Get yourself some Remington softpoints. They can be hard to find, but the trajectory is very different than military loads and you can't hunt (at least in VA) with "ball" ammo. I used a No 5 Jungle Carbine for hunting for a little while. Deadly accurate and only weighed around 6 lbs. I love the peep sights, but don't believe the "range" markings. At least with hunting ammo they were all off.

I have a No 4 Mk 1 that I would also use for hunting but I just got it so haven't had a chance to see how it shoots with commercial hunting ammo.

For about 50 years more big game was taken in Africa with the 303 than any other caliber. It is fine for any North American game animal.

I also like my Yugo Mauser with the same Remington Softpoints in 8mm. That is still my standard deer rifle, even if the sights are terrible. Though I may got back to the jungle carbine because I am hunting higher up the mountain now.

Chubber