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Oct 14, 20245 min read

Straight-Walled Cartridges for Deer Hunting in Iowa: A Guide to the Regulations and Popular Calibers

Updated: Nov 14, 2024


The History Behind Iowa’s Deer Hunting Cartridge Regulations

Iowa’s regulations on deer hunting cartridges, particularly the requirement to use straight-walled cartridges, stem from a combination of safety concerns and the desire to maintain effective game management. The state’s landscapes, which often include fields, wooded areas, and small towns in close proximity, pose certain risks when high-velocity, bottle-necked cartridges are used. Straight-walled cartridges were introduced as a safer alternative for deer hunting, limiting the range and reducing the chances of over-penetration or stray shots.


Before these regulations, Iowa hunters could only use shotguns with slugs or muzzleloaders for deer hunting. However, advancements in firearm technology and the growing popularity of rifles for hunting in other states led to increasing demand among Iowa hunters for more options. In response, Iowa amended its deer hunting laws in 2017 to allow certain straight-walled cartridge rifles during specific hunting seasons.


Why Straight-Walled Cartridges?

Straight-walled cartridges are designed with a uniform cylindrical shape, as opposed to bottlenecked cartridges, which taper down to a smaller diameter at the bullet’s neck. The key benefit of straight-walled cartridges is that they tend to lose energy more quickly, making them more suitable for hunting at moderate distances—typically within 200 yards. This makes them ideal for Iowa’s deer hunters, who often find themselves shooting in environments where longer-range shots might be unsafe due to nearby structures, roads, or other hunters.

Additionally, the decision to allow straight-walled cartridges was driven by a desire to balance tradition with modern advancements in firearm technology. By allowing hunters to use rifles chambered for cartridges that meet the straight-walled criteria, Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided an opportunity for hunters to use more accurate and efficient rifles while maintaining the safety and effectiveness of traditional shotgun slugs or muzzleloaders.


Caliber Limits for Deer Hunting in Iowa

Iowa's regulations specify both upper and lower limits on allowable calibers for straight-walled cartridges. To meet legal requirements:

  • The cartridge must be .350 caliber or larger, but no greater than .500 caliber.

  • Only straight-walled cartridges are allowed—bottlenecked cartridges are prohibited.

The minimum bullet diameter ensures adequate stopping power for harvesting deer humanely, while the maximum caliber limitation prevents excessive damage to the animal and surrounding environment. These regulations help ensure that the cartridges used for deer hunting provide a balance between ethical hunting practices and safety.


Allowed Straight-Walled Cartridges for Deer Hunting in Iowa

Below is a list of the commonly allowed straight-walled cartridges:

  1. .350 Legend

  2. .450 Bushmaster

  3. .45-70 Government

  4. .444 Marlin

  5. .375 Winchester

  6. .357 Magnum

  7. .45 Colt

  8. .44 Magnum

  9. .41 Magnum

  10. .500 S&W Magnum

  11. .460 S&W Magnum

  12. .38-55 Winchester

  13. .40-65 Winchester

These cartridges represent a mix of modern innovations and time-tested designs, all of which provide effective terminal performance at the typical ranges encountered during deer hunting in Iowa.


Top 5 Most Popular Straight-Walled Cartridges for Deer Hunting in Iowa

  1. .350 Legend

    • Why It’s Popular: Introduced by Winchester in 2019, the .350 Legend is quickly becoming the most popular straight-walled cartridge for deer hunting in Iowa. It was designed specifically for hunters in states with regulations like Iowa’s and offers outstanding performance. The .350 Legend has low recoil compared to other straight-walled cartridges, making it a great choice for younger hunters and those who are recoil-sensitive. Its flat trajectory and effective energy transfer at up to 200 yards make it a top choice for Iowa’s moderate-distance shots.

    • Performance: Known for delivering a muzzle velocity around 2,200 feet per second (fps) with a 150-grain bullet, the .350 Legend is versatile and can humanely take down deer with well-placed shots.

  2. .450 Bushmaster

    • Why It’s Popular: The .450 Bushmaster is favored by hunters who prefer heavier rounds with a lot of knockdown power. It delivers significant energy, making it particularly useful for larger deer or when hunting in thick cover where close-range shots are common. While it has more recoil than the .350 Legend, its performance within 150 yards is unparalleled, ensuring that deer drop quickly and humanely.

    • Performance: With a muzzle velocity around 2,200 fps and a 250-grain bullet, the .450 Bushmaster is known for its hard-hitting power and excellent penetration.

  3. .45-70 Government

    • Why It’s Popular: A tried-and-true classic, the .45-70 Government has been in use for over 150 years and continues to be a favorite among deer hunters. Its large-diameter bullets deliver devastating energy, ensuring quick kills on even the largest whitetails. While the .45-70 is capable of longer shots, it’s most effective at moderate ranges, which makes it perfect for Iowa’s terrain.

    • Performance: The .45-70 Government delivers a muzzle velocity of around 1,800 fps with a 300- to 405-grain bullet. Its slower velocity compared to modern cartridges doesn’t detract from its tremendous stopping power.

  4. .444 Marlin

    • Why It’s Popular: The .444 Marlin provides a flatter trajectory than the .45-70, making it a popular choice for hunters who may need to take shots at slightly longer distances. It bridges the gap between heavy hitters like the .450 Bushmaster and lighter options like the .350 Legend. It offers powerful energy at medium ranges and is often used in lever-action rifles, which appeal to hunters who prefer traditional firearms.

    • Performance: The .444 Marlin typically delivers a muzzle velocity of around 2,300 fps with a 240- to 265-grain bullet, making it ideal for clean, ethical shots at moderate ranges.

  5. .44 Magnum

    • Why It’s Popular: Although most associated with handguns, the .44 Magnum performs exceptionally well when fired from a rifle. Its versatility makes it a popular choice for hunters who prefer a lighter recoil but still want adequate stopping power at closer ranges. With manageable recoil, many hunters use the .44 Magnum in compact rifles, making it a popular choice for younger or smaller-framed hunters.

    • Performance: The .44 Magnum from a rifle delivers a muzzle velocity of around 1,800 fps with a 240-grain bullet, which is more than sufficient for deer-sized game at short ranges.


Iowa’s decision to allow certain straight-walled cartridges for deer hunting has provided hunters with safe, effective, and versatile tools for harvesting deer humanely. With safety at the forefront of the regulation change, hunters now have a broader selection of modern firearms that meet the requirements for ethical deer hunting.


Whether you’re hunting with the highly popular .350 Legend, the hard-hitting .450 Bushmaster, or the classic .45-70 Government, these straight-walled cartridges deliver excellent performance for Iowa’s terrain and deer species. As hunting technology continues to evolve, Iowa’s regulations strike a balance between tradition, safety, and modern performance, ensuring that hunters can continue to enjoy their sport while managing wildlife responsibly.


We stock a variety of ammunition for breaking in your new hunting rifle, sighting in a scope, or taking into the field to bag your next deer. If we don't have what you're looking for, text and let us know what you'd like and we'll see if we can add it to our inventory for you! Explore our selection here.





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