I have a 243 win in a bolt , a pump and a lever action ,what I don't have is a 30-30 . 243 would be my choice .

i have shot the 30-30win and used to own one. i persoannly would liike the " flatter shooting caliber " better. even though the 30-30win does still do it hands down

The .243!! At ANY range! Plus it is much easier to hit the exact spot with!! Just use the right bullets in it!

Totally agree Akbound. Alot less bloodshot meat. Guess I got to go kill another deer so I can get more meat. 30-30 kills alot of deer. I have killed alot with a 30-30. When I was 12 to 17, I did lose a few. Maybe it was my inexperience, or maybe my laziness of really looking for blood. Who knows, it was 20 year ago. But the only gun I lose anything with these days is my muzzleloader. Fall2003, I lost a doe. Looked and looked, and couldn't find blood. But did harvest 5 with it later. I just made my mind up, 2" groups or not at 100 yards, if the deer isn't within 40 yards with my muzzleloader, he walks.

rybohunter, one important thing to keep in mind when considering different cartridges is their taylor factor...the .243 carries more energy, but it's also got a considerably smaller and lighter bullet...the energy transfer is more rapid (regardless of the bullet's velocity), both of them are capable of creating a hydrostatic shockwave, however, the bigger the bullet, the bigger the wave it can initiate with the same velocity...

I.e. jump into a pool off a 5' dive, do a cannon ball, you're a great big bullet not going very fast (relatively), you get a great big wave that can travel a long way before dissipating, now jump off a 10' dive and dive in, you're a small bullet going much faster, even if you spread your legs and arms as much as you can upon impact, you're not going to get much of a wave...the initial wave is what counts, transfer of energy, not raw energy.

Raw energy provided mostly bullet weight doesn't dissipate as quickly when a medium change occurs, i.e. a heavy bullet doesn't lose as much energy when it changes from a light medium (air) to a dense medium (liquid-which living tissue tends to act like in a "physics" sense), Even photons (light) change velocity when changing medium (ever been spear fishing).

The taylor factor on the .30-30 isn't huge, but it's certainly more than on the .243, and the dependance of energy on bullet weight is much greater than that of the .243.

Kinetic energy=1/2(mass)(velocity)^2, one half mass times velocity squared, so if you cut your velocity in half, you reduce your energy to one quarter, if you reduce your mass by half, your energy only cuts in half...so if your mass contribution is more prominent, your velocity changes won't matter much, whereas if your mass is small and your energy is mostly dependant on velocity, when your bullet slows down, it sheds a LOT of energy.

Hi bigcountry,

I think you hit the nail "dead on the head" on that last one. Knowing yourself, and knowing your weapon, is what really makes the difference! And the hunters that follow that dictum......seldom have problems.

And hopefully when we share experiences on these forums....we also share those lessons. I know.....I'm still learning too. I figure the day I got it all figured out.....I must have died the preceeding night.........

Dave

No truer statement could ever be made!

Ak, you've hit on my biggest pet peeve on these discussions!
I am just not a fan of the 30-30, and even less a fan of any .22 centerfires used on deer! Thats just my .02, and thats about all its worth too!
If a person knows their weapons limitations and it is legal where they are hunting, then I'd say go for it!

However, I think that when we use our own experience to recommend the 30-30 and especially the .22's to folks on this board, who we have no way of knowing their capabilities, we are doing them and the game a great dis-service!

That is why I am so adamantly against these calibers when I write on this board!
So, please forgive me guys! If you are good with these calibers and they are legal, I support your right to use them! Just remember when you are recommending these guns to someone else here, we just don't know their capabilities!

Nomercy,

You are absolutely correct in your formula for Kinetic energy, (K=1/2 MASS x VELOCITY squared) We substitute weight for velocity.

However, I think of this opposite from you. By reading the formula, one can see that the weight of the bullet is less important to the energy because to begin with, you immediately cut the weight in half. (1/2 MASS)
But, for velocity, you multiply the speed by itself, (velocity squared). If you plug in the weight and speed of a 30-30 bullet (Say 150 gr.) in this formula, and do the same for a .243 bullet of say 100 grains, the outcome in energy is very different. Try it, I just did along with my 8th grade pre-algebra class. The students, (especially the boys who hunt) found it amazing that the .243 bullet had more energy.

You could substitute the 170 grain bullet for the 30-30, but then the velocity is even less which hurts its over all energy even more.

I understand that as the heavier bullet travels, it retains its velocity better, but it doesn't start to make any difference until after 200 yards or so. I don't think many use the 30-30 much after 200 yards, but the .243 is still flying "flat."

The .243 is not only the most incredibly underrated cartridge for deer hunting in existance, but is superior in every way to the pld 30-30.
1. It shoots much flatter than the 30-30
2. The very edge of the 30-30's range is around 150-175 yards, where the .243 is just getting warmed up
3. barring spine shots, in my experience, the .243 puts deer down alot faster than .30 calibers, including the 30-06 if you use proper bullets.
4. shot placement is critical whether you are using a .22 or a .458 magnum, .243 rifles are usually bolt actions that are in general much more accurate than the lever actions chambered in 30-30.
5. if you ever decide to use your rifle for other things such as varmints or long range shots at pronghorns, the .243 can do it, while the 30-30 is pretty much only good for short range big game hunting.

would the 243win be a decent round for taking a big decent sized maien buck under 100yds? i never owned one.
i think the 30-03win with-out optics would be a fine caliber out to 75yds. these new trigger poundage settings on marln and winchester are horrible which is one reason why i hate the new lever action's
th278 even wit the ruger deefield rifle you have i think it would be a fine caliber for your shots on those berrs you where gonna take them out with.
BTW.. did you ever get to take a blackie with that ruger deer field yet?