Michigan Senate bill 775 has been introduced to allow the following cartridges to be used in our Zone III for deer: A .35 caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled cartridges with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches.
That’s a very small minimum to maximum amount and would still exclude the .45-70 and .444 Marlin but rifles chambered for .44 magnum would be legal. Since it reads cases and not overall cartridge length, it sounds like handgun cartridges only. I’m going to give the sponsor a call to see if I can understand their thinking. As we know, the .45-70 is not as fast as modern muzzleloaders, and as far as I can tell, should be allowed, as well.
The idea to allow the handgun-type rounds in a rifle with the case-length limitations seem reminiscnet of the original crossbow speed limit of 350 fps imposed . Then, one year later, the speed limit was lifted.
This bill needs further review and on Sunday I’ll post my points on this piece of legislation.
