Ohio AR deer rifle caliber

[ScrapMetalSlug]

As I hunted deer this year in Ohio with my slug barrel mossberg 500, I was constantly thinking how I would rather be hunting with a rifle which I shoot better, is more accurate, and cheaper to practice with. After looking at several marlin and Rossi lever guns, I got the idea to try and find an AR upper which is Ohio deer season legal, rather than buy another rifle.

Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.

A lot of these are rimmed calibers, and aside from 45 acp which I would consider marginal I've never heard of an AR upper in any of the other calibers. Which caliber would you chose for an AR upper for deer hunting if any? Ammo capacity is not much of a concern as only 3 rounds are allowed.

 

[jmr40]

Honestly, a slug barrel with good sights or even a low powered scope is as good or better than any of the options you have. I'm not aware of any AR options in any of those calibers. If I were limited to those rounds I'd buy a 357 or 44 magnum with a preference for 44. Not that the others won't work, but ammo cost and availability give the edge to 44 or 357 mag. None of the others are significantly better on deer size game nor would they effectively increase the practical range.

 

[LoonWulf]

for the cost, i think id go with a lever gun in anything from .357 on up. That is unless you REALLY want an AR to shoot one of those rounds. Im not familiar with your game laws, but id either chose the .45 Win mag, or the .45 acp and load it in super cases. If you could use one of the "standard" ar big bores that would be much easier.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Why not a 10mm upper! It has the power!
http://jsgunparts.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=539
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/76...3-upper-receiver-assembly-10mm-auto-16-barrel

 

[alientrainwreck]

I like the Rossi 92 in 454cassul and you can also safely plink around with 45LC

 

[sarduy]

As I hunted deer this year in Ohio with my slug barrel mossberg 500, I was constantly thinking how I would rather be hunting with a rifle which I shoot better, is more accurate, and cheaper to practice with. After looking at several marlin and Rossi lever guns, I got the idea to try and find an AR upper which is Ohio deer season legal, rather than buy another rifle.

Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.

A lot of these are rimmed calibers, and aside from 45 acp which I would consider marginal I've never heard of an AR upper in any of the other calibers. Which caliber would you chose for an AR upper for deer hunting if any? Ammo capacity is not much of a concern as only 3 rounds are allowed.

QUESTION!!!!

No 308, 30-06, 7.62x39, 300 blk, are allowed???

i would go with a 16'' Radical firearms Upper in 300 BLK.

 

[adcoch1]

Ohio has some strange laws that only allow straight wall cartridges for rifles for deer. It seems someone was talking on here about either 458 socom or 50 beowolf for ohio deer. If that is legal, those are probably the best options. I do know that 44 mag and 50ae uppers have also been built using desert eagle bolts and mags. But most big ar uppers cost more than most leverguns in 44 mag or 454 casull. And a single shot can be had in almost any rimmed cartridge for cheaper than a big bore upper as well. Scope or red dot the slug gun, or get ready to spend some $$$.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Is 450 Bushmaster legal in Ohio?? I don't live there but I thought it was. I even heard that it was made specifically to be legal in states that list straight wall cartridges only.

 

[Mr Woody]

Ohio seems to be a bit strange in that they individually list the cartridges THAT ARE ALLOWED. The OP posted the whole list so no blackouts or bushmaster variations. I could be happy with any number of those straight walled cartridges, if I had to be .

From Ohio's 2015 hunting regs:
"The council also approved straight-walled cartridge rifles for deer hunting. The rifles are the same caliber and use the same straight-walled cartridges that are currently legal for use in handguns. The new regulation is designed to allow additional opportunities for hunters that own these guns or want to hunt with these guns. These rifles have reduced recoil compared to larger shotguns, and the rifles are more accurate than the same caliber handgun.

Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith& Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson."

 

[Llama Bob]

Off that list, I would strongly recommend not going with an AR. There's just no good AR options IMO - it's mostly rimmed. .45 ACP is awfully low power.

.45-90 in a light fast load is probably the best from a ballistics POV, but requires an expensive/rare gun - an 1886 either originally chambered for .45-90 or reamed out from a .45-70.

.45-70 is a good option and lets you use the Hornady FTX ammo which is tuned for deer.

 

[eldon519]

I would just go with the Marlin or Rossi that you looked at. Most of those rounds would be an extremely awkward fit to shoehorn into an AR if you could physically do it or even find someone to build it.

 

[RPRNY]

From a cost-benefit perspective, bar the brass, 444 Marlin is a great deer round and there are plenty of lever guns around chambered in 444. A little Rossi 92 in 44 Magnum would be a very handy little deer rifle. Speaking of handy, I have an H&R Classic Carbine (45LC) that has had the chamber lengthened for 454 Casull. With the Hornady 250 gr FTX and H110, it delivers 2230 fps and is the ballistic twin of the 450 Bushmaster. Come to think of it, there are a lot of Handi rifles in 444 Marlin still floating around as well.

 

[Speedo66]

I can't think of an appropriate cartridge for an AR. I second (or third) the Rossi 92 recommendation in any of several cartridges.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Llama Bob, Has a great idea. The .45-90 loaded with smokeless and a 350 grs. bullets is a dynamic harvester. This has been a common conversion on the modern 1886 Browning/Winchesters.

 

[1stmarine]

The 357 maximum is an excellent deer round and affordable to practice with.
One can make it work in the AR15 but will need a quality 7.62x39 bolt and a gunsmith to retrofit chambering and magazines.
Another autoloader that is even a better donor is a Romanian PSL parts kit to build something like a 444 marlin or 500 S&W
An inexpensive mosin is a great donor for a 45/70 short carbine. Also custom build.

If you still like "AR" tacticool w/o complications this might be the easiest route.. lol.....

https://www.exilemachine.net/shop/exile-machine-revolving-rifle-conv-kit-fits-ar-15-95745.html

 

[gotboostvr]

I've used a Rossi 92 in 44 mag since they were legal here.
Loaded up with 240gr XTP's, it's been all I've needed to take a doe and a nice 5 pointer.

I'm putting together a 357Max Encore for stand hunting, but that's a whole 'nuther beast.

From what I've heard, as long as it's straight walled and over .357 cal it's good to go per the ODNR. it never hurts to call and ask though if it's not on the list.

 

[Speedo66]

I've used a Rossi 92 in 44 mag since they were legal here.
Loaded up with 240gr XTP's, it's been all I've needed to take a doe and a nice 5 pointer.

I'm putting together a 357Max Encore for stand hunting, but that's a whole 'nuther beast.

From what I've heard, as long as it's straight walled and over .357 cal it's good to go per the ODNR. it never hurts to call and ask though if it's not on the list.

ODNR lists the cartridges allowed, they say "in the following calibers". Doesn't leave room for substitution. Note that they don't mention size of bullet, they list specific cartridges. I don't think they would appreciate substituting a straight walled .458 Winchester Magnum for a .45-70. lol

This is from the ODNR site:
Straight-walled cartridge rifles in the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .450 Marlin, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50- 90, .50-100, .50-110, and .500 Smith & Wesson.

 

[horsey300]

The 357 maximum is an excellent deer round and affordable to practice with.
One can make it work in the AR15 but will need a quality 7.62x39 bolt and a gunsmith to retrofit chambering and magazines.
Another autoloader that is even a better donor is a Romanian PSL parts kit to build something like a 444 marlin or 500 S&W
An inexpensive mosin is a great donor for a 45/70 short carbine. Also custom build.

If you still like "AR" tacticool w/o complications this might be the easiest route.. lol.....

https://www.exilemachine.net/shop/exile-machine-revolving-rifle-conv-kit-fits-ar-15-95745.html

I like that, I thought about mentioning a circuit judge, but I'm not familiar enough with Ohio laws to decifer whether OP stated 3 rd limit rules out a revolving carbine. Might haveta look into that one for around here though! Only limits here are for semi auto.

 

[1stmarine]

I like that, I thought about mentioning a circuit judge, but I'm not familiar enough with Ohio laws to decifer whether OP stated 3 rd limit rules out a revolving carbine. Might haveta look into that one for around here though! Only limits here are for semi auto.

The AR revolver is a fake! lol
however if you call some custom shops they will make you a number of them.
Accuracy systems had a 450 marlin although I don't see it in the list.
If there is a limit for the judge it it is as simple as installing plugs on the chamber.
I am not familiar with the Ohio laws ... I am just saying.

 

[Speedo66]

Action doesn't matter, 3 rounds is max. They say no more than 1 in the chamber, and two in the magazine, rifle or shotgun.

As far as handguns, they don't list the number of cartridges allowed.

From the ODNR site: Handgun: With 5-inch minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger.

 

[1stmarine]

Action doesn't matter, 3 rounds is max. They say no more than 1 in the chamber, and two in the gun, rifle or shotgun.

How can one put more than one in the chamber unless one has a SxS or O/U that is a break open anyway?
Autoloaders or any action type including lever and bolt? That should be plenty. Not sure for dangerous encounters.

 

[gotboostvr]

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.

 

[Sunray]

"...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.

 

[1stmarine]

There is a huge number of decent lever actions like the old marlins.
Also Ruger 44mag in lever, bolt and the now discontinued ruger autoloader 44mag buckmaster. Those can be found in shops and GB.
So plenty of choices w/o going nuts.
444 and 45/70 are typical brush guns. very good at putting venison on the table.

 

[Llama Bob]

Llama Bob, Has a great idea. The .45-90 loaded with smokeless and a 350 grs. bullets is a dynamic harvester. This has been a common conversion on the modern 1886 Browning/Winchesters.

I've got one of those conversions on a Browning/Miroku. It was built as a dangerous game rifle (425gr northfork solid at 2060+ ft/s) but it will do deer too - a 350gr hornady FTX bullet at 2400 ft/s or so. You'll want to trim a custom length case to make that happen though. That gives a maximum point blank range of about 265 yards at sealevel, which is pretty darn flat for something you can legally hunt in Ohio.