What caliber rifle should I get for deer hunting?

I live in Virginia and am looking to buy a rifle to hunt deer. It seems the caliber for deer ranges from .243 to the 30-30 at the top end. I want something that will definitely kill the deer but won't blow my shoulder off at the same time so any suggestions would be appreciated.What caliber rifle should I get for deer hunting?
Before you buy a rifle, make sure you can use one in the area you'll hunt. Much of VA is shotgun only. If you're in such an area, a 20 ga will work great if you can use slugs; if buckshot is required, a 12 ga is the better choice. VA is an odd place...I hunted on Quantico a few years, which required slugs and forbade buckshot; right outside the gate it was the opposite, absolutely no slugs, had to buckshot only. Here's a list of local firearm ordinances that specify rifle/shotgun use for deer: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/reg鈥?/a>





If rifles are okay in your area you can't go wrong with any of the common and popular rifle cartridges, such as .243, 7mm-08, .30-30, etc. Even the more potent rounds such as .270, .308, .30-06, 7mm mag, etc, now have ';managed recoil'; loads available, so they are within reason too as long as you opt for a mid to heavy weight rifle and a good recoil pad.





VA whitetails aren't that big on average, so any of the lighter end rounds will work fine. More important is your ability to put a single shot into the vitals. Once there, even a .223 with a proper hunting bullet will work fine.What caliber rifle should I get for deer hunting?
Either the 243 or 30-30 should work. Neither will have the recoil to do serious damage to your shoulder. Since the type of rifle chamber for the 30-30 is limited, the choice might depend on what type of firearm you prefer. Most 30-30s are lever actions like the Winchester 94 or Marlin models.


The 243 is available in a variety of bolt, pump, and automatic actions from a variety of manufacturers. Either caliber is surely capable of taking deer, the range of the 243 might be a little longer due to a higher velocity projectile.


The most important aspect of either caliber is your ability to shoot accurately.
A lot depends on how far you expect to be shooting. If the area is hilly, wooded, or brushy, and you probably won't shoot over 150 yards or so, the .30-30 is hard to beat. The recoil is moderate, and you can get it in a lever action rifle or carbine reasonably cheap, and a 150 or 170 grain bullet will knock down any deer within range.


If you are going ot be hunting in a more wide-open area, and you might think about 200-300 yard shots, I'd go with a .243. It's a very flat-shooting, accurate round, and a well-placed shot will bring home the venison. Since the .243 shoots a lighter, smaller bullet, it can be deflected by brush more than the .30-30, but in a clean shot, it is still deadly.


You might also consider the .30-06. It's a very versatile caliber, and comes in a variety of loads and bullet weights to hunt anything from rabbits to elk. You can also get reduced recoil cartridges that still pack a wallop for the deer, but punish you less on the shoulder.


No matter which caliber you go with, remember to practice to get familiar with the gun and can hit what you aim at.
The middle of the deer calibers are great choices: 6.5x55, 260 Remington, 7mm08 and 7x57. Those are all well balanced and easy to shoot. There are lots of other choices, but it'll help to think of them as having some special characteristic for special circumstances.


In my youth, the only rifle I had for deer was 6mm Remington. I killed more deer with it than most people will kill in a lifetime. But it's a varmint cartridge that can be used on deer, not really a deer cartridge. Another of my smaller-bore rifles is 257 Roberts, but the same can pretty well be said of it. 280 Remington can be thought of as a longer 7mm for places where longer shots are the norm, but the difference is trivial; 270 is basically just a slightly smaller version of the same. 30-30 is a great woods caliber, though my favorite levergun is a bit larger; however, it limits what you do. The other larger bores (and I use several of them) are simply more than you need.


You'll get lots of ';my choice is the best choice'; answers here. I've been fooling with this stuff for a half century, own a pile of different calibers for the purpose, and have used even more, ranging up to the rather ridiculous 500 BPE. It's best not to be enamored of gee-whiz numbers and go for something well balanced unless you have a particular application in mind.
Zach-





I would suggest the .308 Winchester. Mainly because it pretty much gives you the most bang for the buck so to speak.





.270 is another fine cartridge. I am not convinced that .243 is going to do the job for you at range.





I see Virginia in your question, so I will assume White Tail, which are quite larger than out Black Tails out here in California, Oregon and Washington.





I chose .308 mainly for the ammunition availability, and the fact that on my range days I can shoot that old Military Surplus garbage and just have a good time.





So that maybe something you want to consider.





For my Deer Hunting expeditions, I normally choose a 147 Grain Winchester Power Point or any of the other factory products. My favorites are the Hornaday Products loaded with the Nosler A-Frame 160 Grain Bullets.





I tend to use these for Wild Boar hunting too, as this rifle sees both environments.





As for the recoil, you have nothing to fear from the .308. The shooter who mentioned the .30-06, you might want to reconsider accepting his answer. That is a pretty punchy cartridge.





As for looking for a flat shooting cartridge, then you need look no further than .270 Winchester. The only issue that I have with this cartridge, is the lack of bullet types available for it, and the fact that when you want to go to the range and just enjoy a day shooting, the ammunition is quite expensive.





Anyhow, good luck and happy shooting!
Well since you don't want bad recoil I'm not going to tell you to get a 7mm rem or 300 win. There's so much controversy saying that those two are too much rifle but their not. I really don't suggest a .243 they leave deer running all the time,but they do have no recoil. You want to definitely kill the deer. Go for a .270 or 30-06. They beat out the 30-30 and .243 by a mile. I would go for the 30-06 in your case.
any of the guns from a .243 to a 30-30 will kill a deer


a 243 doesn't have much recoil same with a 308


i've shot both and i own a 243 and my dad owns a 308- I'm 18, a girl and 5' 1 and i have no problem at all with the recoil from either gun.





any rifle but a .22 and a .223 will knock a deer down- it's all a matter of shot placement.


a .223 is illegal to hunt deer with in a LOT of states, i'm not sure if it's all states, i think it is tho


those 2 calibers are unethical to hunt with





but the calibers ranging from a .243 to a 30-30 will kill a deer, usually in one shot if your shot is a good one
A 270, 30-06, and 308 are all good choices for over 200yds. A 243 or 30-30 for under 200 yds. A 243 is a fast round but does not have the power like a 270 or 30-06 has above 200 yds. Then if it is windy, the bullet's accuracy can suffer greatly. But for calm days you can taget shoot over 200 yards with a 243. A 308 and 270 has less recoil than a 30-06.
depending of what conditions such as fields or woods.


i have a remington 270 and i love it. it drops the deer right away and it doesn't even kick.
I have a 270 and a 243 and ether one. Knocks deer down if hit properly. They don't kick to speak of and 200 yds plus is a very capable shot.
7mm-08.


cheap, accurate, depandable, low recoil, high devastation on the target.
.270 accurate and has some nice knockdown power without putting your shoulder out of socket each shot.
I have 270 cal Winchester and a 280 cal Remington and they both work great. I know people who have 30-30 from many different companies and they love them too. I would go 280 cal.
A .225 Winchester is good or you can also use a Wimchester M70
whatever you can shoot the best.
What range do you want to shoot deer at, if less than 150 yards then 30-30 wold do good but a 270 win would be better for shots of 200 yards +
30-30 and hit it behind the front leg so it tears.
i shot a 270 twice and it would kill the deer with no problem and it didnt hurt that ba. good luck picking a gun!!
30-06
.30-06
30-06 is a good deer hunting rifle
a 243 or a 30-06
.243
270. win shooting 130 grain, will kill deer out to 500 yards
50 caliber sniper rifle will take the limbs right off.