Here is my advice, If you are like most of the deer hunters around here ,You will get your rifle out 1 week before season shoot 5 or 6 rounds at 100 yards call it good then try to shoot at a running deer 400 yards off and wonder if your scope is off come to my house get on the bench shoot 5 or 6 rounds then try it agin. What I am trying to say if you arent willing to spend the time shooting a 30-30 will be all the long range rifle you will need.Most of the men I have hunted with come to my range and second guess my 200 yard target for a 300 yard target. Its very important to make sure when you say long range you are really shooting long range.

About the .243 having to have follow up shots. I would guess that the first round wasnt where it was ment to be or it wound of put them down. All bullets wont travel a line though an animal the same So dont judge one shot from a rifle to determine weather its good or bad. May just have been a bad shot or bad angle.