I wouldnt really be for that but it wouldnt bother me as much as the existing inconsistencies. Hunting units are a result of a dnr being able to exert their opinion and "knowledge" of "game management". im not for an extra layer of government but i also realize thats the state of modern gov and modern hunting. At least indiana has shown a willingness to bypass dnr when they cant get something done.

 

[gunselman]

The CCR bill approved by both the House and Senate headed toward Pence's desk contains:

NO 10' elevated requirement
NO geographical restrictions
NO magazine capacity limit

The bill permits rifles chambered in the following ONLY:
243
30-30
308
30-06
300

The above chambered highpower rifles are ONLY for use on privately owned land, must have barrels 16" or longer (so no SBRs), a hunter using an above chambered HPR may not have more than 10 rounds of ammunition on their person while hunting deer, and FMJ projectiles are prohibited for hunting deer.

The bill also allows handguns of 10mm or larger bullet diameter, regardless of case length.

DNR does have the power per the bill to "establish other requirements" - only time will tell what if any those happen to be - they could permit 10mm but not 40SW for handguns, and they could define the above chamberings more specifically (example: 243 Winchester but not 243 WSSM, 300 Win Mag but not 300 AAC Blackout).

The bill needs to be signed into law then digested by DNR, but will be in effect for the 2016 hunting season beginning 1 July.

The above quoted text is incorrect. The amendment says "a commercially available bullet of (10) ten millimeters in diameter". It is an exception to the current handgun hunting regulations for bullets of Ø10mm. Bullets of Ø10mm don't have to meet the minimum case length that is currently law. The way it is written currently doesn't specify 10mm auto, 40 Smith and Wesson or 10mm auto mag. Hopefully DNR will clarify this.

 

[avboiler11]

Thank you for the correction on 10mm handgun case length - admittedly I did not look at that particular section quite as closely as I should have.

 

[d80hunter]

The above quoted text is incorrect. The amendment says "a commercially available bullet of (10) ten millimeters in diameter". It is an exception to the current handgun hunting regulations for bullets of Ø10mm. Bullets of Ø10mm don't have to meet the minimum case length that is currently law. The way it is written currently doesn't specify 10mm auto, 40 Smith and Wesson or 10mm auto mag. Hopefully DNR will clarify this.

I take it the 4" minimum barrel length applies.

 

[gunselman]

I take it the 4" minimum barrel length applies.

Sure does.

 

[DarkRose]

With 30-30, 308, 30-06, and 300 being allowed, it's not a hard stretch for them to allow in 7.62x54R, and .303 British... Would let some of us surplus guys in on it too. Of course then they'll end up with a huge list of allowed calibers... Might as well just set diameter and case length requirements like they've done already. If not you'll have the constant requests for evaluation of all the calibers in between what's already allowed in terms of size and power...