Minimum caliber for big game change in Saskatchewan

saskgunowner101

saskgunowner101

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
132   0   0
Location
near Prince Albert
The rumor mill on a FB hunting site had mentioned a change to the minimum caliber for big game hunting in Sask. and a few new restrictions as well. I e-mailed a CO to confirm, and apparently it's true. Not sure how it will affect anyone, but worth having a look.

http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/details.cfm?p=1602

http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/freelaw/documents/English/Regulations/Regulations/W13-1R1.pdf

It's page 22 in the above pdf.

No person shall hunt big game with a centrefire rifle that uses:
(a) a cartridge that has an empty cartridge case length of less than 32
millimetres; or
(b) any of the following cartridges:
(i) a cartridge of .17 calibre or less;
(ii) the .22 Hornet;
(iii) the .22 K-Hornet;
(iv) the .218 Bee;
(v) the .25-20 Winchester;
(vi) the .30 Carbine;
(vii) the .32-20 Winchester;
(viii) the .357 Magnum;
(ix) the .41 Remington Magnum;
(x) the .44-40 Winchester;
(xi) the .45 Colt.
(2) No person shall hunt big game with a shotgun or muzzle-loading rifle that uses
a metal projectile of .23 calibre or less.

So, no 357 mag or 45 Colt lever guns allowed, although I find it strange 44 mag is okay and 45 Colt is not. Anyways, just some food for thought.
 
This seems even more arbitrary than the previous rule of larger than .23 calibre bullets. The last four cartridges on the list could be appropriate for big game, given appropriate limitations on range and animal size; lots of deer have been shot with .357 Magnum. It is now legal to use .38-40 Winchester, but not .45 Colt with heavy loads that equal or surpass the .44 Magnum.

I guess it's good news for those who want to use a .223 or .22-250, though.
 
I'm pretty sure it wasn't a firearm enthusiast that made the list, or the 45 Colt wouldn't be there. The 357 gets turned up pretty good from a rifle too. I would think some kind of energy based formula might have worked better. If you want to think of it in absurd terms, I could use a 357 maximum, water it down to 38 Special power levels, and I'm legal. While a 357 mag loaded atomic would be a charge under the regulations. I'm not sure what the energy on a muzzle loader with a round ball at 100 meters is, but it'd be interesting to compare the various energies.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
I'm pretty sure it wasn't a firearm enthusiast that made the list, or the 45 Colt wouldn't be there. The 357 gets turned up pretty good from a rifle too. I would think some kind of energy based formula might have worked better. If you want to think of it in absurd terms, I could use a 357 maximum, water it down to 38 Special power levels, and I'm legal. While a 357 mag loaded atomic would be a charge under the regulations. I'm not sure what the energy on a muzzle loader with a round ball at 100 meters is, but it'd be interesting to compare the various energies.
Click to expand...

Exactly... a 357 is banned, but a 38 special is allowed? Nobody knew wtf they were doing when this got pushed through. I have emailed the minister of environment and my mla about this... I hope to see every other hunter or firearms enthusiast in Sask do the same.... even if you aren't effected. Lots of emails would be better than just mine.
 
Ridersfan said:
Exactly... a 357 is banned, but a 38 special is allowed? Nobody knew wtf they were doing when this got pushed through. I have emailed the minister of environment and my mla about this... I hope to see every other hunter or firearms enthusiast in Sask do the same.... even if you aren't effected. Lots of emails would be better than just mine.
Click to expand...

Right at the top, there was something mentioned on 32 mm case length or less.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Right at the top, there was something mentioned on 32 mm case length or less.
Click to expand...

Ahh gotcha.... the mm's went right over my head. Trim to lengths are always in inches so 32mm didn't seem like much. That would be 1.259" for a case length. So that said, a 44 magnum (which is still allowed) can't use a Hornady FTX flex tip load... because cases are shortened on the Leverevolution ammo so as to keep OAL in line. They are designed for big game hunting... and now you can't use them... you have to use a different bullet. Smart move Saskatchewan, smart move.
 
tjhaile said:
This seems even more arbitrary than the previous rule of larger than .23 calibre bullets. The last four cartridges on the list could be appropriate for big game, given appropriate limitations on range and animal size; lots of deer have been shot with .357 Magnum. It is now legal to use .38-40 Winchester, but not .45 Colt with heavy loads that equal or surpass the .44 Magnum.

I guess it's good news for those who want to use a .223 or .22-250, though.
Click to expand...

.223 and 22-250 still not legal.
 
Glock4ever said:
A weird list, I wonder why .41 Rem Mag or .45 Cold didn't make the cut. Those calibres can kill pretty well esp since .44 Rem Mag is allowed.
Click to expand...

Is there a single .45 factory load that would be a good choice? We all know it's a good cartridge if handloaded, but they may be going off of published factory tables.

The disallowance of the .41 though, is inexplicable.
 
BattleRife said:
Is there a single .45 factory load that would be a good choice? We all know it's a good cartridge if handloaded, but they may be going off of published factory tables.

The disallowance of the .41 though, is inexplicable.
Click to expand...

There is some sort of bear load crap that cabelas sells that is a 350 grain projectile at 1000 fps or so... must be more energy to that than most .308 loads would have.
 
skhunter said:
You are right, I figured wrong. I misread the .23 projectile part, I didn't catch the shotgun and muzzleloader only part.

Somebody needs to explain the reasoning behind this change.
Click to expand...

It's quite a head scratcher alright. Have people been using 22 cal in a sabot (in a muzzle loader or shotgun) to warrant a restriction?

Looks like 221 fireball is all good too! I recall Gatehouse mentioning its use on deer, but it's a little bit watered down from a 223 Remington.
 
Ya I gave up when the Ontario liberal natural resources staff insisted a 12 gauge 300gr sabot slug at 2000fps was too weak for deer so they have to restrict mag sizes, but .38 spl/.357 mag has plenty of power for long range shots so a 7-shot lever is fine.

YSoABGJ.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom