Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Greetings! The wife and I are trying to buy some property in Buckingham County and moving down from MD. We're very excited about the prospect of moving to a state that still respects individual liberty.

Looking to get a big chunk of land, and naturally intend to do some shooting, safely of course. Can anyone school me on any relevant restrictions on ownership and/or discharge in Buckingham County? Seems like the CCW process is pretty straightforward down there as well?

Thanks for any info you guys (and girls) can provide.

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have some nice plans. Good luck!

In VA, there are some State Preemption laws restricting what county or local agencies can legally restrict. There may be more than what I am linking, but this should get you started.

This is the State code...
https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp50 ... d+15.2-915

Most county rules seem to be "hunting" related more than anything else. Here is a link to the Buckingham County Firearms Ordinance...
http://www.buckinghamcountyva.org/count ... 0-2005.pdf

Buckingham County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing regarding Rifle Hunting Ordinance, March 26, 2013
http://www.buckinghamcountyva.org/Board ... 0rifle.pdf

2014 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/HUNTING/re ... nances.pdf

Thanks for the quick links! I must be dense, though... after reading through the ordinance I have to admit I'm still not sure what the law is.

to the club.

Welcome

LOL! Yea, they are never really very clear. I guess that's why lawyers make so much. Legalease is like a different language.

Of course, I am not a lawyer, but from what I gather, the only restrictions on ownership anywhere in VA is that there are 2 fully automatic shotguns that are not legal to posses. Also, there is a big no-no for "Sawed-off" shotguns and "Sawed-off" rifles (not to be confused with legal SBR's and tactical shotguns). Outside of that, if its legal federally, you are good to go at the state level.

As far as the county specifically goes, the only limits I could find (linked above) were specific to hunting. Unless there is more information about the local firearms laws that I did not see, it should fall inline with the VA state laws.

I would recommend checking this thread too. Lots of good info about VA state laws.
http://vagunforum.net/virginia-laws/cod ... ws-t2.html

Yeah, I didn't see anything about discharge mentioned but did notice the new first sentence from the Buckingham County Firearms Ordinance:

"It shall be unlawful to have a loaded center-fire rifle of any caliber .23 or larger except while hunting from a stand elevated ten feet above the ground."

Which seems to prohibit mere possesion of a rifle larger than .23 caliber, whereas the previous incarnation stated (much more clearly IMO):

"The use of any center-fire rifle caliber .23 or larger for deer hunting purposes shall only be lawful from a stand elevated at least ten feet above the ground."

Still a bit confused if that applies only to hunting or to possession as well.

Well, we're under contract now. Looks like we'll soon be VA residents!

Couple of other questions for anyone in the Scottsville area... what are the decent ranges near by? Anything long range? Also, who are the active High Power clubs in the area?

Thanks!

the rifle laws are just for hunting. a lot of county's in Virginia do not allow hunting with rifles.

Welcome to VGOF!

It's about 16 miles but I would say the Rivanna Rifle and Pistol club for indoor pistol ranges, skeet and trap ranges, 300 yd rifle, plinking, action pistol, and bow ranges. It would, sort of, be on your way to Charlottesville.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Scottsv ... d37.968087

Contact me if you would like to see the place sometime. I'm a member.

GloCoKyle wrote:the rifle laws are just for hunting. a lot of county's in Virginia do not allow hunting with rifles.

In most cases, its seasonal, depends what and where you are hunting. For instance, in Prince William, its illegal to hunt anything with a rifle larger than a .22 and muzzle loaders, regardless of the season or what you are hunting for. However, in Fauqier, I can hunt for coyote or wild boar year round with my M4 and a 30 round mag, my .308 DMR or my .40 S&W pistol.

On the flip side, you can only hunt with a firearm for deer on government land with a single shot muzzle loader from November 1 to Jan 3, and only in counties that approve hunting with rifles or approve hunting with rifles larger than .22.

It can get pretty confusing to try to remember every limit, for every species, for every county on private vs. public land. You are best off reviewing the hunting and trapping regulations annually to figure out what you would like to hunt and where, then focus on the restrictions for where you want to go.

This is your best resource...
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/Hunting/regulations/