Ohio members help requested

[mikev]

The Ohio DNR is reviewing deer hunting regulations for next season and is finally considering allowing some rifle calibers to be used.
I have requested that they include the 9.3x72R in the allowed list as it seems to meet the criteria for inclusion demonstrated by the current list of calibers. If you are interested in this your voice can be heard by attending one of the town meetings this Saturday OR filling out an online form.
Info about the meetings and the form can be found at

http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/

I hope others will join in so that maybe we can use those fine German rifles to get a deer in our home state. While I did get one this past year with a 16 ga. slug in my Sauer drilling I sure would like to try out the rifle!

Please feel free to forward this to any other group or individuals that you feel may be interested.

Waidmannsheil!
Mike

[mikev]

FYI my submission on the ODNR web form.
Mike

I request that Section 1501:31-15-11 Deer Regulations be amended to include another allowed caliber in the proposed list of rifle calibers.
I request that the European caliber of 9.3 (.366)x 72mmR be included as an allowed caliber. This caliber is a traditional black powder loading (now loaded with smokeless powder), straight walled caliber dating from the late 1800's/early 1900's and used as a sporting/hunting round in Europe.
In the only commercial loading today it has a published muzzle velocity of 1952 FPS and muzzle energy of 1633 FPS, both of which are lower that other proposed allowed calibers such as the .444 Marlin, the .460 S&W, the 454 Cassell.
This caliber is most often chambered as a single shot rifle or in combination with a shotgun barrel.
There is a small, but growing, group of folks who enjoy both collecting and hunting with firearms chambered in this caliber.
Your consideration of this request is appreciated.

[mike ford]

mikev,
Good luck. If I lived in Ohio, I would be right in the middle of your effort. In Alabama, on private land,any centerfire cartridge with an expanding bullet is legal.This is pretty simple to explain to hunters.
Mike

[mikev]

Mike,
Thanks! Hopefully we will get a positive response.
Where in Alabama are you? I have family in Montgomery and Demopolis. It sure is beautiful country with some fine folks down there.
My Best,
Mike

[mike ford]

Mike,
I'm about 80miles from Montgomery, near the GA.line,about 25 miles north of Auburn/Opelika in LaFayette. We like it here too. WAR EAGLE.
Mike

[ohiochuck]

I agree with your request. However the pistol cartridges the ODNR list as acceptable for deer hunting with a pistol now include the following (all are currently straight wall cases- no bottle neck cartridges) .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, 500 Smith & Wesson. These are being proposed as "acceptable" for deer hunting with rifles. Earlier this week I added the following comment about allowing 45-60 and 40-65 since both are either lever action or single shot rifle cartridges and related to the 45-70 family of cartridges. The request for allowing rifles to hunt deer in Ohio has been encouraged by a group of hunters during the past 3 years. Recently the Ohio Farm Bureau voted to endorse this proposal and the group carries political clout in this state. The 9.3x72R cartridge makes sense however since it is a bottle neck cartridge it probably will not be approved---for now. But do not give up!
I would like to use the 8 X 57 JR. Maybe some day.
Keep trying!!!
Jim

[mikev]

Jim,
Thanks for your support. One question for you. Do you know how the ODNR is defining bottle neck? The 9.3x72 has a slight taper along the length case of, I would guess, a few thousands. So it it is not a straight case but not really a bottle neck as I think of them. Just curious if you have any insight.
Thanks.
And Mike- WAR EAGLE indeed!

[mike ford]

Jim,
It looks like someone in Ohio is confusing 9.3x72R norm. with either 9.3x72R S&S or 9.3x74R. The later two have cases that are considered "bottle necked", but the 9.3x72R norm.does not. Certainly the 40-65 is closer to being bottlenecked than 9.3x72R norm.
Mike

[ohiochuck]

The proposed regulation changes reads as:
"It is proposed that this rule be amended to allow the use of certain caliber rifles during the firearms season for deer. These rifles are traditional black powder cartridge or pistol cartridge rifles and include 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, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110, .475 Linebaugh, .500 Smith & Wesson. It is further proposed that these rifles be limited to a total of 3 live cartridges through the use of a plug or inert ammunition inserted into the magazine."

I believe that approximately 10 + years ago the legal handgun cartridge list was smaller than the current list. If that is correct there is hope that the ODW can be convinced this year, next year, etc. that there are additional cartridges that should be considered.
The Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Scott Zody, was quoted saying "The thing we want to try to emphasize is that these are not high-power rifles. Deer hunters are not going to be out here carrying AK 47s of 30-06s. You're talking about your old lever action, cowboy action, Winchesters, and things of that nature."

I agree there are more rifle cartridges that need to be considered by the ODW.
The members of this forum with their detailed knowledge of the German cartridges/rifles/combination guns can help! Please contact the ODW and suggest particular cartridges that should be considered to be legal for deer hunting even if you do not live in Ohio. I would suggest photos/drawings of the cartridge(s) including dimensions/bullet weight/velocity, etc. Include articles about the cartridge if possible.
Do not give up. It might take 1 + years, but facts can help make changes to the legal cartridges for hunting deer.
Thanks!
Jim

[ohiochuck]

The ODW sent me an e-mail this am that the division is starting out conservatively with the calibers listed and indicate additional calibers/cartridges maybe added in the years to come. There is no definition of a legal cartridge.
If you have a cartridge(s) that fits the list above please contact the ODW and ask them to accept it. Give details about the cartridge.
It has taken 3 years to get to this point with e-mails and letters.
Thanks!
Jim