Here in Iowa, they finally passed  a law to allow the use of Pistol Caliber Rifles during shotgun seasons.  So i'm now in the market for a new rifle.  I'm thinking of getting something in 45-70 Gov. Those who hunt in states that allow pistol caliber rifles, what are you using?  We have a set list of calibers that can be used.  Basically anything over .357 and is a straight walled case.

I've found that 44 mag from a Winchester 94 does a fine job. 44 mag makes a big damn hole in a deer and I once shot a buck at a very sharp quartering away angle and found that the bullet penetrated damn near the length of the animal and came to rest just under the hide on the off shoulder. Broke some ribs along the way. That was just cheap Winchester softpoints in 240grns.

Anyway, point is 44 mag has plenty of oomph for white tail, it's easy to find, it'll be cheaper than 45-70, and there are plenty of rifles chambered for it. Only complaint would be that it's not a flat shooting caliber. Out to 100 yards it's should be just fine. It'll start falling off fast after that. Of course your going to have the same thing with just about any straight wall cartridge that's pushing a slow heavy bullet.

Before IN changed their regs my favorite was an Encore in 357Max. 444 and 45-70 were not allowed though. VX2 - wanted a silver scope!

Ruger is doing a limited run of No. 1 rifles in .44 mag.  I'd go with that.  I have one of the very few No. 1's in .475 Linebaugh.  They are unobtanium now.  I'm sure the .44's will go up in value as well.

Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum with Hornady Leverevolution ammo would be a great set-up for what you've described.

Is .357 allowed or is it really anything larger than .357?

Not legal yet but we're trying

I shot a lot of deer with a NEF single shot .44 mag. Topped mine with a Nikon 2-7 x 32.

Model 1892 .45 Colt with .44 magnum equivalent "bear" loads.
It will do just fine on anything in the Southeast.

When Ohio adopted a similar law, I bought an Encore in .45-70 and have used it to take 3 or 4 does. I have one of the Nikon Inline XR scopes intended for muzzleloaders and the BDC is nice to have (although my furthest kill with it was 65-70 yds so far). 

I just bought a contender this year to get a .357 Maximum set up going for my daughter and for me in the meantime. My only problem with the .45-70 is that my reloads wear out my shoulder pretty quick. I have 300 gr Hornady HPs moving around 2100 IIRC. Killed the last doe with a Barnes TSX 300 gr moving closer to 2300 fps... no fun from the bench.

I have a marlin 357 mag that I've killed quite a few deer with, I didn't buy it as a hunting rifle I just got a smoking deal on it so I bought it (guy I knew in college got it as a Christmas present and sold it to me for 150$ because he wanted some stupid speaker for his car). Decided to hunt with it some and with 125 grain Remington gold sabers it's a hammer at 100 yards and in, very light and maneuverable. A few of years ago my wife bought me a marlin 1894 sgbl 45-70 that I had lusted after for years, it is an absolute hammer, one of my all time favorite guns and it will put a deer down with authority, it became my deer gun instantly. Last year I built an AR-10 to have something a little flatter for the fields where I have the opportunity to reach out.

Now the 357 is topped with a red dot, zeroed and sitting in the safe waiting to be handed down to the next generation, I think it will make a great first rifle. The 45-70 is getting a scope upgrade and I plan to use it during bear season and when I go into heavily brushed areas for deer, the 308 does the rest.

In summary, given your states cartridge restrictions I can't recommend the 45-70 enough.


357

Basically a 45-70 is like a 12ga, and the 44 mag/45 Colt are like 20ga in terms of slug guns. 45-70 has more juice, but is a lot heavier and more recoil. 44 mag and 45 are lighter guns and certainly capable. Range is a little more with 45-70 but you need lots of practice to get good at longer distance. In Ohio I rarely shoot over 100 yards and have used both successfully. Any more I prefer to pack a lighter gun since I like to still hunt. If you hunt mostly from a blind or stand then weight doesn't matter.   I shoot a Ruger 77/44 with stout reloads to split the difference. Now I'm working up a 450 Bushmaster just figure out what you do the most, either are good choices. I will say that after 2 weeks of carrying around a Marlin SBL, I was tired.

I have had good success for many years, with a Marlin 1894S rifle in .44 Magnum.  It has been consistent in killing hogs and deer with no losses.  I hand load a 270 grain Speer Gold Dot sp bullet, over a good dose of H110.  1600 fps and excellent accuracy.

I have a 16.5" 44mag Handi Rifle that is awesome for deer hunting.

I've got a older Marlin 1894S in .41 magnum.  Got a custom bullet mold that cast a 270 gr WFN and I push it to 1600 pfs too.  Its my black bear load in the swamps here.  Did look at a Henry in .41 mag this year and it looks like it will be capable too.

CD

FL allows real rifle calibers.  But, my favorite is an 1892 lever action in "pistol caliber" .45/.454 Cashull.

450 Bushmaster out of an AR15

45acp out of a 16” barrel.   Does very nicely out to 100yds on Coons.   No pics didn’t have a camera at the time.



Wolf