RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

There is a lot more to "stopping power" or "killing power" than energy alone. Most +P 38 special loads have more energy than a 45 ACP, but most of us wouldn't argue the 38 special is a better stopper. I'm not a 30-30 fan either, but within the shorter ranges I'd still prefer a comparable 30-30 over a .243. By comparable I mean a nice bolt with similar accuracy levels. When you get to the more power 30 calibers, they leave the .243 in the dust (of course this wasn't the original posters question).

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

diyj98,
You do bring up a good point with the more power comment. I think he would be better off with a .270, .308, 7mm-08, or '06. They all BASICALLY shoot just as flat as the .243 and have more energy than both the 30-30 and the .243.

Of course, he may be choosing between those two because of their light recoil.

MH

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

Guys, we are talking about deer here? Right? Not a tyansouris Rex? Not a rhino? I guess as a bow hunter mainly, any gun going over 2000 fps with 120gr bullet or bigger, is just overkill. Just a moot point when using any gun that is legal. Deer do some amazing stuff. But I rarely see any that arn't recoverable if hit thru both lungs and/or heart. The stuff I didn't recover as a kid, who know where I hit em to be honest. But saying things are not adequate or whatever kinda makes alot of serious bowhunters laugh.

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

Yup, without a problem.



It cracks me up whenever people break open their ballistics books and knockdown index charts when caliber discussions come up- its usually used as a substitute for actually testing the cartridge on real live game. The 30-30 works and is more than adequate, but in reality is just an outdated cartridge compared to what's available now. Nothing wrong with using an outdated cartridge for nostalgia's sake, but I think people try to justify as something better than it really is because their grandpappy used it for deer, so it must be the best deer cartridge.

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

Outdated?...Grandpappy!?
My goodness, am I starting to feel old. My kids probably think 36 years old is ancient, but I bet I might be on the mid to lower end of the age scale on this board.
I too am tempted to look at ballistic tables, and feel my lowly old Marlin won't penetrate the thin skin of a whitetail deer but then I come to my senses and just go put meat in the freezer.
I do have a .270 and my wife and daughter shoot a .243, but in the woods, I don't see the need to carry the .270, and it seems I am always in the woods.

I reject the idea that it takes some skilled hunter to be successful with a 30-30. Open sights might be different, but my rifle scoped is as accurate as I can hold it.

Another notion that seems to predominate this board is that you can expect a deer to go right down every time every shot with the new "up to date" cartridges. When I hear this, it usually is the first sign hunting experience is lacking.

C. Davis

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

C.Davis- I'm not knocking the 30-30 as being anything near inadequate, its just outdated. I happen to hunt with a .50 flintlock which is even more outdated. It would be absurd for me to tout the flintlock as being superior to a cartridge rifle or even inline muzzleloader for that matter.

I was just trying to make a case for the .243 being more versatile to the 30-30 just as a 30-30 is much more versatile compared to my flintlock.:)

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

Unless you are using premium bullets or will only take perfectly broadside shots, I would choose the 30-30 for shots less than 150 yds. I've seen a number of bullet failures with non-premium bullets in 243. As a result, penetration can be an issue on quartering shots if premium bullets aren't used. On the other hand, the penetration of the 30-30 slugs, particularly the 170s, are dead reliable. If you are limited to perfectly broadside lung shots, in my experience, the 243 will kill faster. Throw a shoulder bone in with non-premium bullets and all bets are off!

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

Now ya'll went and did it.......give me a .25-20 and leave me alone!;)

Dave

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

Briman,
I also have a .50 sidelock, except mine is percussion. I shoot it more than any of my guns just for the pleasure of it. During the long season here in Texas, I often hunt with it.

None of the guns we are talking about are "marginal" deer cartridges. The .243, 30-30, and even the .50 cal. muzzleloader are all proven, and time tested. Is the .243 more versatile than the 30-30? Sure, if you are talking downrange. But, inside of 150 yds. the 150 or 170 gr. .30 cal. bullet shines as it always has.

One thing I like about the .243 and 30-30 is the 'shootability'. of both. When I was a kid, I had a daisy BB gun that I shot so often, I could literally almost never miss the can I was shooting at. Of course, I learned at what distance I started missing, and I stayed within the limitations of the little one pump gun. The reason I almost never missed the can is because I developed a confidence in myself and the gun. I think that is the secret to success in whatever gun you shoot.

I think if you called Marlin, or Winchester and told them that the 30-30 is outdated, they could address that far better than I could. I'm afraid it is here to stay... Well actually, I'm delighted.

C. Davis

RE: Inside of 150 yds: 30-30 or 243?
 

The good ol 243 30-30 debate. Ive heard this one before. Well here's my take on it. The 30-30 although capeable of taking deer in my opinion isn't a great choice. If you are hunting in thick timber or thick brush and your shots will be close then the 30-30 isn't a bad cartridge. But ive seen deer shot with a 243 because i shoot one and ive seen deer my sister has shoot with a 30-30 and ill deffinatelly stick with the old 243. The 243 has more energy knocks a deer off of it's feet fast and has minimum recoil. How many other guns do u know that u can shoot a deer with at 350 yards that doesnt kick?? Although the choice remains yours u wont see me toating a 30-30 anytime soon. My good ol 243 will be thrown over my shoulder for many years to come! ;)