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Single-shot legal cartridges

Effective Jan. 1, 2023, the legal calibers for single-shot rifles are:

  • a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths inches, OR
  • a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger.
  • Both must be available as a factory load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500-foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.
  • Full-metal jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer.

These caliber specifications are the same that hunters may be familiar with for handgun deer hunting in previous years. The barrel of a handgun shall be at least 4 inches.

This list may not be all-inclusive, and the data was taken from individual, third-party sources, not tested by IDNR. This list is not a recommendation of any specific caliber by the Department.

To ensure the caliber they choose will be legal in their rifle, hunters should pay special attention to the notes included in the list showing the limitations and test data used. Before using a rifle for hunting, deer hunters should ensure the caliber they have chosen meets the law's definition.

Cartridge listing

Review listing below for a more detailed description of the cartridge displayed.

Rate key:

L: Light; Shots in this category should be under 50 yards and may only wound

M: Marginal; Barely sufficient Terminal Energy at ranges listed

E: Excellent; Should perform well to ranges listed

O: Overkill; These are calibers designed for the largest, most dangerous game. May result in overpenetration and downrange safety concerns.

Note: Rifle only - Needs 16 inch barrel for minimum muzzle energy

PDF printable list

Type Case/Caliber Cartidge AKA Year Made Org TST BBL LEN RFL ST BBL Len RFL MUZ VEL FPS Muzzel Energy (ft lbs) Effective Range Yard Max Range Yards Rate Notes/Cautions/Test Load