Large Game Hunting - Virginia

[Meth0d]

I am wanting to get into large game hunting (primarily deer) in Virginia and am wondering if people have suggestions on what gun to use. I currently own a couple Daniel Defense ARs but I will need a caliber of .23 or larger per Virginia law.

I have been leaning towards purchasing a Remington 700 in .243 and I cannot find anything that says I should do otherwise.

[Littlelebowski]

I am wanting to get into large game hunting (primarily deer) in Virginia and am wondering if people have suggestions on what gun to use. I currently own a couple Daniel Defense ARs but I will need a caliber of .23 or larger per Virginia law.

I have been leaning towards purchasing a Remington 700 in .243 and I cannot find anything that says I should do otherwise.

Nothing wrong with your choice.

[Stangman]

I've seen what damage a .243 will do up close & personal & it will flat out do the job. I'd look at one in .308 though, simply because ammo availability & pricing. Either way you'll be gtg.

[Littlelebowski]

The .243 can be handloaded to win 1k yard matches and does just about everything a .260 does. I'd get the .243 but won't say a 700 in .308 is a bad choice as I have one myself.

[Dano5326]

The VA I'm familiar with is thick woodland. Not sure you'd need the legs of a .243, but a nice round. A 44 lever gun or a 6.8 upper would be my choice inside of 150

[Littlelebowski]

A 6.8 would be great. Really, there's a lot of choices. A 30-30 would damned sure do the job too as would a decently accurate AK.

[Meth0d]

The reason I was straying away from an upper was that I am attending a hunting trip to Anticosti island in Quebec next year and I don't want to screw around with their AR regulations.

[SHIVAN]

So many choices...

6.8
300 Blk
6.5
308
300 Fireball
243
7.62R

If you want a Rem700 in 243, do it and don't worry about it.

If you want an AR based hunting rig, I would say the 300 Blk would be a perfect fit for someone already an "AR guy".

I would also say that if you are doing a Rem 700, I would just get the 308 and have a more versatile setup, with a more robust selection of ammo from everywhere. The 243 will do it, but the 308 has more going for it overall.

[sinister]

Either 243 or 308 will take Virginia white-tails. Northern deer tend to grow a bit bigger/heavier, but the 243 will flat-out work.

I'd bet you can probably find a nice, used Remington 700 for not too ridiculous a price.

[ImBroke]

The reason I was straying away from an upper was that I am attending a hunting trip to Anticosti island in Quebec next year and I don't want to screw around with their AR regulations.

Will you be hunting the same sized animals up there, or something bigger? Might affect caliber choice.