.458 SOCOM Officially Added To Sample List Of Cartridges Legal In A Rifle For Deer

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - .458 SOCOM Officially Added To Sample List Of Cartridges Legal In A Rifle For Deer

Posted: 7/1/2008 9:09:02 AM EDT

Last year, Indiana adopted a law allowing rifles with certain "pistol" cartridges to be used in rifles for deer hunting here in Indiana. At that time, I contacted Ms. Linnea Petercheff about getting the .458 SOCOM added to the sample list in order to educate local conservation officers about the existence and legality of the .458 SOCOM for deer hunting here in Indiana. By the time I contacted her last year, it was too late to include it in the printed version of the Indiana hunting regulations, so she only included it on a page of the INDR's website.

Earlier this year, I was in contact with her again, and she promised that she would work with the editors involved with the printed copy of the hunting regulations to get it included in that list as well. I feared that those in charge may have been a little leery to include the name in print of a cartridge termed after Special Operations Command (even though it is legal), but my fears were unfounded. I just viewed the online version of the printed manual a moment ago, and it does in fact have the .458 SOCOM listed. The regulations can be viewed through the resource at the top of the Indiana forum's main page, and this particular passage is on page 8 of the manual.

Rifles with pistol cartridges that fire a
bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have
a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and
have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches
are legal to use only during the deer firearms
season. Some cartridges legal for deer hunting
include the 357 Magnum, 38-40
Winchester, 41 Magnum, 41 Special,
44 Magnum, 44 Special, 44-40
Winchester, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 458
SOCOM, 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger,
50 Action Express, and 500 S&W.

Out of around 40 legal cartridges in a rifle for deer, you could probably count on one hand the number of legal cartridges that are available in AR-15 configuration, and the .458 SOCOM is by far the most readily available of these. I am excited to finally see it in print, so that there will be less misunderstanding on the part of the general public and the DNR employees.

Anyone who wishes to contact Ms. Petercheff to thank her for this effort may contact her at:

Linnea Petercheff
Operations Staff Specialist
Division of Fish and Wildlife
402 W. Washington Street, Rm. W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2781
TX: (317) 233-6527
FX: (317) 232-8150

[email protected]

Posted: 7/1/2008 12:38:48 PM EDT

[#1]

Thanks for the info M4.

Looks like I finally need to get things in order to purchase a .458 upper. Last year I used my Marlin 1894FG in .41 mag, but maybe this season I'll be able to take a deer with an AR, that would be awesome.

Posted: 7/1/2008 1:31:04 PM EDT

[#2]

Very cool!

We just got a shipment of SOCOM uppers in today from Rock River and I can't wait to build one up and put on the wall with a "LEGAL FOR DEER HUNTING" sign next to it

Posted: 7/1/2008 2:04:56 PM EDT

[#3]

Best Big Bore in the game... thats awesome!

Posted: 7/1/2008 2:18:22 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Very cool!

We just got a shipment of SOCOM uppers in today from Rock River and I can't wait to build one up and put on the wall with a "LEGAL FOR DEER HUNTING" sign next to it

That's even more cool. Just be sure to keep a copy of the Indiana hunting regulations on the counter for reference. I can just see the faces of some of the more traditional hunters who visit the shop now.

Posted: 7/1/2008 3:45:33 PM EDT

[#5]

I guess im an old fart at age 34. I love to shoot my AR at the range. However when it comes to deer season, give me blued metal and nice looking wood every time. (I know what I said, no wood jokes please

) Good luck to all of you hitting the woods with your AR's this upcomming season. Ill be there with my 11-87 unless I get my buck and a doe durring bow season.

Posted: 7/1/2008 3:55:45 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Good luck to all of you hitting the woods with your AR's this upcoming season.

There were quite a few of us with AR's in the deer woods last year. I'm an older fart at 40.

Posted: 7/1/2008 7:26:58 PM EDT

[#7]

M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

Posted: 7/2/2008 3:20:50 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

Posted: 7/2/2008 5:13:16 AM EDT

[#9]

Do you have a link for the draft copy M4? I would like to post this on HI.

Posted: 7/2/2008 11:45:14 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

SBS!!??!?

Posted: 7/2/2008 12:41:48 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

Quoted:
M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

SBS!!??!?

I swapped e-mails with State Senator Brent Steele a year or two ago trying to get something done to legalize short-barreled shotguns, but nothing ever became of it. Perhaps I should send another e-mail or two.

Posted: 7/2/2008 12:45:55 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Do you have a link for the draft copy M4? I would like to post this on HI.

www.in.gov/dnr/files/fw-huntguide_lowres.pdf

The printed versions of the Indiana hunting regulations ought to be trickling into retail stores any day. The above link is an online scanned copy of it.

Posted: 7/3/2008 6:08:40 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Quoted:
M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

SBS!!??!?

I swapped e-mails with State Senator Brent Steele a year or two ago trying to get something done to legalize short-barreled shotguns, but nothing ever became of it. Perhaps I should send another e-mail or two.

I have a interest in seeing the SBS's legalized and wish I was in a position to add some weight to the argument.

Posted: 7/3/2008 7:10:52 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

SBS!!??!?

I swapped e-mails with State Senator Brent Steele a year or two ago trying to get something done to legalize short-barreled shotguns, but nothing ever became of it. Perhaps I should send another e-mail or two.

I have a interest in seeing the SBS's legalized and wish I was in a position to add some weight to the argument.

For Team Members (since it's archived), here is our last discussion regarding SBS's:

archive.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=8&f=30&t=227736

Posted: 7/9/2008 1:25:20 PM EDT

[#15]

I wish they would pull their heads out of their arses and ad 30/30 and the like to the rifle list.

Posted: 7/9/2008 7:28:16 PM EDT

[#16]

i picked up a copy of the printed version today. checking the list was the first thing i did, and YES!, in all caps it looks cool: ".458 SOCOM"

Posted: 7/10/2008 3:03:30 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I wish they would pull their heads out of their arses and add 30/30 and the like to the rifle list.

The DNR's purpose (right or wrong) is to limit the legal firearms for deer to the range of today's shotgun sabot slugs. In order for them to include the .30-30 Win, the DNR would have to extend the legal case length from 1.625" to 2.039", and reduce the minimum bullet diameter from .357" to .309". By doing so, some "high-powered" cartridges would be legalized by default.

Posted: 7/10/2008 5:08:51 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
M4Madness,

First you got the vanity plate rejection turned around. Now you get the EBR caliber into the hunting regs. What's next???

He's gona run for office?

Posted: 7/12/2008 7:48:41 AM EDT

[#19]

Distributor called and asked if I was interested in stocking some .458's but was wondering if I would be able to move them. After reading this thread and learning myself that it can be used to hunt deer, now I'm thinknig I might just get a few in for the upcoming deer season. Thanks GREG...

Posted: 7/12/2008 3:10:53 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Distributor called and asked if I was interested in stocking some .458's but was wondering if I would be able to move them. After reading this thread and learning myself that it can be used to hunt deer, now I'm thinknig I might just get a few in for the upcoming deer season. Thanks GREG...

It would probably be a wise decision to stock up on 'em -- I know one shop that has both uppers and complete rifles in .458 SOCOM for sale. Hopefully everyone will take an interest in hunting with black rifles, and I won't get any more strange looks when I show someone my deer-hunting rig.

Posted: 7/13/2008 9:48:42 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Distributor called and asked if I was interested in stocking some .458's but was wondering if I would be able to move them. After reading this thread and learning myself that it can be used to hunt deer, now I'm thinknig I might just get a few in for the upcoming deer season. Thanks GREG...

Im glad you mentioned it I almost purchased one from a dealer at a show today but decided to hold off for a bit... I'll stop by this week, I'm pretty sure I may be in for one.

I have been looking real hard at them and the wife about a month ago started griping that we were out of Roasts, so this may be an opportunity to add to the stable.

Now I have to find a place to hunt again as well since the parcel we used to hunt was sod off by the original owner. ( for those of you that missed it that was a plea for a place to hunt... you see its not really for me but my sanity cuz the wife gets testy when the deer meat starts to run low.)

Do it for the kids man!!

Posted: 7/14/2008 11:47:50 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Distributor called and asked if I was interested in stocking some .458's but was wondering if I would be able to move them. After reading this thread and learning myself that it can be used to hunt deer, now I'm thinknig I might just get a few in for the upcoming deer season. Thanks GREG...

It would probably be a wise decision to stock up on 'em -- I know one shop that has both uppers and complete rifles in .458 SOCOM for sale. Hopefully everyone will take an interest in hunting with black rifles, and I won't get any more strange looks when I show someone my deer-hunting rig.

Not anymore

They sure didn't last long on the floor. I do have a few more uppers that are supposed to be in this week though.

You should have heard the one guy: "You mean I can hunt deer with THAT? LEGALLY? Oh man, let's do it!"

Posted: 7/14/2008 1:28:22 PM EDT

[#23]

Well thats settles it...I now have a couple of the uppers on the way and will see how they go.Thanks GREG....

Posted: 8/5/2008 4:14:04 PM EDT

[#24]

While I was not there for the first year when rifles were legal in IN and won't be for the second either, I will be there for the third, and not with one but with three rifles. While my .458 SOCOM AR is itching for use on deer I also have the .500 Phantom which is deer legal and will have by then (I hope) a finished .358 HDH (Hoosier Deer Hunter) which is nothing but a .25 WSSM necked up to .358 caliber. It falls just short of the legal maximum but should give .358 Winchester performance. We'll see.
One must recall that just because the ammo is not on the list does not mean you cannot hunt with it. For 25 years I hunted the Indiana deer woods with my .45-70 Contender and .50 Alaskan Encore (last 5 years), and you NEVER saw those rounds listed in field guide of acceptable handgun rounds. Too bad they are legal in handguns with 15 inch barrels but NOT in rifles with 16 inch barrels. It is one of those scratch your head and go hum moments when you start thinking too much about it. Sort of like you can get your CCW after you turn 18 but cannot buy a handgun or handgun ammo until you are 21. Talk about a scratch your head moment!
If one is paranoid about hunting with a round not on the approved list, carry the field guide in the car and if you must, a micrometer. That should settle things for anyone inquiring except for the biggest butt-head.

Posted: 8/5/2008 5:54:00 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
One must recall that just because the ammo is not on the list does not mean you cannot hunt with it.

100% correct. It's just nice to see it in print, as it makes it much easier to prove its legality, along with educating (and hopefully converting) the public that the .458 SOCOM is legal for deer.

Posted: 8/7/2008 6:58:11 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
(I hope) a finished .358 HDH (Hoosier Deer Hunter) which is nothing but a .25 WSSM necked up to .358 caliber. It falls just short of the legal maximum but should give .358 Winchester performance. We'll see.

If one is paranoid about hunting with a round not on the approved list, carry the field guide in the car and if you must, a micrometer. That should settle things for anyone inquiring except for the biggest butt-head.

It shouldn't have much problem reaching 358 velocities.

Still a mystery to me how many different variations of this there are out there - and how many people throated for .357 pistol bullets.

As to being paranoid - this is how I've been marking them: