RE: .243 vs. 30-30
I would have to say for deer they are both good but for bear I would use a 30-30. I own a .243 and it is a great little gun, I shot a deer with it last fall and it killed it were it stood. And then about a month ago I called in and shot my first coyote with it. I bought the .243 because I wanted a gun that I could use for predators and deer and it does great on both.