I just got the word that the new 1.8" deer gun caseing will not be in 2012 , maybe 2013 That sucks.
I think his reference to the 357 Max was a result of his understanding that the 1.8" was for 2013. I think he was asking about getting a Max since it was going to be so long for the new 1.8" law. But since the 1.8" law is for next season, and it's already cutting it pretty close to get a Max and get proficient with it, I would stick with my recommendation to hold out and hunt with shotgun/muzzleloader etc this year and go to something in the 1.8" range next year.
The wildcats that mimic centerfire rifle calibers are much more suited to the flat, open terrain of northern Indian, but they aren't particularly out of place in Southern IN either. It would be dependent on the terrain and the shooter. At my family's property in northern IN, if you had a good shooter, and a capable cartridge, shots out to 5-600 yards are very feasible. Legal cartridges are the hold-back. The length increase makes it more feasible to reach out there. If I can get ballistics out of a 358 WSM wildcat similar to what I get out of my .308 long range gun, I am fully confident that I can put a deer down at 5-600 yards if the weather conditions aren't particularly difficult. But that will all depend on what wildcat they come up with and what it is capable of.One thing to consider (if you're hung up on the 1.8" thing) is to get a TC reamed to 460 S&W. You can't shoot 460 this year, but you could shoot 454 casull out of it this season. Personally I feel the .44 mag is more than adequate for most hunting situations posed in this state. The 357 maxi has a decided advantage in trajectory for longer shots and kills them stone dead. No experience with the 460, but I would imagine there would be considerable gain in energy, and decent trajectory.
Very true, but MOST IN deer hunters don't even bother with the wildcats, they buy what is cheap (shotgun slugs) shoot 5 practice shots 3 weeks before the season and call it good.
