Ohio AR deer rifle caliber

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Sunray said:
"...Ohio has some strange laws..." Isn't just Ohio either.
I think you're going to have trouble finding an upper chambered in one of those. However, if you can find it, the .450 Marlin is basically a rimless .45-70. The 'rimless' part being important.
The .444 Marlin would do nicely too. Again, if you can find the upper.
And mags with suitable followers. Even for 2 rounds.
Lotta the rest of the legal cartridges are either unsuitable as being under powered or the ammo/brass is hard to come by or horrendously expensive.
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.444 Marlin and .450 marlin will not feed through an AR-15 magazine. They're 2.55" length vs. 2.26" max for the AR15. You could hypothetically build an AR10 that would feed them I suppose, but I'm thinking a modified lower would be required as the feed ramps would likely be a problem.

This is just not a good idea IMO.
 
gotboostvr said:
Speedo, someone I hunt with called and got an OK for a 10mm despite it not being on the list.
I'm perfectly happy with my 44, so I haven't checked if his story checked out.
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Interesting, although I think I'd want that in writing to carry with me..

One thing I like about OH is they don't make you jump through hoops to ensure the 3 shot max. No modified guns or special magazines. They tell you 3 rounds, the rest is up to you to keep it so.
 
Llama Bob said:
.444 Marlin and .450 marlin will not feed through an AR-15 magazine. They're 2.55" length vs. 2.26" max for the AR15. You could hypothetically build an AR10 that would feed them I suppose, but I'm thinking a modified lower would be required as the feed ramps would likely be a problem.

This is just not a good idea IMO.
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there is a smith in Michigan or somewhere that's making them in 450 and selling them. it might be 450 bushmaster I cant recall.
 
Speedo66 said:
Interesting, although I think I'd want that in writing to carry with me..

One thing I like about OH is they don't make you jump through hoops to ensure the 3 shot max. No modified guns or special magazines. They tell you 3 rounds, the rest is up to you to keep it so.
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used to be the gun had to be plugged and I think shotguns still do.
 
being and Ohiohunter I ran out and got a 45-70 as soon as they legalized them and also have a 44 mag. IMO there is absolutely no reason for someone to run around with an AR to hunt deer. that just screams either your doing deer drives and want to sling bullets as fast as you can at a running deer or shoot more than one deer when you have a group come in and I think that's exactly why they wont legalize that 450 that is an AR. I also think that's why we are limited to PCR because they don't want guys with AR slinging lead all over the place.

Buy a 44, 45-70 or 444 marlin in a lever action and be done with it. Imo regular rifles are way more pleasing to carry hunting than some awkward AR platform.
 
Seems like your trying to beat the square peg through the round hole.. sometimes simplest is best... Esp with those type of restrictions.
 
Llama Bob said:
.444 Marlin and .450 marlin will not feed through an AR-15 magazine. They're 2.55" length vs. 2.26" max for the AR15. You could hypothetically build an AR10 that would feed them I suppose, but I'm thinking a modified lower would be required as the feed ramps would likely be a problem.

This is just not a good idea IMO.
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correct. The 450 marlin is offered by ASI in 308 AR plaftorm.


The 444 could work took but IMO for 3 rounds max it is a waste. No so much for hunting but for bench / fun.
Any rimmed cartrige with close enough dimensions to the 7.62x54R bolt face and below its max coal should be a lot easier to put together from a Romanian PSL parts kits.
This will allow also to choose thumbhole and even sporter VEPR style stocks and handguards.
From the list the 500 S&W could be fitted in the AR15 with WSSM bolts but still I think not worthy and the 357 maximum will be a lot easier and plenty anyway.
There are some old auto-loading models one could use possibly with 3 rounds anyway.
Remington 750 would also be a great donor for several cartriges but the russian will be a lot easier in terms of bolt and magazine conversion.

Whatever the choice still need to locate someone who does quality conversions.

 
tarosean said:
Seems like your trying to beat the square peg through the round hole.. sometimes simplest is best... Esp with those type of restrictions.
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Roger that.
I think anyone can create something complicated. It is 1000 times more difficult to create something simple. (General Kalashnikov)
IMO for 3 rounds is not worth the headache.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
being and Ohiohunter I ran out and got a 45-70 as soon as they legalized them and also have a 44 mag. IMO there is absolutely no reason for someone to run around with an AR to hunt deer. that just screams either your doing deer drives and want to sling bullets as fast as you can at a running deer or shoot more than one deer when you have a group come in and I think that's exactly why they wont legalize that 450 that is an AR. I also think that's why we are limited to PCR because they don't want guys with AR slinging lead all over the place.

Buy a 44, 45-70 or 444 marlin in a lever action and be done with it. Imo regular rifles are way more pleasing to carry hunting than some awkward AR platform.
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I've been around the fellas slinging lead with an ar at antelope and deer and I always find myself wishing there were more cover for me AND the critters, I can see kids using an ar with 2-5 in the Mag, and I know that those guys don't represent everyone who uses an ar in the field, but there are enough of them to sour the idea. If I were hunting in the OP conditions, I'd be perfectly tickled with a pump or levergun.
 
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I think I can qualify as someone with experience. Maybe 6-7 years ago Indiana passed laws basically allowing pistol cartridges in rifle. Due to the way the law was written, you could use any .35 caliber or larger that had a 1.6" or shorter case.

I had a .358 WSSM made up by Dedicated Technologies in an AR. It works quite well, and I've taken several deer, one at a lasered 279 yards.

As noted previously, the AR is ergonomically challenged for deer hunting. It's what I have, so that's what I used. But, now a .243 is legal and that's what I'll be carrying next year. And the AR is paid for and sitting in the safe. The .243 is a Weatherby Vanguard. Much easier to tote around.
 
The .45-90 is equal to a ..45/2.4 Sharps. Which is a nearly exact duplicate of a .458 Win Mag case, less the belt.

I have a Browning BPCR in .45-90.
 
Any caliber you listed would be adequate. Thing is, which is pragmatic? Well, I wanted flattest shooting. You may be shooting in heavy woods, but you may also shoot in an open corn field. I suspect the .444 would be the fastest. I'd use a light for caliber bullet to get speed.
 
redneck2 said:
The .45-90 is equal to a ..45/2.4 Sharps. Which is a nearly exact duplicate of a .458 Win Mag case, less the belt.
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This is true - case length is only 0.1" different and capacity is similar. But there's a big difference due to different overall lengths. The .458 win mag has a max OAL of 3.34. The .45-90 has no specified length, but the longest I'll feed through my 1886 and be 100% sure of reliability is 2.8". So the .45-90 loses over 1/2" of case space compared to the .458 win mag loading the same bullet. That's a huge difference in terms of performance and ease of loading. It's trivial to make a good .458WM dangerous game load, but to make it happen on the .45-90 I have to use one of two bullets (one custom, the other never in stock), one magic powder, a drop tube, a crazy compressed load, and a factory crimp to keep the compressed load from forcing the bullet out and jamming the rifle.

So you can use them for the same purpose, but it's easy with the .458WM and a huge PITA with the .45-90. The upside of the .45-90 is that an 1886 is a much faster and higher capacity repeater than a model 70.

Pressure is also different - roughly 62KPSI (m70 .458WM) vs. 50KPSI (1886 .45-90 modern steel ONLY). But that's not as big a difference, because if I'm using a .458WM I don't want to make use of the max pressure anyways - the last thing I want is to have a case stick in the action when I need to cycle it NOW NOW NOW.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. It sounds like an AR would be more trouble than it is worth unless some more calibers get added to the list.

I like the AR platform because it is accurate and I practice quite a bit with it, not because I want to sling lead at deer dressed in the quintessential tactical mall ninja gear.

I will most likely stick with my slug gun unless I find a great deal on a marlin lever 44 mag or 45-70 after the season. I do not hunt in Ohio every year. I have a 243 and 30-06 which are great for deer and I shoot them well, just not legal in Ohio. A couple of cases of slugs to practice cheaper than a new gun.
 
One of the biggest reasons I got the AR was that I was tired of getting thumped by a slug gun. The AR is extremely mild in terms of recoil compared to a slug gun. And, the fact that it shoots considerably flatter is a big plus.

My hunting buddy has three .44 mag rifles. Took a huge buck with one first year. It is a Ruger Deerfield. Very light, easy handling. Plenty accurate. Almost zero recoil. Also has a lever and a bolt.

Anyway, I'd look at a .44 mag or the .444 if you want bigger.
 
Researching this a few years ago I came across a lot of new tech in shotguns that make slugs accurate and effective out to 200m. The pistol calibers allowed would be a step down. It's very apparent Ohio game regulations are anti rifle cartridge.

What kinds of slugs are allowed, and are the shotguns they are used in specifically described? The AK market has already started offering substitutes for the Saiga 12 which being Russian was banned from import. Both the VEPR 12 and US made Kalashnikov US109T are available. They are obviously not traditional hunting arms - neither was the HK91 when I bought it in 1976. Dealing with the restricted ballistics of Ohio law I wouldn't give up on shotguns, I would lean toward optimizing the shotgun as it delivers far more foot pounds of force further than most of the pistol bullets on the list.

There doesn't seem to be any language against using a bolt action shotgun, either, again, they can reach out to 200m with slugs. There used to be some controversy about whether shots that far could even be done, it's common.
 
With your restrictions I would say lever gun all the way. Your caliber restrictions are all marginally reliable in AR platforms at best, most aren't available at all. These are basically all Pistol cartridges not rifle cartridges. Since they don't allow you to use a "real" AR cartridge like .25-45, 6.5 etc I would get a lever gun if you want a rifle to hunt with in those jurisdictions. I LOVE my Rossi .45-70 as well as my Henry's in .44 and .45. I also have some loads for both that will take any game in the upper 48 states so they make excellent game guns. Is revolver hunting allowed in your area? I might consider getting into those as well. I've done some hunting with a Ruger SBH in .357 Max and had a blast. More than adequate for deer inside of the realistic ranges you would be shooting; so long as you do your part.
One last little ''''tid bit I've learned over the years also when deer hunting with these types of cartridges, don't go for the old "boiler room" shot and think your good. That works great with high velocity rifle rounds but is mediocre for humane/quick stops with handgun calibers. On doe I like the cranial or vertebrae shot from close range or upper neck where it nears the base of the skull at distance. On buck if I want the head, I'll try to go broadside through one shoulder and vitals and stopping at the other shoulder blade. (Or through it) This will atleast put the animal down on the spot, allowing for a quick secondary kill shot (or throat slit) if necessary to facilitate quick death.
Happy hunting.
 
I find it amusing that a few people keep saying that the list contains all weak pistol cartridges. Either they're not reading to the end of the list, or think that .375, .38-55, .444, and .45-70 through .50-110 are all weak pistol cartridges.
 
Ohio has increased long gun options but we're still limited to 3 shots so an AR? I went to a single shot 20 gauge, no recoil and very accurate but I still want a .45/70
 
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