Deer hunting: cartridge question

[JustinCase]

Its been a long time since I last deer hunted, and that was with my brother-in-law, so Ill have more questions the closer it gets to 2014 season...


I know a 223 is forbidden, so I wont even go there...

The question is on the actual bullet.. can it be FMJ, or must it be HP?


That is all for now,
TIA..

JC

[JustinCase]

I also wanted to know about magazine restrictions... No, I dont intend on running a 30 rnd mag, but what ARE the limits?

JC

[OakRidgeStars]

General Info:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... eneral.asp
- Rifles used for deer or bear must be .23 caliber or larger.

Local firearms info:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... nances.asp

[BertMacklin]

I typically use fmj's, it with a big enough round, allows greater penetration on larger animals and as far as I know will help with a shot that runs into bone. There isn't anything wrong with non-expanding rounds its just a different wound.

[dmharvey]

A well-placed shot with either will do the trick. Good luck, know the rules/laws, and be safe!

[M1A4ME]

Are FMJ bullets legal for hunting in VA? Could be, I'm just used to folks getting all up in arms/upset when someone mentions hunting and FMJ bullets.

Personally, I have no issues/doubts that FMJ .308 or 30.06 will take care of deer, or that fmj .223 will take care of groundhogs or varmints. The idea is to take your time and make a good shot. I remember my dad telling me, more than once over the years, about deer he'd let go by him because he didn't feel he had a good shot.

Just make sure FMJ is legal if you intend to hunt with it and take your time to make a good shot.

[jdonovan]

The question is on the actual bullet.. can it be FMJ, or must it be HP?

I can't find anything specific, and might be mixing other states regulations. I recall that there is a regulation that the projectile must be of a type designed to expand on impact.

Whats published on VDGIF's web site, is not the full text of all of the regulations. So there may be a rule none of us specifically know, or can find.

If you want the answer from the person who is going to write the citation if you are doing it wrong, call your local game warden. I've called them a few times on things, that even they didn't know straight away and had to go to the big rule book, and we both learned something.

I also wanted to know about magazine restrictions

You can read anything you want while hunting. Oooo those magazines. VA has no cartridge capacity limits. HOWEVER there are federal regs for migratory species like waterfowl, doves, and some others that do have mag limits.

Personally, I have no issues/doubts that FMJ .308 or 30.06 will take care of deer,

There is a big difference between lethal now, and 20 min from now.

Do yourself and the game a favor, and please select an appropriate expanding projectile.

[Taggure]

I have found the following rounds to be execlent for hunting deer

Remington® Premier® Core-Lokt™ Ultra .308 Win.® 150 or 180 Grain

http://www.remington.com/products/ammun ... rfire.aspx


308 Winchester 168 Grs. gr. Ballistic Silvertip

http://www.winchester.com/Products/rifl ... T308A.aspx


Both are very good rounds for deer IMHO

Vern

[JustinCase]

Ive "read" the regs, so just linking to them for me to re-read, does not offer any clarification, so I thank the others that simplified the answer for my understanding.


I had read once that expanding bullets were required, but I was not sure if that applied to VA, again... thank you for the clarification.

I had also read that a weapon had a cartridge capacity limit during hunting, again... not sure if that applied to VA, thank you for the clarification.

For hunting, I am pretty set on the Core-Lokt cartridge, but wanted to know if FMJ was permissible... As I understand, either is acceptable by regs, but up to the hunter to choose.

JC

[Viper21]

Ive "read" the regs, so just linking to them for me to re-read, does not offer any clarification, so I thank the others that simplified the answer for my understanding.


I had read once that expanding bullets were required, but I was not sure if that applied to VA, again... thank you for the clarification.

I had also read that a weapon had a cartridge capacity limit during hunting, again... not sure if that applied to VA, thank you for the clarification.

For hunting, I am pretty set on the Core-Lokt cartridge, but wanted to know if FMJ was permissible... As I understand, either is acceptable by regs, but up to the hunter to choose.

JC

...

[cpttango30]

I would shy away from FMJ rounds because expansion is unreliable. As for hollow point bullets. Depends on what they are. A Sierra Matchking is not NOT a hunting bullet. They are not designed to work on animals they are designed to punch holes in paper. A Sierra HP Gameking is made to work on game animals. Barns also makes hollow point hunting bullets as do others.

I myself am a Hornady shooter so I use Hornady interbond for all my big game loads. For my 6.5x57mm I use the 129gr Interbonds, for my 308 and 30-06 I use the 150gr Interbonds.

[karmassassin]

Nosler tips are awesome if you're willing to pay a little extra for them.

[Oakes]

I hunt with a pistol mostly for deer. Even with a .44 180 GR HP the spray out the other side is about three feet if inside 20 yrds. Now with a rifle I would bet you would also want to have all that energy remain in the animal and not fly though and maybe hit something unintended or someone. So maybe a HP is the way to go unless you shoot long distance. IMHO