.243 - .270 - .30-30 - .30-06 help

[mustanger98]

Put it like this; out to 200yds, the .30-06 and .30-30 are doing about the same thing. The difference is the .30-06 is faster. Beyond that, the '06 takes over. But if all you're doing is within 100yds, you don't have to worry about the difference in speed because one won't kill 'em any deader than the other.

 

[AStone]

Here is my question -

Would you rather take the .243 as a do all for deer and smaller game or the .30-30? I am looking for a grab and hit the woods no nonsence caliber but one that wont let me down with small and larger game if needed.

Staying with that original question, and not being diverted by ".270" and ".30-06",
I hereby pronounce without any doubt or equivocation, go with the .30-30.

It'll take whitetail, mulies and even elk.

{Added by edit: I should add that to take an elk with a .30-30, which has reportedly been done, more in the past than now, I'm sure, would take some extra stalking skills. Getting close would be important, I'd say. However, I did read a story with pics recently of a kid (teen) from Maine (I think) that took a very large bull Moose with his .30-30 with 160 gr Hornady Leverevolution. One shot. }

And if it'll take deer, it'll take smaller game as well.

Rnds for it are available inexpensively, even in stores that have never heard of .243.

A Marlin or Winchester lever gun is faster cycling than a bolt .243.

My preference is Marlin 336.

YMMV.

 

[B.D. Turner]

Lives and hunts in NC

I live and hunt in S.E. North Carolina. When deer hunting I carry a Marlin 1894 in .44 magnum about 60% of the time. I also have a scoped Remington 30/06 for the times I hunt across large fields. Eastern NC has many large fields where a 200 yd shot would be the norm rather than the exception. No NC does not have the biggest deer but we have a bunch of em and a long season east of I-95.

 

[philbo]

Consider a Remington pump(760, 7600, etc) or auto(742, 7400, etc). Iron sights, available in the calibers you listed, and more than accurate enough for your purposes. Used rifles like this can often be had for less than a Marlin lever action.

 

[AStone]

I just added a clarification to my post #27.