Tag: shotgun zone

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. Read more

Firearms, Hunting , , , , , ,

Centerfire Rifles for Shotgun Zone? Not so fast…

By Glen Wunderlich

When Michigan Senate Bill 775 was proposed by Senator Mike Green (R) of District 31 this past October, it appeared as though Michigan’s Zone III (shotgun zone) deer hunters would be allowed a viable alternative to shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns. 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. Read more

Firearms, Hunting , , , , ,

Centerfire Rifles for Michigan’s Shotgun Zone?

By Glen Wunderlich

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.

Firearms, Hunting ,