We cannot deer hunt with real rifles in Indiana, which is a good thing based on my experience with hunters on neighboring properties. Indiana did approve pistol cartridge rifles a couple years ago and I definately prefer by 44-mag bolt-action Ruger over my single-shot H&R bull barrel 12-gauge (it will gather dust now). The Hornaday Lever Evolution ammo with the plastic tips sure tightened up the group at 100 yards. I do not preditor hunt, although I've taken out a few yotes, so I have not invested in a varmint gun. I just use my 22. I was told that .17 HMR was less likely to bounce on water due to fragmentation (and that fragmnets lose energy real quick). Not that their 100% safe, just less risk of traveling very far after the bounce.
