Ohio’s deer gun season runs November 30 through December 6, 2026, with two bonus days on December 19 and 20, and the youth season on November 21 and 22. If you plan to hunt with a rifle instead of a shotgun or muzzleloader, it has to be chambered for a straight-walled cartridge. Since Ohio opened the door to straight-wall rifles in 2014, cartridges like .350 Legend, .400 Legend, .450 Bushmaster and .360 Buckhammer have turned deer week into a rifle season for most hunters. This guide covers what the law actually says, how the popular cartridges compare, which one fits your hunting, and what we have on the rack in Grafton to get you set up before opening morning.
What Ohio actually allows
The rule is Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-11, and the current version took effect July 6, 2026. For rifles during any deer gun season it comes down to four points:
- Straight-walled cartridge only. The rifle must be chambered for a straight-walled cartridge with a minimum caliber of .357 and a maximum caliber of .515. Most people round that off as “.357 to .50.”
- No necked-down cartridges. It is illegal to use, or even possess while deer hunting, any rifle cartridge that is necked down. That rules out .223, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308, .30-06 and every other bottleneck rifle round.
- Three rounds total. During deer gun season a rifle or shotgun cannot be loaded with more than three rounds in the magazine and chamber combined.
- Any action type. Bolt-action, lever-action, single-shot, pump and semi-automatic rifles are all fine as long as the cartridge qualifies and you respect the three-round limit.
Ohio does not put a maximum case length on the cartridge the way some neighboring states do, so a long straight-wall round like .45-70 Government is legal here even though it is not legal in parts of Michigan. Handguns have their own rule (.357 Magnum or larger, straight-walled, with a barrel at least five inches long), and shotguns must fire a single projectile. This is a plain-English summary and not legal advice, so read the current Ohio DNR hunting regulations before you head out.
2026-27 Ohio deer season dates
- Archery: September 26, 2026 through February 7, 2027
- Youth gun: November 21 and 22, 2026
- Gun season: November 30 through December 6, 2026
- Bonus gun days: December 19 and 20, 2026
- Muzzleloader: early January 2027 (January 2 through 5 as published; confirm on the ODNR site)
Hunter orange is required during the youth gun, gun and muzzleloader periods, even if you are carrying a bow. You will also need a valid Ohio hunting license and a deer permit; stop by the shop if you want help sorting out which permit you need.
The straight-wall cartridges that matter
Every cartridge below is legal in Ohio. The numbers are typical factory-load figures from a 20-inch barrel and will vary by brand, but the relationships between them hold up.
.350 Legend
The cartridge that made Ohio a rifle state. Winchester built it in 2019 specifically around the straight-wall rules in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. A 150-grain load leaves the muzzle around 2,350 feet per second with roughly 1,800 foot-pounds of energy, and a 180-grain load runs about 2,100. Zeroed at 150 yards it rises about an inch and a half at 100 and drops about four and a half inches at 200, which makes it an honest 200-yard deer rifle. Recoil is in .243 Winchester territory, ammo is the cheapest of the group, and it comes in more rifles than any other straight-wall cartridge, from budget bolt guns to AR-15 uppers. If you are buying one rifle for Ohio deer and you are not sure what you want, this is the safe answer.
.400 Legend
Winchester’s 2023 follow-up. A 215-grain bullet at about 2,250 feet per second delivers roughly 2,400 foot-pounds at the muzzle, about a third more than .350 Legend, and it still carries over 1,100 foot-pounds at 200 yards. Trajectory is close to the .350, but recoil steps up to about what you feel from a .308 or .270. Think of it as the .350 Legend for hunters who want a bigger hole and more authority on a quartering shot, without going all the way to .450 Bushmaster. Rifle and ammo selection has grown fast and we keep a good spread of both.
.450 Bushmaster
The heavy hitter. A 250-grain bullet at about 2,200 feet per second produces close to 2,700 foot-pounds, and deer hit well with it tend to fall where they stand. The cost is recoil: in a seven-pound rifle the .450 kicks noticeably harder than a .30-06, so it is not the right pick for a new hunter or a small-framed shooter. Trajectory is fine out to about 200 yards with a 150-yard zero. It shines for hunters who want maximum knockdown, who take shots inside 150 yards, or who already run an AR platform and want a big-bore upper.
.360 Buckhammer
Remington’s 2023 rimmed cartridge, built for lever guns. It is essentially a .30-30 case straightened out and loaded with .358-inch bullets: a 180-grain load runs about 2,400 feet per second and 2,300 foot-pounds, and a 200-grain load about 2,200 and 2,150. That is more energy than .350 Legend with similar mild recoil, out of a traditional lever action or single-shot. If you have always wanted a lever gun for deer week and want it to be legal in Ohio, this is the cartridge that makes it work.
.45-70 Government
The 1873 original is legal here because it is straight-walled and .45 caliber. Modern 300-grain loads run about 1,900 to 2,000 feet per second and 2,400 to 2,600 foot-pounds, which is plenty for any whitetail in Ohio, and heavier bullets go up from there. It is a 150-yard cartridge with a rainbow trajectory beyond that, and it kicks. But nothing else on this list has the character of a Henry or Marlin lever gun in .45-70, and a lot of hunters buy one for exactly that reason.
.44 Magnum, .357 Magnum and .45 Colt carbines
Pistol-caliber lever guns are legal too, since all three cartridges are straight-walled and at least .357 caliber. From a rifle barrel a 240-grain .44 Magnum picks up a few hundred feet per second over a revolver and becomes a solid 100 to 125-yard deer cartridge. .357 Magnum and .45 Colt work at woods ranges with good bullets. These are ideal for hunters who already own a revolver in the same caliber and want one ammo supply for both, or for thick-cover stands where 75 yards is a long shot.
Quick comparison
| Cartridge | Typical load | Muzzle energy | Recoil | Practical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .350 Legend | 150 gr at 2,350 fps | about 1,800 ft-lb | Light | 200 yd | First rifle, youth, recoil-sensitive shooters |
| .400 Legend | 215 gr at 2,250 fps | about 2,400 ft-lb | Moderate | 200 yd | More punch than .350 without .450 recoil |
| .450 Bushmaster | 250 gr at 2,200 fps | about 2,700 ft-lb | Heavy | 200 yd | Maximum knockdown, AR big-bore builds |
| .360 Buckhammer | 180 gr at 2,400 fps | about 2,300 ft-lb | Light to moderate | 200 yd | Lever-action hunters |
| .45-70 Govt | 300 gr at 1,900 fps | about 2,400 ft-lb | Heavy | 150 yd | Classic lever guns, big bullets |
| .44 Magnum | 240 gr at 1,750 fps (rifle) | about 1,600 ft-lb | Light to moderate | 125 yd | Shares ammo with a revolver, thick cover |
Which one should you buy?
- First deer rifle, a young hunter, or anyone who flinches from a 12 gauge: .350 Legend. Low recoil, cheap practice ammo, and it does the job cleanly inside 200 yards.
- You want more margin on a bad angle and can handle .308-level recoil: .400 Legend.
- Biggest hole, hardest hit, shots mostly inside 150 yards: .450 Bushmaster.
- You want a lever gun: .360 Buckhammer for the flattest shooting, .45-70 for the heaviest bullet and the most tradition, .44 Magnum if you already carry the revolver.
- You already own an AR-15: a .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster upper turns it into a legal Ohio deer rifle for less than a new gun. Just run a magazine that holds three rounds or fewer, or a limiter, and remember the three-round rule counts the chamber.
Straight-wall rifles in stock at D&A Armory
We keep more than 100 straight-wall rifles in stock at any given time and can order almost anything else from our distributors in a few days. A few of the rifles on the rack right now, with current prices on each product page:
- Savage Axis XP in .350 Legend: bolt-action with a factory-mounted scope, the most popular first deer rifle we sell. See all .350 Legend rifles.
- Rossi LWC single-shot in .350 Legend: light, simple and inexpensive, and the three-round rule is never a concern.
- Savage Axis 2 XP in .400 Legend and the Mossberg Patriot in .400 Legend. See all .400 Legend rifles.
- CVA Cascade XT in .450 Bushmaster for a working bolt gun, or the Bergara Crest in .450 Bushmaster if you want a carbon-fiber stock and a premium barrel. See all .450 Bushmaster rifles.
- Traditions Outfitter G3 in .360 Buckhammer: a break-action single-shot that is easy to carry all day. See all .360 Buckhammer rifles.
- Henry lever actions in .45-70, including the H10 Explorer carbine. See all .45-70 rifles and our full lever-action selection.
Every rifle ships free to the FFL dealer of your choice, or you can pick it up at the shop in Grafton after a same-day background check. If you are new to buying, our guide to buying a gun in Ohio walks through the ID and paperwork. Our in-house gunsmith can also mount and bore-sight your scope before you leave.
Ammo, optics and the three-round rule
Ammo. Buy your hunting ammo now, not the week of Thanksgiving. .350 Legend is easy to find, .400 Legend and .450 Bushmaster are well stocked, and .360 Buckhammer is still a Remington-only cartridge so it sells out first. Pick a bonded or controlled-expansion deer bullet, buy at least two boxes of the same lot, and use one of them to sight in. Browse .350 Legend ammo, .400 Legend ammo and .450 Bushmaster ammo, or the full rifle ammunition section.
Optics. A straight-wall rifle is a 200-yard gun, so you do not need a big scope. A 2-7x or 3-9x with a simple duplex or BDC reticle is ideal, and low-power variable optics work well for thick cover. Look at rifle scopes and rings and mounts, and buy the rings in the same order so the rifle leaves ready to zero.
Three rounds. Two in the magazine and one in the chamber is the legal maximum during gun season. Bolt guns with detachable magazines usually hold three or four, so top off carefully. AR shooters need a three-round magazine or a magazine limiter; a standard 10-round .350 Legend mag with three rounds in it is not enough, because the rule is about capacity loaded, not the magazine’s rating, and a wildlife officer will count.
Sight-in and pre-season checklist
- Confirm your rifle is chambered for a straight-walled cartridge between .357 and .515 caliber and that you have no necked-down ammo in your pack or truck.
- Zero at 100 yards (or 150 if you expect longer shots) with the exact hunting load you will carry, then check your drop at 200.
- Torque your scope rings and base screws and re-check zero after a cold morning at the range.
- Practice from the position you will hunt from: seated in a blind, off shooting sticks, or off a rail in a stand.
- Buy your license and deer permit, put your hunter orange in the truck, and know your tagging and check-in steps before opening morning.
Frequently asked questions
Is .350 Legend legal for deer in Ohio?
Yes. It is a straight-walled cartridge of .357 caliber, which meets the minimum. It is the most popular deer rifle cartridge in the state for exactly that reason.
Can I hunt deer in Ohio with a .223, .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor?
No. Those are necked-down cartridges and are illegal for deer during any Ohio deer gun season. You cannot even have that ammunition with you while deer hunting.
Can I use an AR-15 for deer in Ohio?
Yes, if it is chambered in a legal straight-wall cartridge such as .350 Legend, .400 Legend or .450 Bushmaster, and it is loaded with no more than three rounds in the magazine and chamber combined.
Is .45-70 legal in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio has no case-length limit, so .45-70 Government and other long straight-wall cartridges qualify.
Can I put a suppressor on my deer rifle?
Yes. Ohio has allowed hunting with suppressors since 2015, and the federal tax stamp is now $0. Our guide to buying a suppressor in Ohio explains the process, and a threaded .350 Legend bolt gun with a .35 or .36 caliber can is a very pleasant deer rifle.
Do I need a special license to hunt with a rifle?
No. A regular Ohio hunting license and the appropriate deer permit cover rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders alike.
Get set up before opening day
Browse our bolt-action rifles and lever actions, filter by caliber, and order online for free shipping to your FFL or pickup in Grafton. Prefer to handle a few first? Stop by D&A Armory at 34990 Royalton Rd in Grafton, Ohio, or call 440-669-3914. We hunt these seasons too, and we are glad to help you pick the right rifle, mount the scope and get it zeroed before November 30.
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