Minimum Legal Caliber?

Question

What's the minimum legal caliber that you can hunt deer with in your state? Rifle, Shotgun, Handgun?

And would you reccomend a S&W 686 for deer hunting?

Answer 1

For Kentucky here are the laws for Deer hunting.....

Legal

Hunters may use the following:

• Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun.

• Shotguns up to and including 10-gauge used with slug ammunition. (Most common legal shotgun sizes include .410-, 28-, 20-, 16-, 12- and 10-gauge.)

Illegal

A deer hunter shall not use or possess while deer hunting:

• Firearms able to hold more than a total of 11 rounds (10 in magazine and one in chamber)

• A fully-automatic firearm (capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull)

• Rimfire ammunition

• A shotshell containing larger than number two (2) size shot

• Full metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition.

Answer 2

I'm in Virginia and here the book says 23 caliber is the minimum in a rifle for deer, but since none that I know of exist, that really means 24 caliber is the minimum.
Pistols must be 23 caliber or larger, and have a manufacturers rating of at least350 foot pounds of energy.
Any shotgun is legal for deer unless it is bigger than 10 gauge.
Muzzleloaders have to be .45 caliber or larger and use a minimum of 50 grains of black powder.
The above are state regulations, and there are also county regulations in several counties. I don't even want to hunt where I can't use a rifle, so I hunt on my own land here where only the state rules limit what I can legally do.

Answer 3

Texas only requires a centerfire caliber. This should be changed to a minimum of .24 bore for rifle & .355 bore for handgun.

The S & W 686 w/hunting ammo is adequate for deer especially with the 6" barrel so long as you keep your shots accurate & under 75 yards. A .44 Mag. is even better.

Best.

H

Answer 4

Deer needs to be centerfire including any of the 22 caliber centerfires, handun has changed in the last couple years, it needs a barrel of 5 1/2 inches or longer and used to need to exceed a certain amount of muzzle velocity but now the way the law is written you can even use a 9 mm which is by far underpowered for deer or larger. The shotgun has been changed about 10 years ago too, no more .410 slugs can even be bought in Wi And no shot period must be slugs

Answer 5

Here in MO any centerfire rifle or pistol is legal, muzzleloaders must be at least .40 caliber, all shotguns 10G and below with slugs.
Depends on the barrel length, I guess. I carry a 4" 686 as a backup/finishing weapon, but wouldn't use it as my primary. With a 6" or better barrel, though, I wouldn't hesitate to use it to 75 yards or so.

Answer 6

IL no rifle season on deer, shotguns are good no .410, black powder rifles of all kind, pistols basically .357 mag and bigger no autos, o and you can use large rifles to hunt fox and coyotes. hmm go figure


and yes on the 686, i use an SAA clone in .45 LC

Answer 7

I thought you were getting a Ruger Super Blackhawk!

A .357 Magnum revolver will kill deer, but it is not the optimum handgun hunting caliber. Limit your ranges to 50 yards and under.

Doc

Answer 8

22 centerfires are prohibited in my state.
357 is legal but not a good idea, IMHO. Something in a 41 or 44 Magnum would be a much better choice, and 41 Magnum isn't that much of a leap in terms of recoil.

Answer 9

Tennessee just started this year you can us a .223 cal rifle. hand gun 32 cal with at least a 4" barrel. and shot guns using a single projectile. no buck shot..

Answer 10

Unless things have changed, .243 is rifle.
357mag for pistol
not sure about shotgun