They are now allowing primitive single shot rifles for Louisiana in addition to muzzleloaders. What are some good options for say under $300?

I know you can get some decent muzzleloaders pretty cheap, but I figure the single shot rifle would be the way to go now that they are legal.

"primitive single shot rifles"
Are you sure that they don't mean muzzleloaders? There are a number of double barreled muzzleloaders and they are not legal for hunting in every state.
I don't know of any "primitve" centerfire single shots. There are reproductions of the old Sharps rifles and the 1885 Brownings, etc. but they are not cheap at all and are pretty sophisticated modern firearms despite their heritage. There are some inexpensive choices available but they ,too, are modern rifles. New England Firearms/ Harrington and Richardson sell the Handi-Rifle which is a good buy.
Pete

Here is a list of rifles now allowed in addition to muzzleloaders:

· Sharps rifles or replicas
· Remington Rollingblock rifles or replicas
· Ballard rifles
· Maynard rifles or carbines
· Burnside carbines
· Frank Wesson rifles
· Farrow rifles
· Remington Hepburn rifles
· M1873-1888 Springfield (Trapdoor) rifles and carbines and replicas
· Snider (British) rifles and replicas
· Wesson & Harrington 1871 rifles
· New England Firearms or Harrington & Richardson Handi rifles in caliber larger than .38
· Winchester M1885 Hi Wall or Lo Wall rifles or replicas (Also Browning B78 or 1885) .38 or larger
· Knight KP-1 in caliber .38 or larger
· CVA Optima Elite in caliber .38 or larger
· Traditions Pursuit break-open single shot in .38 caliber or larger

I guess in many states they are allowing single shot cartridge rifles for their "Primitive" seasons. Some states allow only pistol calibers (straight cases under a certain length limit). For your uses, I would look at the NEF / H&R Handi Rifles, and the new Remington single shot that is imported from Europe. Both can be purchased for well under $300, and are good solid guns. The Handi's have quite a following especially.

Yep. Handi-rifle 45-70. Two thirds of that list, at least, is way out of your budget of $300.
Pete

Handi-Rifles in 44mag, 444 Marlin and 45-70 all qualify for the LA primitive weapons season and are under $300, the Remington Spartan doesn't qualify, has to have open hammer and be of a pre-1900 design.

http://www.wlf.state.la.us/news/?id=1029

All of the approved primitive weapons meet the criteria set forth by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission as authorized primitive firearms. The criteria is a single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifle with metallic cartridges loaded with either black powder or modern smokeless powder, .38 caliber or larger, of a kind or type manufactured prior to 1900 and replicas, and reproductions or reintroductions of that type rifle having an exposed hammer. The pre-1900 distinction applies only to the firearm and not the ammunition. All approved primitive firearms may be fitted with magnified scopes.
Approved single shot breech loading primitive weapons:
· Sharps rifles or replicas
· Remington Rollingblock rifles or replicas
· Ballard rifles
· Maynard rifles or carbines
· Burnside carbines
· Frank Wesson rifles
· Farrow rifles
· Remington Hepburn rifles
· M1873-1888 Springfield (Trapdoor) rifles and carbines and replicas
· Snider (British) rifles and replicas
· Wesson & Harrington 1871 rifles
· New England Firearms or Harrington & Richardson Handi rifles in caliber larger than .38
· Winchester M1885 Hi Wall or Lo Wall rifles or replicas (Also Browning B78 or 1885) .38 or larger
· Knight KP-1 in caliber .38 or larger
· CVA Optima Elite in caliber .38 or larger
· Traditions Pursuit break-open single shot in .38 caliber or larger
Non-approved single shot breech loading rifles:
· Ruger Number 1 and Number 3 (Reason: No exposed hammer)
· Thompson Center Contender or Encore Carbines (Reason: Designed after 1900)
· Mossberg SSi Single Shot Rifle (Reason: No exposed hammer and designed after 1900)

Very,very interesting indeed! I also like the ugly NEF single shot! Any good caliber would work just fine! Do a trigger job. I have quite a few various barrels/scopes attached that go on the two NEF rifle actions I have. They are butt ugly with black stocks....but are just pure fun to use. nd..I might add that the game will never know if that bullet came from a $1000 rife or the lowly NEF....you can not kill anything over 100% dead! However, please pick a bullet that performs!
Regards, James

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Dixie Slugs of Old Town Hammock, Florida
"Home of the Dixie Terminator Slug"

While beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, I'm real partial to the laminated stocked H&Rs, I have forty-four of em, mostly rifles, 4 rimfires and 3 shotguns, I've put checkered lams or walnut on most of them, but the synthetic stocks have their place too, and they're offering a new style checkered synthetic stock this year on the 444 and SB1 44mag as well as several others.

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/handiRifle.asp


One of my newest is the all stainless 45-70 Ultra Hunter, I swapped the cinnamon laminate t-hole out on mine for a camo laminate with Decelarator pad, the 300gr TSX loads I shoot in it have a fair kick and the thin pad that came on it should be fine for trapdoor loads, but not for anything considerably warmer.





http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

I'm not surprised that single shot rifles are now legal along with muzzleloaders. Muzzleloading hunting has evolved from it's original intent to allow hunters to use the traditional flintlock and caplock rifles, to the use of a very modern type of in-line ignition firearm whose performance rivals the ballistic capability of many centerfire cartridges. So, if this is where we are today, why not allow the 45-70 and other historic cartridges in their single shot configurations.

If more states follow this trend, the modern in-line muzzleloader may very well pass from the scene, as it's design was created to work around, and bend the rules set down by various state's game departments. After all, it would be much simpler and more convenient to use a NEF or an Encore.

We may eventually see three firearm hunting seasons in many states; primitive, single shot, and centerfire rifle. Isn't it interesting how things go around and come around.

It's just a tool for managing the deer population, Mississippi has allowed "primitive" cartridge guns since 2006, this year they added other hammer guns like the Encore and reduced the min cal to .35.

http://home.mdwfp.com/PDF/Wildlife/N...8/LE5-2280.pdf

I agree. It's been many many years since the .45-70 came out. So why not let it be Primitive ? I hope Virginia does this as well ! I'll use one of the .500 S&W Handi's

__________________
Volatile & Unstable

Budget? - Go with the H&R in 45-70.

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Ray

Ray, I drug this topic up from 2008. I ran across it in a google search.

__________________
Volatile & Unstable

I would go with the H&R .45 Colt - They make a Carbine in .45 Colt 19th Century style and a 45/70 Buffalo Classic in the same style. The are both really good looking. How about a .45 Colt 300 plus grain bullet at 1,200 fps (or more). Would be extra nice if you had any .45 Colt handguns or lever actions. Cheap to reload.

__________________
"Had his shooting been as good as his running, he might have given a better account of himself."
James. C. Henderson

oh OK- LOL!

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Ray

I also like the H&R Handi Rifle, bought my first one, then added 9 more barrels on their "barrel accessory program".
I purchased both the .50 cal muzzle loader ($95 bucks) and the 45/70 ($55 bucks) along with a bunch more.
I have since added a couple of more "weapons platforms" to the collection.
My DD and SIL live in Louisiana, and I get invited to hunt there, I glad y'all brought this up

H&R rifles can be fitted with Extra barrels in different calibers for ABOUT $100.00. T/C BARRELS cost $250 -$350. The H&R costs less than a BARREL for my T/C. I use both, I like both, but the H&R is a bargain. The T/C is not. I can live with ugly.
I would recommend against the .38-55 (and I am not even sure it is still offered). The groove dia is to large to shoot .375 bullets, leaving the Barnes .377 as the only choice I can find (I have not tried these yet), other than cast bullets. If you want a cast bullet rifle, it is a good choice.
Ned

The 38-55 is no longer made, but they're still available, those made in 2007 had tighter bores with good chambers and shoot .379" jacketed or .380" cast bullets excellent, I shoot .379" jacketed in mine at 375Win velocities. But the real news(for Mississippi hunters anyway, and maybe Louisiana eventually) is H&R is currently testing the 22" 35 Whelen Handi again in hopes of cashing in on the Mississippi primitive season market, hopefully with Remington at the helm they can get it right this time, if they can't make it shoot their own ammo, there's something wrong.

I agree that the prices went up, and yes, they have to fit them at the factory, and I also agree that they are a super bargain.
They are also fun to shoot, short, light and well, just Handi.


http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

P.s. I just missed the .35 Whelen, as they had just dropped it at the time I ordered my first set of barrels.

Cabelas and Academy sports and outdoors have, or can get, the Buffalo Classic for 389.99 and 399.99 respectively. Very nice looking in 45-70 and 45LC. The best part, a 32 in. barrel, just in case you need a few more yards. Case colored reciever, heard the trigger guard is plastic, but who cares, since I cant afford a sharps replica (havent found one under a grand yet) this is my best bet. One question...wonder if the BPSRC(?) guys are gonna let it in? would be nice.