I think it depends where you are hunting. If you are in the brush/woods most of the time and your shots are under 150 yards there is nothing wrong with the 30.30. In fact i would argue it being so compact, lightweight etc.. makes it a great choice. I still see plenty of them around here in the midwest. If you will be mixing it up with some field hunting, long range etc.. i think the .243 is better. The one BIG problem i have with the .243 in the woods in that if you hit the slightest of twigs that bullet is gone. Now that will happen with any bullet, but the .30 bullet will hold better and you MAY not miss what you are shooting at. I agree above the .243 is about minimum for deer IMO.. That doesn't mean i am right, but just the sheer size of the bullet (yes, i know about the energy it carries) sticks out at me as being on the edge of being too small.

Well the 30-30 has stomped more game in the ground than any other caliber out there(inside the usa). Outside of the 30-06 there is no other caliber in that class range. 150yds? No problem for either gun to take down a deer if the bullet is placed where it supposed to be. I just don't see the basis of the contest.

Two problems i see with these discussions are, "book energy" always enters the discussion, and "few" seem to understand it's the bullet choise that's most important NOT the cal.. "If" i can choose the gun, and the bullet that will be used in the 30/30, i'd take it over the .243 and not look back!! (under 150 yd shots)

Many times a person chooses one cal over the other because of "paper energy!! Many other times a cal gets a bad rap because of the gun it's chambered in!! I choose what cal that has worked the best for me in the field, NOT what it says will happen in a book some place!!

I've shot more game animials with a .243 win, than with a 30/30, but when Federal started loading Nosler partitions in the 30/30 it took that round up a few notches in my book!!!

A 788 Remington chambered in 30/30 loaded with Federal NP's would be one heck of a deer rifle out to 150 yards!!!

Drilling Man

...WITH OUT ANY DOUBT......30-30... I JUST DONT LIKE A 243 CALIBER
FOOR DEER...

Though I have taken many deer in my day, I don't pursue them anymore (meat don't taste too good and I find them boring). Compared to the larger ungulates of NA, they are much easier to kill, so I guess it isn't too critical.

30-30 or 243? I'll have to defer to the judgment of others on that one! I never hunted them with anything that light, 270 being the smallest/least powerful that I have used for deer.

30-30 is a fun plinker (from my teen age days) and 243/6mm is awesome on prairie dogs especially out over 250 yards.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM