Post by Woody Williams on Mar 25, 2007 7:20:19 GMT -5
Pistol cartridge rifle ready to become legal in Indiana
by STEVE FORD, Staff writer
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Since not all rifle cartridges are made equal, Indiana deer hunters might actually have some new options next firearms season.
A pistol cartridge rifle (PCR), not to be confused with a high-powered cousin like a 30.06, might actually become legal means for taking Indiana deer next season.
The PCR proposal is scheduled for an Indiana Department of Natural Resources hearing on Monday at 6 p.m., Evansville time, at the Garrison Conference Center at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.
Public comments can be submitted in person at the public meeting, by written letter or by e-mail through March 31. The e-mail address is jkane@nrc.in.gov .
Then a copy of the public hearing report will be available (at www.IN.gov/nrc ) prior to final consideration by the Natural Resources Commission, which should come sometime in May.
It would seem a formality after the NRC had given the new rule preliminary consideration last July.
In other words, provided there's not a huge public outcry on Monday or over the Internet, PCRs could be adopted as legal firearms sometime this summer.
Here's why it's a good thing, according to Warrick County deer hunter Woody Williams, who runs a Web site for Hunting-Indiana.com members.
"This is an excellent proposal," said Williams. "The cartridges being discussed will put limitations on the rifle. They will have no more range than present slug guns or muzzleloaders used today."
The proposed rule change says that the rifle cartridge must have a bullet .357-inch diameter or larger, have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches.
Those are the same cartridges - .357 and .44 magnum - that are currently legal for use with handguns during firearms season. It's just that PCRs are generally easier to handle and fire accurately.
Williams, who said 75 percent of hunters polled on his Web site favor the change, thinks legalization of the proposal will be positive on a number of fronts for deer hunting in Indiana.
"First, it will help recruit more hunters," he said. "But it will also make hunters better shots for a more humane and quicker kills, give biologists another management tool and produce more revenue from tag sales, which have lagged in recent years."
Williams explained that most young hunters and women can't comfortably withstand the heavy recoil from a slug gun or muzzleloader but can easily handle the lighter kick from a PCR.
He said it will also encourage hunters to practice more because PCRs will be much cheaper to shoot than a slug gun or muzzleloader. And practice does make for better accuracy.
Plus, adding PCRs to the DNR's deer-hunting language would not change the long-term policy of allowing only short-to-medium range firearms for taking deer. The DNR said it has often received requests from the public for a rule change allowing the use of some rifles.
"I hope the Natural Resources Commission will look favorably on this proposal," said Williams. "Hunters who feel the same way should make their voices heard, too."
- You can contact Steve Ford at 812-464-7511 or
fords@courierpress.com
www.courierpress.com/news/2007/mar/25/pistol-cartridge-rifle-ready-to-become-legal-in/
by STEVE FORD, Staff writer
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Since not all rifle cartridges are made equal, Indiana deer hunters might actually have some new options next firearms season.
A pistol cartridge rifle (PCR), not to be confused with a high-powered cousin like a 30.06, might actually become legal means for taking Indiana deer next season.
The PCR proposal is scheduled for an Indiana Department of Natural Resources hearing on Monday at 6 p.m., Evansville time, at the Garrison Conference Center at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.
Public comments can be submitted in person at the public meeting, by written letter or by e-mail through March 31. The e-mail address is jkane@nrc.in.gov .
Then a copy of the public hearing report will be available (at www.IN.gov/nrc ) prior to final consideration by the Natural Resources Commission, which should come sometime in May.
It would seem a formality after the NRC had given the new rule preliminary consideration last July.
In other words, provided there's not a huge public outcry on Monday or over the Internet, PCRs could be adopted as legal firearms sometime this summer.
Here's why it's a good thing, according to Warrick County deer hunter Woody Williams, who runs a Web site for Hunting-Indiana.com members.
"This is an excellent proposal," said Williams. "The cartridges being discussed will put limitations on the rifle. They will have no more range than present slug guns or muzzleloaders used today."
The proposed rule change says that the rifle cartridge must have a bullet .357-inch diameter or larger, have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches.
Those are the same cartridges - .357 and .44 magnum - that are currently legal for use with handguns during firearms season. It's just that PCRs are generally easier to handle and fire accurately.
Williams, who said 75 percent of hunters polled on his Web site favor the change, thinks legalization of the proposal will be positive on a number of fronts for deer hunting in Indiana.
"First, it will help recruit more hunters," he said. "But it will also make hunters better shots for a more humane and quicker kills, give biologists another management tool and produce more revenue from tag sales, which have lagged in recent years."
Williams explained that most young hunters and women can't comfortably withstand the heavy recoil from a slug gun or muzzleloader but can easily handle the lighter kick from a PCR.
He said it will also encourage hunters to practice more because PCRs will be much cheaper to shoot than a slug gun or muzzleloader. And practice does make for better accuracy.
Plus, adding PCRs to the DNR's deer-hunting language would not change the long-term policy of allowing only short-to-medium range firearms for taking deer. The DNR said it has often received requests from the public for a rule change allowing the use of some rifles.
"I hope the Natural Resources Commission will look favorably on this proposal," said Williams. "Hunters who feel the same way should make their voices heard, too."
- You can contact Steve Ford at 812-464-7511 or
fords@courierpress.com
www.courierpress.com/news/2007/mar/25/pistol-cartridge-rifle-ready-to-become-legal-in/
lol-too heady for me, that`s for sure.
