Michigan HB 5249 Falls Short of Meaningful Change in Firearms for Shotgun Zone
By Glen Wunderlich
When Michigan House Bill 5249 was proposed, this month by Representative Matthew Lori (R) District 59, it appeared as though Michigan’s Zone III (shotgun zone) deer hunters would be allowed a viable alternative to shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns. (This is a repeat of an identical proposal by Rep. Green in October of 2011 that went nowhere.) For years, I have wondered why straight-walled cartridges were not allowed in rifle configurations, as opposed to current regulations permitting handguns only. Now, I am wondering why anyone has bothered to open the dialogue with such a limited field of view.
Mr. Lori’s bill would allow the use of .35 caliber or larger rifles loaded with straight-walled cartridges with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum case length of 1.8 inches in the shotgun zone. Understand that cases are not cartridges; rather, they are the brass component of a cartridge. The thinking behind the proposal is to allow seniors or disabled hunters to use more manageable firearms than conventional slug guns, which typically kick like mules.
Opposition to the bill centers on the perception that these new rules would present safety problems in heavily populated areas and could lead to more requests by counties and local municipalities to impose more restrictions, effectively nullifying the strategy to make it easier to hunt deer.
A review of the cartridges within the minimum and maximum case lengths reveals that only traditional handgun cartridges would be permitted in rifles. Examples are the .357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, .460 and .500 Smith & Wesson. As an illustration of the added velocity that could be obtained, the .44 magnum with a 240-grain bullet fired from an average handgun moves at approximately 1100 feet-per-second (fps); the same load shot from a rifle would gain another 600 fps to approximately 1700 fps. That’s a substantial improvement but it doesn’t compare to what is legally available to hunters in Zone III already.
Modern muzzleloaders will propel the same bullet at over 2000 fps. Since nobody seems to be railing against the power factor of muzzleloaders relative to safety issues, why not add a few handgun calibers in rifle configuration? Better yet, why not add real rifle calibers, as long as they use straight-walled cases? (Straight-walled cartridges do not have the pressure/velocity of bottle-neck cartridges.)
A look at the venerable .45/70 cartridge, which has a case length of 2.105 and, therefore disqualified under the bill, shows that it pokes along at 2000 fps with a 400-grain bullet. Certainly, not a high-velocity threat to safety any more than a modern muzzleloader. Another example is the .375 Winchester, which propels a 255-grain bullet at the pace of 1800 fps. Shotguns and muzzleloaders go just as fast, if not faster, and nobody is bellyaching about these firearms.
HB 5249 is a feeble attempt at a narrow window of opportunity to broaden tools for hunting. It is reminiscent of the crossbow “speed limit” imposed on hunters a couple of years ago, when advertised speed could not exceed 350 fps. A year later, lawmakers came to their senses, and removed velocity restrictions, but not until thousands of Michigan hunters purchased “compromising”, compliant crossbows. Thanks a lot!
Similarly, when handguns were first allowed in Zone III, single-shot pistols were forbidden. Handgun deer hunters were forced to use revolvers or semi-auto pistols. If ever a handgun was made for hunting, it was the single-shots like the Thompson/Center Contender and Encore, and if common sense were to have prevailed when the law was changed, they would have been included. Subsequently, the law was changed years later. Thanks again.
House Bill 5249 has all the makings of another attempt at change for the sake of change. There are other options for elderly and handicapped hunters like 20-gauge shotguns, porting of barrels to reduce recoil and muzzleloaders with reduced loads. However, a bill based on ballistics – and not perception – could provide the means to take deer humanely with all straight-walled centerfire cartridges in Zone III without any added safety concerns.
With all due respect, Representative Lori, let’s get it right this time or quit wasting the taxpayers’ money.
