243 pump vs 30/30 lever action

Im going to get one or the other for a walk around gun and im leaning towards the 243 pump. Am i really loosing anything by not going with the 30/30? or is their something else i should look at
99% of shots will be under 100 yards.
I will be using it for the usual texas game: white tail, hogs, predators.

ANy help is appreciated

If it were me I would go with the 30/30 for an all around gun. Especially if you are shooting at ranges less than a hundred yards. It's hard to beat a lever action 30/30. Other things that you may want to consider is if you will be shooting through any brush. If you try to shoot through a lot of brush with a .243 you will be very dissapointed.

If you shoot through brush you will be disappointed with any rifle you shoot. Wait for an open shot.

With mono-metal bullets ( Barnes TSX, Hornady GMX, Nosler E-Tip, etc.), the .243 is more effective than it's ever been. The new bullets are something else.

I have a 6mm Remington and a .38-55; I like them both.

Yes, that is true. But, some calibers do better than others.

30-30 carbine is a pretty handy carry rifle. If you are going to put a scope on it, that would, IMO, pretty much negate much of the "handiness" of the 30-30, compared to the pump. And with the 243 (and the right bullet) you would be able to take advantage of those rare shots beyond 100 yds.

32spl

why?

30-30 get my vote

im wanting an open site gun, i currently own a 308 but that is scoped so the lever or pump will just be used for stalk hunting and truck gun. Im considering the 270 pump as well. Im pretty open minded about this gun, having a tough time deciding on what to get

I have a bunch of bolt action rifles and a few lever actions...but every deer season I reach for my 7600 pump in .30-06.

It will bust through brush, sticks, tree limbs....I've smoked a few deer with it. It's a tough rifle to beat for walking around.

I will say my Marlin 1894 in .44 mag is my favorite rifle for walking around with.....have yet to kill a deer with it...shot just about everything else though. Been plenty of deer killed with .44 mag and going through a rifle they are twice as effective.

Why not?

Ever shot one?

For those animals under 100 yards I would go with the 30/30. I’ve got a Marlin, but Winchester is just as good. Just a great package of power, weight, and handling.

I’ve got a Remington pump in 30-06. Great gun, but just doesn’t feel as good to carry around.

+1

I hate hearing people ask about a "brush gun"....with the intention of actually shooting through brush. You should never "shoot through brush" at any animal. Wait for a clear shot, or don't shoot at all.

More than one redneck has used that as an excuse for shooting their buddy....."I thought he was a deer. There was something moving in the brush so I shot it!!..It turned out to be Leroy."

The 243 kills deer with far more and surprising authority than the best of 30-30.

I've killed truck loads of deer and hogs each year, all year, with both.

Oh, the 243 shoots through brush better than the 30-30. I'm not fond of the stupid "brush gun" terminology either.

For hunting under 100 yards, If you choose the 243, Hornady 100gr Interlock performs awesome. The best of the best is 95gr Winchester XP3. If you choose a 30-30, there is no better performing ammunition at any price than the Winchester 150gr Powermax Hollow Point

Both will do the job with Federal Blue Box

Nuthin like the feel of a good levergun.

I love my 30-30 with 170 grain soft points for brush busting hogs

Is it materially better than the 30-30?

I have a bolt 243, a marlin 30-30 and also a 7mm mag
I usually use the 30-30 unless i'm hunting somewhere where I may have a chance at a long shot then I use the 7mm

You'll be happy with either one at that range. I hunt a lot with a scoped 243 bolt gun, but when I'm running my buggy I also keep a Marlin 30-30 lever gun (open sights) on the top gun rack for quick shots.

I own a .30-30 Winchester and a .35 Remington. The .35 is what I use. I'm not a fan of the .243. IMO, suitable deer cartridges start with the .25's. That's just my observation in 50 years of deer hunting. I know many will not agree.

lighter and quicker... just depends on what your needing...its plenty for hog and deer... I got a .35 myself

ok, not trying to start an argument, just curious. I was thinking M94, which is the most common rifle for both 30-30's and 32 Specials. The rifles are indistinguishable unless you look at the markings on the barrel, and the cartridges are ballistic twins.

If one wants a 32 Special for nostalgic reasons, or just to have something "different", I fully understand. But the ammo is more expensive and less available than 30-30.

What kind of rifle do you have that is lighter and quicker? thanks

Again..a Marlin 1894 in .44.

Doesn't get much lighter and smaller than that, and under 100 yards I believe a .44 mag with a heavy bullet, through a rifle, has more killing power than a .30-30

I'm suffering from chemo brain at the moment, somebody else can fill in the specs on it.

Besides, loading .30-30's sucks. .44 mags are much easier to reload.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_ballistics_table2.htm

For comparison

yep, I'd bet the 44Mag at short range would work great. good luck with your illness!

Stalk hunting if I'm assuming correctly means that you have spotted the game and are going to stalk it. Still hunting is where you just slip through the terrain and try to get a shot when possible even if you get to position yourself for the shot. In either case you might be subject to raking shots where neither the 30-30 or 243 are really good at. Is store bought or reloading a concern? Maybe a 307 win or 444 marlin in lever or a 280, 30-06, 7mm-08, or 308 in a pump with peep sights to accommodate the truck gun characteristic. The 444 marlin if store bought will have pistol bullets so they might not be that great at raking shots so you would have to reload for it.

Under 100yd and open sights a lever 30-30 is hard to beat.

and now for something different-think about a Savage 99 in maybe the same 308 calibre you already have. They are a handy rifle and are lever action.

If you can find one. They are kinda scarce.

I wouldn't want to make a BLR or savage 99 in 308, 375, or 284 win a truck gun, maybe a slightly used/beat up newer style pump or lever with a cheap composite stock on it.

30-30

Only going between the 2 that you asked about, I'd opt for the 30-30 lever action.

As much as I love my 243, for what you want to do, the 30-30 is the best option. I also agree with the Marlin 1894 44mag recommendation. Got one of those too, and it's even better, because you can use a hardcast bullet and aim to break both shoulders