New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

Ram00 · Feb 16, 2019

New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

SO in Virginia to hunt with a muzzle load it must be 45 caliber or larger, BUT my friend said if its a 44 caliber with a diameter for a .451 or .454 that it passes for a 45 caliber, is this true,
i know its probably a stupid and simple question but i have no idea and want to make sure hes not bsing me

ive also had other hunters tell me a .451 and a .454 diamiter is basically a 45

hntbambi · Feb 17, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

Barrels are measured by the largest diameter (groove diameter). A .44 caliber would not have a .451 diameter bore. A .44 caliber will have a .422" land diameter with a .429" groove diameter. On a .45 caliber barrel the lands will be .442" for lands and .451" for grooves. This allows the shooter to use .45 caliber handgun bullets in the ML rifles. Some of the modern custom barreled rifles have a .450" land and .458" groove diameter. This allows the shooter to use bullets designed for the .45/70, .450 Marlin, .458 Win Mag, etc.

FrontierGander · Feb 17, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

.451 - .454 is 45cal but it damn sure wont fit into a 44cal muzzleloader.

Get a 50cal, much easier to find ammo locally and if you ever hunt out of state, sometimes a 50cal is minimum for elk.

What state are you hunting?

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Joe2Kool · Feb 17, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

>Get a 50cal, much easier to
>find ammo locally and if
>you ever hunt out of
>state, sometimes a 50cal is
>minimum for elk.
>
>What state are you hunting?
>
>
>www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

+1

Buy a 50. It's pretty much the standard. You won't usually find bullets for the 45's and 54's at local sporting goods stores.

A few more suggestions, if you go with a scope, get one with lots of eye relief. I shoot a fixed 4X Simmons shotgun scope on mine.

Go with stainless. May be few bucks more, but well worth it.

And at least go with one that uses shotgun primers as an ignition source. I think most states allow 209's, but I don't know for sure.

txhunter58 · Feb 17, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

Don't know if your friend is BSing you or just confussed, but his comment makes as much sense as someone saying:

Regs call for a 30 caliber minimum, so can I use a 270? Uh, NO!

Too small is too small and if 45 cal is minimum, then by definition, a 44 caliber is too small

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Ram00 · Feb 17, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

i keep getting told .451 and .454 is a 45 cal but when i buy the lead ball online it says 44 cal and it give me the option to pick .451 or .454, that is why im so confused.

FrontierGander · Feb 17, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

Sabot/Pistol Bullet
.429-.430 = .44cal

.451-.452 = 45cal.

If you want a round ball, a .45 caliber bore size takes a .440" round ball.

What in the world are you shooting and trying to buy?

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

HIcountryman · Feb 18, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

Dont bother if you cant figure out something this basic.

deadibob · Mar 1, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

round balls are undersized because they need to be patched.

deadibob · Mar 1, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

.451 and .454 bullets are handgun bullet diameters (they are also used in sabots). The .451 is for .45 acp, the .454 is for .45 long colt, .454 casull, etc.

WVHUNTER · Mar 9, 2019

RE: New and getting to muzzle loading hunting, doing some research, had a quick question about Virginia law if anyone can help!

Only muzzleloading firearms, .45 caliber or larger, loaded from the muzzle of the gun.
Muzzleloading firearms must be single shot, capable of firing only a single bullet or saboted bullet (.35 caliber or larger)

I think you are trying to read too much into this. If it's stamped 45 caliber on the barrel then it's a 45 caliber. As long as you aren't shooting something out of it less than 35 caliber you are OK.