How to get a caliber allowed in your state for Hunting?

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Aim1

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So, the 350 Legend from Winchester has sparked my interest as a low recoil, cheap to shoot, effective on deer caliber that would be great for my kids to eventually shoot and eventually hunt with as they get older.

Problem is that it isn't legal in Minnesota Minnesota shotgun only zones. It appears to be legal Michigan, Ohio, and some other states that once only allowed muzzleloaders and shotguns but now also straight-walled rounds like the 45-70.

How would one go about attempting to get the 350 Legend legalized for deer hunting in their state?



*** Note: I'm referring to the parts of MN that are shotgun only during deer rifle season.


Would it be through the DNR or legislature?
 
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Here in Wisconsin we have annual Conservation Congress meetings in every county in the state where folks can propose new regulations and learn about newly proposed regs and those which are newly enacted. There is also a spot on the Wisconsin DNR website where one can get information on how to properly propose new regs to the board. I'd bet Minnesota has a similar scenario.

This is how it's supposed to be done here......https://dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/Documents/spring_hearing/HowToWriteAResolution.pdf
 
Georgia DNR has regional meetings several times each year in various parts of the state where hunters are invited to come meet with DNR brass and recommend changes. It wouldn't hurt to contact the state DNR. But ultimately it is the state legislature that writes the laws, DNR just enforces them. But if the DNR makes recommendations to the legislature it carries a lot of weight. I'd also contact your local representative.

There is no reason the 350 shouldn't be legal when other similar cartridges are.
 
I believe the OP is wanting to get straight walled cartridges allowed in the "shotgun only zones".

To the OP: I'd start by visiting with your local DNR warden to see if DNR would be willing to support this change in the law (which would have to be done by the legislature). Without DNR support, your chances are very slim for such a change.
 
patmccoy said:
I believe the OP is wanting to get straight walled cartridges allowed in the "shotgun only zones"..
Click to expand...

Sorry, missed the part about shotgun zones. I believe, though, that pistols are allowed in shotgun zones, so can’t the .350 be built as an AR pistol? I don’t believe there is any restrictions on pistol cartridges in shotgun zones. Am I missing something? Or missing out?
 
armedwalleye said:
Sorry, missed the part about shotgun zones. I believe, though, that pistols are allowed in shotgun zones, so can’t the .350 be built as an AR pistol? I don’t believe there is any restrictions on pistol cartridges in shotgun zones. Am I missing something? Or missing out?
Click to expand...


Pistols can be used in shotgun/muzzleloader only zones but I don't want to start my children on a pistol to hunt with.
 
When I lived in Iowa in the 90's, it was shotguns, muzzleloaders, and pistol hunting only.

I was told that because it was so flat, and farmhouses so close together, that it was too dangerous to allow rifles because the bullets can travel so far. I thought it was silly.

Apparently the orange line is there for geographic reasons and I doubt that anyone can change the minds of a bunch of grumpy old Lutherans, lol.
 
armedwalleye said:
Sorry, missed the part about shotgun zones. I believe, though, that pistols are allowed in shotgun zones, so can’t the .350 be built as an AR pistol?
Click to expand...

That's an excellent point, I live in a shotgun zone, and I am TEMPTED.... BUT you have to very closely check the regs in the state.

A pistol in my state for example would need to deliver 700 ft-lbs. at the muzzle to be legal. So from a 16" barrel the test ammo for 350 Legend of 145 grains at 2250 fps gives 1600+ foot pounds. :thumbup: But if a person built the AR-pistol with a 10" barrel, if the MV dropped below 1475...it would deliver less than the 700 ft.lbs. :thumbdown: And the DNR officer might just cite the hunter and hold the AR "pistol" because it looks to him like a rifle, and if the People's Republic of Maryland appointed a prosecutor for the case and the recovered ammo was chronographed at 1400 fps at the lab,..., or IF they used factory ammo tailored to a longer barrel and not the hunter's hand crafted reloads made to comply with the law.... :confused: Sure the hunter had a "pistol" but the ammo was illegal.....See what I mean?

LD
 
Aim1 said:
So, the 350 Legend from Winchester has sparked my interest as a low recoil, cheap to shoot, effective on deer caliber that would be great for my kids to eventually shoot and eventually hunt with as they get older.

Problem is that it isn't legal in Minnesota Minnesota shotgun only zones. It appears to be legal Michigan, Ohio, and some other states that once only allowed muzzleloaders and shotguns but now also straight-walled rounds like the 45-70.

How would one go about attempting to get the 350 Legend legalized for deer hunting in their state?



*** Note: I'm referring to the parts of MN that are shotgun only during deer rifle season.


Would it be through the DNR or legislature?
Click to expand...
During the summer, there are local DNR meetings held at regional DNR headquarters. Attend them. Have some ballistic info available, as well as persuasive rhetoric for adopting the .350 Legend for shotgun-only zones.

Food for thought, in case the above doesn't work.

IIRC, (I left MN a long time ago) you can hunt with a pistol in the shotgun zone. Why not build an AR pistol in .350 Legend? It would not need to have a barrel less than 16" (in case you cannot find a shorter barrel) just put a brace on the lower, maybe pop a 5.56 or .300 BO short barrel on it if you have one (or can borrow one) and document the build then put the .350 Legend upper on it. Federally, this is still a pistol.Whether it would pass the MN sniff test, IDK, like I said I moved to WI 25 years ago, with a short 2 1/2 year stop in TX first.
 
entropy said:
During the summer, there are local DNR meetings held at regional DNR headquarters. Attend them. Have some ballistic info available, as well as persuasive rhetoric for adopting the .350 Legend for shotgun-only zones.

Food for thought, in case the above doesn't work.

IIRC, (I left MN a long time ago) you can hunt with a pistol in the shotgun zone. Why not build an AR pistol in .350 Legend? It would not need to have a barrel less than 16" (in case you cannot find a shorter barrel) just put a brace on the lower, maybe pop a 5.56 or .300 BO short barrel on it if you have one (or can borrow one) and document the build then put the .350 Legend upper on it. Federally, this is still a pistol.Whether it would pass the MN sniff test, IDK, like I said I moved to WI 25 years ago, with a short 2 1/2 year stop in TX first.
Click to expand...


Not a bad idea.


I did email the MN DNR.....they never got back to me. Will email them again.
 
FWIW I do not hunt with worry of what a DNR person might think.
I follow the law and expect them to do the same.
 
While some groups may be working on your behalf, I'd not trust any of them.
Seen some rather stupid stuff in my state, all sides.
Exiting DNR dirtector tried to stir up stuff after HP rifle passed.
New director after that.
Hopefully things settled down.
Even so, agents of the courts............don't trust any to be knowledgeable or honest.

IMHO laws not that difficult to understand.
Research and go forth and live your life.
Worry about this or that.....it's like political correctness has poisoned everything these days.

Most worry is just that, worry. Good book tells ya what to do about that.

As in most things, it's just added and unneeded stress. Worry about what the possum cop might screw up?

That's on him. Not me. If he screws up get a good attorney and teach em a lesson.
 
Am not anti CO/LEO.
Am anti nonsense.

Got plenty of folks that break the rules. Nail em.
I don't see the need for hassling folks on the right side.
 
I have some buddies who live in the Albert Lea, Rochester, and Morris areas, “shotgun only” zone. They and their families have all been hunting for several years with AR-15 pistols in various cartridges. Teach your kids to shoulder the brace, they’ll not notice a difference.
 
Hookeye said:
FWIW I do not hunt with worry of what a DNR person might think.
I follow the law and expect them to do the same.
Click to expand...


I follow the law too.....which is why I would like .350 Legend made legal so my kids could use it, legally.
 
Speedo66 said:
Do some research on what the conservation dept. defines as a "pistol".
Click to expand...


People have said that and it's not a bad option but it would be nice to be made legal as a rifle instead.

I've always said follow the law and if you don't like the law change it.

So that's what I'm going to try to do, change it.
 
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