.243 vs. 30-30
#121
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
Seems to be some 30-30 fans here. Has anyone tried playing with them at the reloader? Factory loads are pretty tame so they don't blow up the ancient lever guns. If you were using a 30-30 without a tubular magazine the number of bullet types you could use is large. It seems to me that there may be a lot of potential for the 30-30 with a change in gun action and some reloads. As to the question at hand, the .243 is definitely the better all-around caliber, but is prone to brush deflections (even little twigs you can't see). That is the one place that 30-30's excel. As to the .243 being a "varmint gun", unless you count the Alaskan Moose hanging on my buddy's wall as a varmint, you're wrong! His horse fell on his .338 (bent the scope) so he used his .243 to punch the moose thru the shoulders. It dropped in its tracks.
#122
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clifton Park New York USA
Posts: 367
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
In each case, there's limitations for the round in question. If I was in an area where I could get that 250-yard to 300-yard shot, I'd carry a .243, but I'd shoot it a lot to make darned sure that I could hit where I wanted to with it. Where I hunt deer, near Willsboro Bay of Lake Champlain of NY, you don't get those shots. You do get 50- to 75-yard shots, though, and the old .30-30 is just fine for those situations. I'd hazard a guess and say that the .30-30 has killed far more deer than any other cartridge--maybe all the others combined.
#123
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 338
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.
#124
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western PA
Posts: 1,356
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
I'd take the 243 a 30-30 is a 200yd gun at max with a good shooter and a good rest. 30-30's arnt accurate enough nor do they have enuff power past 200yds and where i hunt a 300yd shot is a possibility. I've shot both and killed deer with a 243 though i do not currently own one because i have a 6mm and trust me as long as i own that i dont plan on shooting any of those guns. lol
#125
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
Well, for personal protection, hunting bear, close range deer hunting I would take a .30/30 any day. For shots 150 yards and on I would use my .243 . Killed a dear lastseason with a .243, so I know whatit is capable of. But most people forget that shot placement is also critical, no matter what game you hunt. Now the.30/30 and .243 have both been around long before my time, I use and respect both, and both have their places. Personally,if I did have to choose one of em tho, I'd say .30/30. There aint no way I'm gonna make a 200+ shot, nvr tried it on paper, and dont have the range to try it at, so I'm a short range hunter. I just dont feel I couldhit something at that range,plain and simple.I just dont understand how back in the 1800's mountain men with single shot muzzleloaders could down grizzlys, moose, elk, deer,buffaloetc. left and right, then here we come along with .30/30s moving bullets around 2000 fpsand say we dont have enough power to down the same game. Oh well, I guess thats just the way it is. Also, I hope noone took offense, and I am trully sorry for any upheaval I may have caused or any toes that may have been stepped on. I just had to put in my .02 cents, thanks and God Bless!
#127
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 192
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
ORIGINAL: Georgian
Well, for personal protection, hunting bear, close range deer hunting I would take a .30/30 any day. For shots 150 yards and on I would use my .243 . Killed a dear last season with a .243, so I know what it is capable of. But most people forget that shot placement is also critical, no matter what game you hunt. Now the .30/30 and .243 have both been around long before my time, I use and respect both, and both have their places. Personally, if I did have to choose one of em tho, I'd say .30/30. There aint no way I'm gonna make a 200+ shot, nvr tried it on paper, and dont have the range to try it at, so I'm a short range hunter. I just dont feel I could hit something at that range, plain and simple. I just dont understand how back in the 1800's mountain men with single shot muzzleloaders could down grizzlys, moose, elk, deer, buffalo etc. left and right, then here we come along with .30/30s moving bullets around 2000 fps and say we dont have enough power to down the same game. Oh well, I guess thats just the way it is. Also, I hope noone took offense, and I am trully sorry for any upheaval I may have caused or any toes that may have been stepped on. I just had to put in my .02 cents, thanks and God Bless!
Well, for personal protection, hunting bear, close range deer hunting I would take a .30/30 any day. For shots 150 yards and on I would use my .243 . Killed a dear last season with a .243, so I know what it is capable of. But most people forget that shot placement is also critical, no matter what game you hunt. Now the .30/30 and .243 have both been around long before my time, I use and respect both, and both have their places. Personally, if I did have to choose one of em tho, I'd say .30/30. There aint no way I'm gonna make a 200+ shot, nvr tried it on paper, and dont have the range to try it at, so I'm a short range hunter. I just dont feel I could hit something at that range, plain and simple. I just dont understand how back in the 1800's mountain men with single shot muzzleloaders could down grizzlys, moose, elk, deer, buffalo etc. left and right, then here we come along with .30/30s moving bullets around 2000 fps and say we dont have enough power to down the same game. Oh well, I guess thats just the way it is. Also, I hope noone took offense, and I am trully sorry for any upheaval I may have caused or any toes that may have been stepped on. I just had to put in my .02 cents, thanks and God Bless!
#129
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 776
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
ORIGINAL: BowtechPatroit27
Thats because you don't know how to shoot a gun!
Thats because you don't know how to shoot a gun!
#130
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2
RE: .243 vs. 30-30
quote:Virginia7
Just curious, how did you come to that conclusion? As best I can recall, I don't know anyone in McKinney, TX. so I doubt if you know my background/training, and I'm pretty sure we've never gone out to the range together someplace. Or, is this just another case of some Texan shootin' off his mouth from behind his/her computer?
First. Iam only posting a thread because you and BowtechPatroit27 need to have an attitude check. There is know reason to be jerks. And not every budy in Texas are a** holes, nor do we have big mouths(unless your easting texmex). Every caliber has its pro's and con's.243(5rounds) and 30-30(7-8rounds) are both excelent deer rifles, forbeari dont know, i hope i never run into one, but if i did i would use my M1A(20rounds) . You also have to remember most Win 94's are 16-20inch. 243 bolt actions usualy have 20-28 barrles and more rifling, wich helps keep the bullit stable. Hince part of the reason why 243's do as good as they do.
Thank you.
Just curious, how did you come to that conclusion? As best I can recall, I don't know anyone in McKinney, TX. so I doubt if you know my background/training, and I'm pretty sure we've never gone out to the range together someplace. Or, is this just another case of some Texan shootin' off his mouth from behind his/her computer?
First. Iam only posting a thread because you and BowtechPatroit27 need to have an attitude check. There is know reason to be jerks. And not every budy in Texas are a** holes, nor do we have big mouths(unless your easting texmex). Every caliber has its pro's and con's.243(5rounds) and 30-30(7-8rounds) are both excelent deer rifles, forbeari dont know, i hope i never run into one, but if i did i would use my M1A(20rounds) . You also have to remember most Win 94's are 16-20inch. 243 bolt actions usualy have 20-28 barrles and more rifling, wich helps keep the bullit stable. Hince part of the reason why 243's do as good as they do.
Thank you.