Dean, I just bought a Tikka 243 with a synthic stock and I love this gun, it was fairly inexpensive, and it has and adjustable trigger. I have always hunted with my 30.06 and 308 and to be honest they are more gun than I need to hunt in MN with the average weight of deer in the 100-200Lb range. The 243 is a FUN Gun to shoot! Ammo is priced right and easly avaible. For hunting the worst thing you can do is flinch! And I know this from experience, get the 243 and don't look back.

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.

The 243 is superior to the 30/30 for all applications.

I'll second that!

X3!!!!!!!!!!

i'd choose the 30-30

I would choose the 30-30 as well.. But i am impartial to them concidering that is all the rifle i have hunted with for the last 34 years with. i do choose the marlin over the winchesters anyday though.. The 243 does have more range and is flatter shooting so it would also depend on the kind of are you are hunting in as well.. Wide open vurses woods and brush.. Also if it is so far away I need a tri-pod to help hold the rifle steady why am I shooting at it?