A bolt gun in 243 is near perfect for deer and borderline acceptable for game up to elk with less recoil than a lever action 30-30. If game larger than deer were in the discussion I'd probably opt for one of the 6.5's, 7-08 or 308, but between the 2 I'd go 243 hands down.
Levers are just more complex than they need to be for inexperienced shooters. The ones with crossbolt safeties are safer to unload, but it is still another step. I consider 30-30 to be quite over rated. Sure it kills stuff, but so does every other smokeless powder round invented since 1890. It offers no advantage over any of them, even some that predate the 30-30.
