Gator Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Thinkin of trading my H&R youth .243 for a 30-30 for Megan. Think the recoil will be to much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missed160 Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 The 30 30 will have less kick then the 243. My kids love to shoot the 30 30 marlin, because it is so mild. The only issue I have with them for kids is the safey. Assuming you are looking at a lever action, having to jack a shell in, then hold the hammer & pull the trigger isn't a very safe way to do it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Personally I would stick with the .243. The old 30-30 has been around forever but im not a fan with todays choices. I dont see where you would gain anything, especially range. .243, 100grn BTSP (boat tail, soft point) has 1790 ftlbs of energy at 2839 fps at 100 yards. At 200 yards it has 1491 ftlbs at 2592 fps. This is basically a Corelokt style bullet. 30-30, 150grn soft point has 1257 ftlbs of energy at 1943 fps at 100 yards. At 200 yards it has 881 ftlbs at 1627 fps. This is also a Corelokt style bullet. Even the .243 shines over the 30-30. Not that the old 30-30 hasnt killed everything in North America but with the choices today its one of the last I would go to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Personally I would stick with the .243. The old 30-30 has been around forever but im not a fan with todays choices. I dont see where you would gain anything, especially range. .243, 100grn BTSP (boat tail, soft point) has 1790 ftlbs of energy at 2839 fps at 100 yards. At 200 yards it has 1491 ftlbs at 2592 fps. This is basically a Corelokt style bullet. 30-30, 150grn soft point has 1257 ftlbs of energy at 1943 fps at 100 yards. At 200 yards it has 881 ftlbs at 1627 fps. This is also a Corelokt style bullet. Even the .243 shines over the 30-30. Not that the old 30-30 hasnt killed everything in North America but with the choices today its one of the last I would go to. Yep, would stick with the .243 if it were me too. The girls have put down a few deer here with their .243's with 100 grain soft points. With the exception of one(my daughters first deer), none of those deer have left the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 If you had the 30-30 I would use it, but I would not trade the .243 for one. I love the old 30-30 and would trust it without doubt. The .243 just gives you a bit more as long as you stick with a good solid bullet! Keep with the 95 or 100gr. bullets and buy Noslers or Hornady Interlocks or Interbonds if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Distance is not going to be further than 100yds, so that is not an issue. What has me wondering is Fri night we had two bucks at 30yds, and when she shot, I do believe she hit a twig on a cedar tree that was right in front of us, and deflected the bullet, best as I can tell. I know that with a 30-30, that won't happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 (edited) I personally am a sucker for lever actions. The 30-30 is a great all around cartridge up to 200yards. I have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy in 44mag. How I wish we could use the 30-30 here in Indiana for deer! There's also SO many great rifles to choose from in 30-30. Marlin, Winchester, Browning, etc. All varieties of barrel lengths and stock/barrel styles as well. To me, lever actions are a timeless piece... especially in 30-30! If it was a bolt action .243 I would not trade it, but an H&R single shot? Moving to any lever action would be a huge upgrade. I would totally go for a 30-30 for a 16 year old male or female. Great choice for any age really. Edited October 19, 2009 by Heavy Metal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Well, dad just happens to like the 30-30 as well, so it may just be a new toy for me as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Well, dad just happens to like the 30-30 as well, so it may just be a new toy for me as well! The Leverrevolutions by Hornady are getting good reviews. You may want to give em a try in the ol' tirdy tirdy if you go that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Gotta agree with heavy metal on this one...single shot H&R...or lever action....I'd go with the .30-30 for 200 yards or less. .243 is a good little gun and would do the job....but I personally don't like to see any less than a .25 cal. on deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 With the new ammo for the 30/30(lever revolution) and the heavier bullet weights available, shots under 100 yards. The 30-30 has the .243 beat IMO in this criteria. They even make a 55gr accelerator round for varminting with the ole lever gun. A handy and versatile little rifle. I think the 30-30 will do her well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I've got a Marlin 336 and the H&R youth 243 and the 30-30 has a lot LESS yes folks LESS recoil than the 243. The 243 is really light and thin with a less that pillow soft recoil pad. The 30-30 at inside 175 yards might be a better choice. It has all the power you need at that range, 7 shots instead of one and makes a bigger hole. All things being equal a bigger hole is probably going to be more effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 If you do go with a Marlin, stay away from anything with there "patented micro grove rifling". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 I like the "Dirty Thirty":cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 If you do go with a Marlin, stay away from anything with there "patented micro grove rifling". Why is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHunter Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 (edited) I think one of the key's here is you said she is 16 and it's a youth gun, if she is going to keep hunting for a wile she will soon outgrow most youth guns. A 30-30 is a tryed and tru hunting weapon. I think if you can get her to shoot one first you'll know if its the right decision. I have shot a few 30-30's and never thought they had much punch at all, but I'm in a shotgun only zone so only ever shot them at ranges or shooting at wood chucks, but I think she's handel it well. My girlfriend has never deer hunted before and is starting this year for the first time. She is using my 12g mossberg bolt action slug gun with remington copper solids, it kicks pretty good. I have told her and tought her just like i'm sure you have that the only time a gun hurts is when your typically holding it wrong, now sure repeated shooting will cause fatigue and then some pain but if she is holding it right she will prob end up out shooting you...lol SO...I say go for it. Edited October 20, 2009 by MichiganHunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm23494 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 The 30-30 is a great youth cartridge. I grew up using my Dad's and started shooting it when I was about 8. Between my brother and sister and myself I would say we have taken around a dozen deer with it some well out past 100 yards. They are great woods guns due to how compact they are as well as the balistics that they have. Ditch the 243 and get a dirty thirty, you won't regret it.:clap: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Why is that? "MicroGroove Rifling In 1953 Marlin Firearms was issued U.S. Patent 3,100,358 for what was named MicroGroove Rifling which was a departure from the standard "Ballard" or cut rifling. One purpose of Microgroove Rifling was to increase the speed of producing rifle barrels. Microgroove rifling is described in the patent as having 5 grooves for every 1/10th of an inch bore diameter, and that the driving side of each land would be "tangentially disposed" to prevent accumulating fouling in use. Marlin introduced Microgroove rifling in their .22 rimfire barrels in July 1953, with 16 grooves that were .014" wide, and nominally .0015" deep. Ballard Rifled barrels have grooves generally in the range of .069-.090" wide, and .0015-.003" deep. This change was marketed in the 1954 Marlin catalog, as having numerous advantages that this new form of rifling had, including better accuracy, ease of cleaning, elimination of gas leakage, higher velocities and lower chamber pressures. The catalog also claimed that Microgroove Rifling did not distort the bullet jacket as deeply as Ballard Rifling hence improving accuracy with jacketed bullets at standard velocity. Designed for factory loaded ammunition, Microgroove barrels have a reputation for accuracy problems with centerfire ammunition handloaded with cast (unjacketed) bullets due to the increased bore diameter generated by the shallow grooves. Use of oversized cast bullets has great effect on solving this problem, restoring accuracy with cast bullet handloads to levels seen from Ballard Rifled barrels.[4] Early Marlin .30-30 microgroove barrels had a twist rate of 1 turn in 10 inches optimized for factory ammunition with jacketed bullets; later Marlin .30-30 microgroove barrels show a twist rate of 1 turn in 10.5 inches which improves accuracy with cartridges loaded to lower velocity than standard." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 (edited) Thanks HM, now for my next question. Are present day Marlins using this newer type of rifling? So if I end up with one of these, will it not be as accurate with factory ammo?? Edited October 20, 2009 by Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzy1 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 No, the 30-30 is a great gun with very little recoil,was my first rifle at age 15... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 That was an interesting read Heavy... I have two Marlins. One a 70's manufacture and another 80's manufacture. Both have the micro groove barrel. I shoot 150gr jacketed bullets with 1 1/2 groups at 100 yards. I cannot ask for more than that with that type action out of a factory gun. My buddy got possession of a Marlin made in 1964 in .35 Rem. The "Marauder". That also had the Micro groove bbl. He put the lever revolution through the gun and the gun loved it. The 8 ring on the 1st shot after bore sighting it at 100 yards. Full lead bullets should not be used in rifles with Micro groove rifling. Ballard rifling is for cast bullets. Cowboy action stuff. Marlin is making leverguns today with both types of rifling, since the Cowboy action shooting sports have took off. Gator...Marlin recommends the Lever revolution ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 All things being equal a bigger hole is probably going to be more effective. I can't believe you said that john....had to read it twice...lol Your coming around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungry hunter Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Jason, have ya considered having a 30-30 barrel made for that HR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Tough call. I took my first deer years ago with an old Winchester 30-30. It was a top eject, so I had to fight the sun going down looking down those iron sights. I took quite a few more with a Marlin with a scope before upgrading. There never was a time within 100 yards that I didnt take what I aimed at, though I did miss once lol. These days my girls are shooting the 243 with 100gr hornady. It's fired on 3 deer and not one of them took a single step. I couldnt say that last year for my 45-70. If you think if your daughter is mature enough to place the shot well, then the .243 has the edge in OPEN food plots. The 30-30 though has more forgiveness, and I've seen where guys bring their kids up to the camp, and make a high lung, or shot too far back with the 243 and never found enough blood to locate the deer. Like I said, tough call. One of these days I'm going to get that old Winchester back out and go walk out a little patch of ground and reminisce a little. I love that old lever action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Jason, have ya considered having a 30-30 barrel made for that HR? Um, no, never even thought of that. But I think I want the more capacity that a lever gun gives ME, lol!!!!! A friend of mine is looking for what I have, and he has what I want, so it may just be easier and faster right now to do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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