30-30 Lmao
 

Some old fool at the local range was telling me a 30-30 is better for deer than a .243 what do all you people think.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I know that you will get some flak over this, but I'll take the .243 with good 100gr. hunting bullets, any day of the week!

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

30-30 has better penetration and would probably perform better with a poor shot or one that had to penetrate the shoulder or an odd angle. The 243 is better for longer range shots and drops them better than a 30-30 if a rib shot is made.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I don't really have any hard evidence on which to base this fantastic claim, but I'd venture to guess that the 30-30 Win. has killed more deer than just about any other cartridge.

There's absolutely nothing wrong wth 30-30 as a deer hunting gun. There are many a hunter who harvested his first deer with a Marlin or 1894 in that chamber.

I'd take a 30-30 over a .243 for deer, in the Win. model 1894 based on the history of that gun alone.

A .243 might have an edge at long range, but in tight quarters or thickets, a 30-30 would perform markedly better.

I don't even own a 30-30, if that's what you're thinking. (I have a .32 w.s. lever action circa-1945 that has had no problem taking down whitetails)

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I'd take the 30-30 any day

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I have bagged more deer with the 30-30 without having to chase or track them. I do respect its range however. 200 yards is about max and then only with a good scope. What the 30-30 lacks in speed to the 243, it makes up for with bullet weight. IMO. I consider both about a 200 yard max deer gun. They would be easier to hit at long range with the 243. But I have seen many run away at that range.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

cany hunt with rifles in ohio so i dont know. my pick would be my trusty 12 gauge

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

A lot of us old fools have shot a lot of deer with the old 30-30. Up here in MI, the 30-30 still works pretty good....... If I am carrying my old 30-30, and a deer shows himself within 100yds, he better be scared.;)

Erik

Rusty Axe Camp

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

In NH, where I lived for 37 years, a 30/30 was the ideal deer gun. The vast majority of shots were less than 75 yds, and many under 50 yds, in pretty thick cover. Under these conditions you're better off with a 30/30.

In open land where you'll regularly shoot over 100 yds, the 243 is better, but the 30/30 is plenty good to 150.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I'd say the old fool knows more than the young fool he was talking to.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

i much rather have the weight of the 30-30 then the speed of the 243....never killed a deer with either....just what i like....though my buddy killed 2 deer at about 550yds with a 243....and many past 200....something the 30-30 can only dream of doing....just drops way to fast and looses energy too fast....but for normal deer hunting id say the 30-30 has the edge....

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

243 is good but the 30-30 is also for brush

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Couldn't pass up on this one. I've killed quite a few deer with a 30-30, and seen first hand what a 243 will do also.

I believe a 30-30 wins hands down in this battle inside of about 75 yds. From 75 yds to about 125 yds, they are equal. And beyond 125 yds, the 243 really has the advantage over the 30-30.

Max range with a scoped 30-30 should be about 200 yds. A scoped 243 is a solid 300 yard deer rifle.

A 243 puts a lot more shock blood around the wound channel, and leaves better blood trails also.

I think any factory 30-30 ammo is great for deer. I think the 243 really shines with winchester's 100 gr nosler partition.

Generally deer run from 0 to 50 yds after being hit by either, with more "drop them in their track shots" at the ranges I listed above.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Between the two, I would pick the .243. Shot placement is what counts. Very capable bullet, especially at a longer distance.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

All depends on who's shootin' it!

I've got a lot of good long range rifles (25-06, 270' 6mm, 30-06, etc)
but I shoot most of my deer with a Marlin lever action carbine in 44 magnum.....and it just has iron sights. It's light, handy, and points quick in the woods....and I still like to hunt in the woods.

Clint

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

When I moved here to the mountains of E. TN, I retired my .243 to the gun safe and bought a .35 Remington. I was lookin for a .30-30, but this rifle was available for the right price. :)

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I killed my first 4 deer with a Winchester 30-30, don't care for a 243 unless hunting for yotes. However, for years now I prefer my 30.06 for Whitetail deer. ;):)

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I'd have to take the .30-30. I killed my first deer with a pre-64 model 94. I was hunting in some thick woods and that buck was running like a locamotive quartering away at a pretty bad angle. The type of shot that hunter education classes brainwash you into not taking. Well, that buck dressed out at 185lbs and sported an 8 point rack with an 18 1/2 inch inside spread. It was a marginal shot as I hit him in the hind quarter. The bullet penetrated through the femural artery and exited out the ribs on the other side. He didn't go far, but I wonder if I would have had the same results with a .243?

Mr. .45-70

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

With a premium bullet i bet the 243 would have performed equal to the 30-30. A 243 is a solid 300yd deer rig with the right shooter behind it. In the woods though with shots 100yds or less i would opt for the 30-30. But for the kind of hunting i do which is mainly field edges the 243 would be a superior rig for my purposes!

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

for shots 150yds or less i would go with the 30-30 but over that distance the 243 would take over so it depends on the range you intend on shooting deer at. ;)

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I would bet that the 30-30 has killed more deer than any other cartridge, also. I have one with iron sights I used to take my first deer. The deer was dead before it ever hit the ground.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Do you know just how far 550 yds is? Way to far to be shooting at a deer with a.243. Thats all i use and I hate shooting over 200. Seem to me someone is telling some tall tales but then I wasnt there.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

This old fool also prefers a 30-30 over a 243. I'm sure the 243 is okey in some situations, but I have found it to not take the brush well. I often hunt with a 270 (not a good brush gun either), but when in the thick I opt for the 30/30. I would say that the 30/30 has definatley taken more deer, if for no other reason than it's popularity and the length of time it's been around.
If I could only keep one rifle to put meat on the table it would be my 30/30. I traded my 243 last yr for another 336 Marlin 30/30. My 06 and 270 are good for way out there and my 30/30 is enough gun for close places even tho I know it is good for 150 yds.
So imo the old guy was right and you might stand to learn something from him.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Another old fool for the 30-30.Close range heavy brush can't be beat.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Give me a brake ! The .243 has more velocity and eneregy at 500 yds than the 30-30 does at 200. The .243 will blast way bigger holes in deer than the .30-30, no matter what yardage. Not knocking the .30-30, I used one for years and want another, but it's not better.
People, there is no such thing as a brush gun, all bullets are deflected off branches or brush.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I second 1865's reply to this post.

So, Leftmehangin.......................how's that foot tasting?

Uncle Matt (in IL)

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I think I would have to go with my trusty 30-30. I have never had a deer go more than 10 yards with it. Where I hunt a 30-30 is the better gun. But there was a time this year I wish I would have had a 7mm or something that would reach out and grab this huge deer I saw at about 400 yards..... But in my opinion I think the 30-30 is better..

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

30-30 is better at short range. I personally would rather use a 30-30 for deer over a 243.

I won't hunt deer with a .243 at all. I think it's too light. I've heard of too many people losing deer after shooting them with a .243.

I use a 30-06, dad uses a 300 mag or a .308.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Well, teach em how to shoot. I have shot more deer w/ a .243 than I can count. NEVER Ever come close to losing one.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I guess I've used some kind of 6mm on at least 40 deer, I'm not knockin' its ability. But where I'm livin' now, a slick little lever action carbine is better'n any thing a .243 is chambered in, 'cept maybe a Savage 99, which is harder to find.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I've never used a 243 but I've killed all my bucks with a 30-30. I've never had one run one step after it was it. The buck I hit this year seriously died instantly as soon as the round hit him. I believe the 243 has a much longer range. I once read that the 30-30 range is 160 yards and probably that is stretching it. Where I hunt that is plenty of room. I hunt in the Florida swamps.
Chuck

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

First, this is not meant to be confrontational. That said, in regards to the velocity and energy of a .243 at 500 yards, IMO that's an irrelevant statistic. According to my ballistics table, a 105 grain .243 zeroed in at even 200 yards will shoot 53.6 inches LOW at 500 yards. So anyone claiming to be shooting deer at that distance in my opinion has got more crap than a four story outhouse.

In regards to bullet deflection, it is true that all bullets will have some degree of deflection if contacting brush or branches, but a lighter smaller bullet will deflect more than a heavier larger bullet.

A .243 is definitely enough gun to take deer, but if it was a superior caliber for hunting deer more people would be hunting with it. In my neck of the woods, I don't know of anyone who hunts with a .243. Well, except my buddies ex-wife, but she was a little lady who was averse to recoil;)

Mr. .45-70

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Wait a minute, no one even loads a 105 gr. bullet for the .243, second going by balistic tables and using two of the best bullets, in my opinion for the .243, the Federal 100 gr and 85 gr. hollow point. The 100 gr. sighted @ 200 yds has a 39.9 in. drop at 500 and the 85gr has a 32.8 in. drop. I wont even state what the 30-30 is.
What I was just trying to prove is the power of the .243 which is a lot more than the 30-30 thats it, not telling anyone to go shooting 500yds, just showing that the power at that range is equall to the 30-30 at 200. the 30-30 doesnt even have a 1000lbs enrgy @ 200 yds.
You know I have killed a lot of deer with the 30-30 and never lost one, nor have I lost one with the .243 either, but the .243 does a lot more damage and is just a lot better gun in my opinion.
The 30-30 is good for a 100 yds and thats it, it falls off the scale real quick after that.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I second this statement. The better brush caliber myth needs to go the way of the Dodo. All bullets can and will deflect on brush. How much in a given situation is more a matter of random chance than it is cartridge caliber and type.

As for the better of the two? I'll take a 243 every day of the week and twice on Sunday. A 243 will do everything a 30-30 will do plus shoot flatter and extend your effective killing range out to 300 yards or more. I'd hate to shoot at anything much farther than 150 yards with a 30-30. Although if you stay within that range a 30-30 will give good service. A 243 also doubles as a good varmit caliber as well.

Yes, 30-30's have probably killed more deer over time but even more large game animals have probably been killed worldwide in the age of the gun with black powder weapons. Does that mean that black powder guns are better than modern rifles? Or does it simply mean that like the 30-30 they have just been around longer?

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

I'll take the 30/30 anyday where I hunt. I wont deer hunt with my 243...although its fun to shoot crows with. Seen too many bullets do weird things when I used to carry that 243.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Can't say i know anyone here that hunts with either of the cals. Just about ever old farmer here owns an ol club 30/30 but have moved up to the 30/06 308 7mm 270 and 300, anyone i know hunts deer with one of the 5.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

First off, I think that if you start your conversations in face to face situations the same as you started this thread, You are going to get your plough cleaned by "Some old fool" sooner or later. Well, you ask me what I think:D

Beyond that, a rifle is like any other tool you may ever use, if you ask it to do something beyond its ability, you are going to be disapointed. If you are not qualified to use that tool, you are going to get inferior results. These arguments about which is the "BEST" caliber for anything have been around since the second rifle was built and will continue as long as there are people available with personal experience to argue them. This makes for interesting campfire conversation and great off season fare when there is little else going on to write about.

To throw another factor into the mix, game of all sizes have been taken successfully with calibers that are considered by most "experts" to be totally inadequate for that species but sometimes you just have to use what you have at hand, or end up hungry or dead. While I'm not advocating using a .30-30 for African Lions, it has been done (see the Last Ivory Hunter, the story of Wally Johnson; Peter Hathaway Capstick) as have Cape Buffalo with a .22 Hornet and Elephant with 6MM cartridges and smaller. Circumstances and your individual ability to shoot (bullet placement) whatever is at hand will determine your success more often than terminal velocity and ballistic tables.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

Well let me say this ; This old fool has many years being around both of these guns. If i am out deer hunting and Momma Bear comes by i would much rather have a 30-30 on my lap than a 243. I have seen many bear taken with a 30-30 while hunting the mountains of Vermont and Maine. I'm not knocking the .243 , would like to have one someday. I like shooting woodchucks.

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

It seems like leftmehangin, has left this thread hanging.;)

RE: 30-30 Lmao
 

First off I agree no such thing as a bush beater and if you use a gun/caliber on this premise or you believe it has less deflect your setting yourself up for let down at some point. In every debate the disclaimer we see thrown out is "as long as you put the bullet where it needs to be you'll have no problems". So keeping with that any deflect will not allow you to such a thing with 100% confidence and amount of deflect simply a variable that can not be controlled.

As to which one, they are both limiting choices for my biggame hunting requirements. I would however pick a 30/30 over .243 which would only be used in tight situations where I would rather have larger bullet for pentration than faster/flatter/lighter bullet in a small/light/handy rifle.