Bullet restrictions?

[kselkhunter]

Can anybody point me to either the regulations or a law regarding bullet restrictions for big game hunting in WA?  Are solids legal?  What about hard cast lead of higher hardness levels (ie is there a BHN restriction)?

I am not finding anything in the WDFW regs regarding restrictions on bullets.  For example, in Oregon where I've hunted the most in my lifetime, the hunting regs explicitly states FMJ bullets are illegal, and magazines are restricted to 5 for capacity.   Washington regs just mention minimum caliber of .24.  The FAQ section of WDFW website clarifies there are no capacity limits for big game rifles.   But I'm not seeing any bullet restrictions in any of legal weapons sections of the regs. 

So thought I'd ask the forum where I might find that regulation, and if it exists.   

[h20hunter]

@bigtex

I can't recall seeing anything other than what you have mentioned.

[bobcat]

I've never seen anything restricting the kind of bullets we can use.

[Bob33]

There are no restrictions.

[jdb]

I don’t have regs in front if me but I thought full metal jackets were illegal to hunt big game with

[Bob33]

There are no bullet restrictions referenced in the WACs.

[kselkhunter]

Thanks Bob33, Bobcat, and H2OHunter.

[Blacktail Sniper]

I don’t have regs in front if me but I thought full metal jackets were illegal to hunt big game with

They used to be, up until at least 1979 anyway, key points were that they had to expand or mushroom, which true solids of the day were not designed to do:

[hunter399]

A lot of other states have bullet restrictions, but also allow smaller calibers for deer hunting.

Washington needs to update there laws for handgun hunting in my opinion,9mm,380,and other small handgun calibers should not be allowed for deer hunting,along with a fmj rules.

[dreamunelk]

A lot of other states have bullet restrictions, but also allow smaller calibers for deer hunting.

Washington needs to update there laws for handgun hunting in my opinion,9mm,380,and other small handgun calibers should not be allowed for deer hunting,along with a fmj rules.

It wasn't to long ago that those calibers were not legal.  Some pistol enthusiasts put up a good argument and they are now legal.

[yorketransport]

A lot of other states have bullet restrictions, but also allow smaller calibers for deer hunting.

Washington needs to update there laws for handgun hunting in my opinion,9mm,380,and other small handgun calibers should not be allowed for deer hunting,along with a fmj rules.

It wasn't to long ago that those calibers were not legal.  Some pistol enthusiasts put up a good argument and they are now legal.

Pistol enthusiasts maybe, but I don’t know any hunter that would advocate the use of a 9mm for anything more than dispatching wounded game. In fact I was told by WDFW at the time of the change that it had a lot to do with making it legal to dispatch game with a small caliber sidearm since it was being done already even though it was technically illegal.

There used to be a requirement that expanding type bullets must be  used. Hard cast lead was still acceptable because it would expand under the right circumstances. If you smack a steel plate with a 330gr load out of a 44 mag you will get a little bit of a mushroom.

[Bofire]

WAC 232-121-130 seems to have either failed or been repealed, I tried to go all thru the sites, it is complicated.
Carl

[bobcat]

It was done at a time when they were working to "simplify" the regulations. They eliminated a lot of stuff at the time that's really just common sense. Hunters should know enough to be able to choose an adequate firearm and projectile that will reliably get the job done.

[Calvin Rayborn]

tulAmmo and a hacksaw good to go

[Bill W]

Lead expands.  Cast bullets are legal.