[dpms]

The PGC spent a lot of time talking about this at the recent working group meeting. Apparently there are staff and possibly some sitting commissioners that feel a minimum caliber restriction for big game like deer and bear is something that should be considered moving forward, similar to the restriction on elk.

What say you? I oppose it. We have had no caliber restrictions for big game other than elk and everything seems to working okay.

 

[SRA-5C+]

A restriction on caliber nope. A total restriction on semi's and clip capacity and the game they are to be used on... You betcha.....

 

[5chunter]

I would be against a caliber restriction.

 

[GermanHillHunter]

I've been hunting with a .222 for whitetail for 27 years. Never a problem. My daughter and son both use .222's without issues. I hope they just leave well enough alone.

 

[dpms]

Let them know your thoughts. Lots of discussion about this at the meeting.

 

[Hiamovi]

What say you? I oppose it. We have had no caliber restrictions for big game other than elk and everything seems to working okay.[/QUOTE

I agree leave it as is.Could be it has to do with semi inclusion for hunting and fears of AR 15 rifles being the new norm.I sure hope not.

 

[dpms]

.Could be it has to do with semi inclusion for hunting and fears of AR 15 rifles being the new norm.I sure hope not.

That was part of the discussion. My recollection from the meeting is staff pushed for a caliber restriction but said they have been thinking about recommending it for several years. Staff said that the recommendation should not be taken to imply that it was related to semiautos but the discussion went there anyways.

Staff said that if semis are allowed for big game, now would be the time to make the change all at once. One commissioner agreed so they don't have to revisit legal arms and calibers at a later date.

Again my recollection of the discussion which I was watching while doing other things. I could be off a bit on some of the exact details.

 

[Peck Hill Will]

Although I don't use them, with modern bullets like Partitions, Barnes TSX, etc. I believe .222, .223, .22-250 are all very effective deer rounds.

Will

 

[outofstater]

I agree let it alone. Funny thing is here in Md. for deer it has to have 1200 foot lbs of energy. Basically the 222 is not legal for deer hunting here. My question would be and all you reloaders know this is just load the 222 little heavier getting the vel. up raises the energy, chronograph the load for documentation what could they do to you?

 

[HighCountry66]

I hope not. But if they do I hope they decide soon. I'll just pick up a 300 Black Out instead of using a 5.56.

 

[WOL]

I can see having a 243 minimum for deer and a 257 or 277 caliber restriction for bear. But putting it into effect in 2017? This decision could have been made 50 years ago. Now the bullets are better so it makes even less sense now than it would have made in 1950.

I definitely wouldn't want to shoot a 600lb bear with a 50 grain bullet, though, no matter how tough the bullet construction. Broadside doe, no problem.

 

[Freytown]

Long over due

I can see having a 243 minimum for deer and a 257 or 277 caliber restriction for bear. But putting it into effect in 2017? This decision could have been made 50 years ago. Now the bullets are better so it makes even less sense now than it would have made in 1950.

I definitely wouldn't want to shoot a 600lb bear with a 50 grain bullet, though, no matter how tough the bullet construction. Broadside doe, no problem.

I agree, small caliber center fire rounds do not belong in big game season....and most ethical hunters do not carry them either. I don't see the problem with minimum caliber restrictions, long over due.

 

[tdd]

I do see a limiting factor here for youth hunters. Using quality bullets available today, a 222, 22-250, or 223 Rem can all take deer.

Maybe something for bear? I don't know, I'm not really a bear hunter and don't know them well enough to say. But deer can be taken with a 223 with proper planning and shot selection, absolutely. A young hunter shooting a deer as a mentored youth with a 223 and becoming a hunter for life is something worth consideration before slapping a restriction on it.

This has zero impact on me personally. I handload and can make almost any of my rifles suitable for my kids as far as recoil and bullet selection. That's not an issue for me personally, but I would not support taking it off the table as a general regulation.

 

[WOL]

My dad got the biggest buck of his life at 86 years old this year. The buck weighed 200lbs and was facing him on a logging road. The bucks next move was not going to be to turn broadside. It was going to disappear into the brush....gone forever. He shot it in the brisket and the bullet exited the arse. It went all the way through the buck, longways....hitting every internal organ that deer had inside him. Glad he had a 7mm Rem Mag witha 160 grain Nosler.

 

[triggercreep]

I'm all for a 6mm minimum if AR's are allowed.

 

[dpms]

Although I don't use them, with modern bullets like Partitions, Barnes TSX, etc. I believe .222, .223, .22-250 are all very effective deer rounds.

Will

Yep. There are all very effective on deer with quality bullets and a caliber restriction of this type would certainly impact the mentored youth hunt.

 

[WOL]

Do they make 243 Win in Managed Recoil? How about 308 Win? When my boy started MY hunting at 6 years old, I made reduced load 308 Win rounds for him to practice with. For hunting, I loaded 150 grain bullets at about 2600 fps.

 

[darkhollowarcher]

re

First let me say i really enjoy shooting my 22 cal centerfires , BUT in my opinion caliber restrictions are long overdue. 6mm in my opinion is reasonable , and in my opinion the only reason many are against caliber restrictions now is because the already own a AR in 5.56/223.

 

[Curly Maple]

I agree, small caliber center fire rounds do not belong in big game season....and most ethical hunters do not carry them either. I don't see the problem with minimum caliber restrictions, long over due.[/QUOTE


I agree. The are people who are using a 17 hornet. Not a lot, but you can't talk them out of it because "it's legal" ....which means to them "sufficient". Varmint calibers are varmint calibers. How do draw a line based on what projectile is stuffed into a varmint caliber casing? How do you trust those using a small caliber to use a proper bullet with it?


Does "best management practices" apply? I believe it does.


IMO, The debate isn't if they should restrict...it's where should the line be drawn? It's hypocritical to draw a line for Elk, and draw one for muzzleloaders, but not draw one center fire for both deer and bear. I would consider my 40 caliber ML for deer.... in a pinch, but the line had to be drawn somewhere. I think where they drew that line was reasonable.


In the end, it's about the animal, and not what caliber someone wants to use.

 

[.257]

I wouldn't do it but a good friend of mines dad shot a ton of deer with his 22-250 and it was very effective.....I'm all for people making their own decisions not the gov't ......I'm against minimums