I haved used both a 30-30 and a 243. I had no problems with either. Shots out to 150 yards are fine with the 30-30. Beyond that the 243 outshines it. The 243 has milder recoil than the 30-30. If you are worried about penetration on hogs with the 243 then use a tougher bullet like the TSX. You would have a hard time getting one of those to stop in a hog from any angle. But I have shot hogs with a 243 and standard cup and core lead tipped bullets. They all died. Large hogs can be tougher than deer especially the boars which develope a shield behind their shoulders. But that shield isn't bullet proof and I have killed even 200 lb hogs with a 22 magnum before. A 243 is hell and gone more powerful than that.