The idiots who write the regulations have little to no clue about firearms technology. And they won't unless people who do have such knowledge write to them, inform them and complain about it.
We run into the same ludicrous ignorance with the state game agencies. In PA, they recognize only centerfire, rim fire and muzzleloader guns for hunting large or small game. Anything else is taboo. No Ferguson flintlocks, not Greeners, No Burnsides, no percussion Sharps etc. No needle fire or pin fire rifles, No cap and ball revolvers, Not that they consciously chose to outlaw such weapons. The folks who wrote the laws and regulations were so wet behind the ears that they didn't realize those other types of firearms ever existed. They outlawed rim fires for large game, even though some rim fires (41 Swiss, 56 Spencer, 38 ExL Ballard) are far more powerful than many of the little centerfires that are legal for deer.
They illogically class two types of firearms by type of ignition, Centerfire and rim fire, and a third class where the gun loads. When a person points out that these classes can overlap, they go into defense mode. For instance, that some in-lines are also centerfire, or that some centerfire guns were built to be loaded from the muzzle as well, (Harry Pope's rifles) Some Flintlocks are also breech loaders (Ferguson)
The only way anything changes is by writing, informing and lobbying for change.
