suggestions for guns for small woman

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ladyshooter

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Hello,

I am a petite woman just getting into big game hunting. I'm 5ft tall, 100lbs soaking wet, and the limit of my shooting experience is a 22-250 rifle. Any suggestions for a good place to start? I should also mention that I am left handed, which seems to make this a challenge (or so I've been told).

Thanks for the feedback!
 
Being a lefty is a small challenge. There are left had rifles out there. Check out the EE, lefties do show now and again.
What are you thinking for big game? If it is deer/medium game, you might want to try out a .243 or 7mm08 as they are user freindly.
What action do you prefer? lever/bolt/pump/semi
 
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My wifes 4 foot 11 and I have to buy her gloves in the childrens section so it's even more of a challenge. First of all make sure you have a decent pad on the stock as it works wonders for recoil. I hate recoil so I can only imagine what it feels like for a person half my size. You can consider a single shot if left hand bolts don't fit. I use them due to being a left hand shooter.
 
I was thinking of bear, deer, wolf, and moose for big game. I have used lever, bolt and semi so far, and find I prefer bolt action for my comfort level thus far. I'm looking for something that will be able to take down large game without the bite of a bigger rifle, as I'm not used to it, and would prefer to avoid any bad habits that may come from a big recoil.

Thank you for the feedback!
 
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Royzo said:
Being a lefty is a small challenge. There are left had rifles out there. Check out the EE, lefties do show now and again.
What are you thinking for big game? If it is deer/medium game, you might want to try out a .243 or 7mm08 as they are user freindly.
What action do you prefer? lever/bolt/pump/semi
Click to expand...

The above is a good point. What actions interest you and what are you planning to hunt?
 
Thank you for the feedback.

I do have to buy my clothes in the children's sections when it comes to outdoor clothing, such as camo shirts and pants. I will be looking for a good recoil pad, even on a small gun, it's just plain more comfortable. Do you have any suggestions for calibers? Any preference as to what you wife uses?
 
243win,..260rem,..7mm-08rem,....and if your thinking moose,... 308win

Ruger Hawkeye Compact......http://www.ruger.com/products/HawkeyeCompact/models.html
Browning X-Bolt Micro Midas Left hand.....http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=023B&cid=035&tid=279
Reminton Model Seven.....http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/centerfire-families/bolt-action-model-seven.aspx

Browning Micro Midas would be my first choice,... for lots of reasons.

The only bad side to the smaller size rifles is they are light weight, and even in small calibers can produce fairley stiff recoil.
 
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If a all possible, it might be a good idea to just try out a few different size rifles to see what you are most comfortable with.
 
308 using Hornady Custom Lite has 43% less recoil than a normal 308.
243 is what i started with for deer and everything else smaller, using a monolithic bullet it might be ok for moose.
 
I would have said 243 if only for deer, but with bear in there I would step it up to 7-08 all day! And I can't think of a better gun for that being the micro midas browning. Should be very close to a perfect fit..

Have fun!!

Cleo
 
How the rifle fits is the first thing to figure out. Try the left handed versions of the Micro Midas (I think they make one), and every other youth rifle in left hand.
The shooter must like the fit and feel...even the width of the grip matters a lot for the hand size or the length for the trigger finger to reach.

The favorite rifle of smaller people I have taught is a 6.5x55 military swede with a good shortened barrel in an old BRNO 21 stock that has been slimmed down at the fore-end and pistol grip, canted to the right and shortened to about 12 inch pull. Between the Midas and the youth Weatherby Vanguard and a few others, .....it just fits very well and is a joy to shoot.

Then worry about caliber.
 
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My daughters laugh at men who think that anything more than a 22-250 is needed for deer.

Guys don't realize how much recoil there is on a smaller shoulder - it is like a 220 lb guy shooting an elephant gun - it is pure abuse - and it isn't a good way to learn accuracy.

You should have one gun that you can practice with that does not bother you at all to shoot - even if you have to go down to a .223 - but likely a 22 250 won't bother you. There is no need for the recoil of a bigger gun on a learning shooter - don't shoot anything that makes you flinch. That gun will do for most stuff - coyotes and wolves and deer. -I've only shot a couple bears with 22 250 - The bigger one went just a few few feet and expired - the other ran off about 75 yards - they really take more killing than should be expected of a 22 250.

The second gun you need might be anything like the fellows suggest - 308 or 270 etc. - because you did most of your practice with the low recoil gun, you will not flinch when you hunt with the larger calibre.

Women are better shooters than men when they start out - they pay attention better to advice.

About being a lefty - one of my daughters is a lefty and she just uses a righty rifle - and tells me that it makes no difference for stand shooting.

Looking over my shoulder here, she says that a .243 or bigger does hurt - don't do it - except for a very occasional shot - do all your practice with a smaller gun.
 
ladyshooter said:
I was thinking of bear, deer, wolf, and moose for big game. I have used lever, bolt and semi so far, and find I prefer bolt action for my comfort level thus far. I'm looking for something that will be able to take down large game without the bite of a bigger rifle, as I'm not used to it, and would prefer to avoid any bad habits that may come from a big recoil.

Thank you for the feedback!
Click to expand...

My grand daughter, a mature lady, may be smaller than you!
After some try outs of rifles, I bought her a new Tikka T3, in 7-08. The rifle is light and easy handling, but felt recoil is very reasonable. After some lighter loads for her to try, I loaded them up full tilt and she had no trouble at all in shooting them very accurately.
That combination is completely capable of humane kills on any of the game animals you mention.
 
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