Posted: 10/23/2008 11:07:30 AM EDT
| Okay. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. I hunter there until I went to college. I know that an autoloading rifle for deer is a big no, no. I just picked up a 6.8 ar-15. I'd love to test the 110 sierra's on a deer. Is it legal to hunt with an autoloader if you do not use a magazine. In other words, am I okay as long as the game warrden can not find a magazine proving that I was using the rifle as an autoloader? |
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You have to make it manually operated, which basically means removing the gas tube. Even without a magazine, a semi-auto is still a semi-auto. Quarterbore (I think) has done this in PA. I've been thinking about doing it with one of my AR10 uppers so I can hunt with it suppressed. |
Got a link to the appropriate section of the game code? www.pafoa.org/forum/nfa-class-3-title-ii-34/1963-legal-hunt-pa-suppressor.html |
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it is still illegal, and by the way, the 110 grain v-max is deadly on a deer.  cardinalarmory.com/cardarm-pcart/pc/viewcontent.asp?idpage=11 pictures, counting from top, #7,29, and the last one are mine from Texas last year. |
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So an AR is legal as long as the gas tube is removed?. Also, is there a mag round capacity limit?( I'm assuming 5 rds or something similar). I will be moving up next month and was thinking about buying a 6.5 grendel for deer hunting. Also, can anyone recommend the best website to get me up to speed for hunting in PA.? |
5 Rounds, AFAIK www.pgc.state.pa.us/ |
THIS IS FACT. AR's, unless modified to BOLT action (even if you have no mags, & no gas tube) is gonna get you warning at best, a citation at worst. TECHNICALLY they could confiscate it... but unless there is REALLY good reason, nobody wants that hassle... so 99.9% of the time they won't. Start a lobby campaign to get it changed. It really IS that way because it has ALWAYS been that way, and no one complains. MOST other states allow AR's & other semi autos, and I'm not aware of any problems. Shotguns for small game can be semi auto... so there is the start to your campaign. Why would the PGW take on something "controversial" when Rendell would like to ban all guns if nobody "seems to care". |
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I have the advantage of having my own property to hunt, so I'm not worried about what other folks might think. I won't, however, hunt with a semi-auto just beause no one would see me. So if i do use a surpressed AR10 upper, it won't have a gas tube and if the state wants to cite me for it, I'll be happy to go to court over it. Rabbits are in trouble though, because I'm using a suppressed 22 LR and match ammo to go after them this year 
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The regs say "manually operated"... so I suppose that would be manual, MAYBE. I've never shot one with out the gas tube. If the bolt unlocks & moves from recoil, you'd might have a problem. I REALLY would suggest getting sportsman's groups support & petitioning to have the "manually operated" restriction lifted. It IS legal in MOST other states. Of course you DO KNOW those opposed will immediately bring up THOSE E.B.R.'s and all those other ASSUALT WEAPONS that are "unsporting" and have "no purpose" other than "killing people". Then Murphy and his friends will chime in and say "that if someone wants to shoot those rifles they should join the military, they have no legitimate use in civilian hands... etc. etc.". |
I don't disagree that PA should update their laws regarding this, but 99% of the "sportsmans groups" I've talked to don't have any interest in getting rid of the semi-auto ban (at least in the very rural area while I own another home). most of the folks aren't opposed to semi's, they just don't see why you would hunt with them so it isn't a priority. As far as the recoil unlocking the bolt, when a custom AR upper had the gas block shift and block the gas port the action would stay in battery unless i pulled the charging handle to cycle it manually, so if they can get an AR-type rifle to cycle without manual intervention without a gas tube I'd be very surprised. |
And there you have it. You stated the reason why PA is still in the 19th century regarding hunting weapons. Why would the PGW take on something "controversial" when Rendell would like to ban all guns if nobody "seems to care". Some people complain that crossbows are legal & should not be allowed during archery season. With "sportsmen" & gun owners "united" like this... we really make it tough for the gun grabbers. "Divide & conquer"... where did I hear that catchy phrase. Ehh, no matter doesn't affect ME. 
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So basically, there is little to no action when it comes to legalizing semi-autos for hunting in PA?. Has it ever even been brought up before in some legislative talk? |