Options for the Wife's Rifle (Deer Gun)

Pathfinder

Pathfinder

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
124   0   0
Location
Northeast Ontario
Im trying to get her into shooting and hunting so Im pondering choices for her rifle, I had Stevens 200 in .308 for this but I dont' feel that she will enjoy shooting it even after testing some light 130 gr. loads.

I started her off on a .22 and then we moved to a 22-250.....she cleary prefered that to the stevens and shot it fairly well for a first timer. Im a little concerned about letting her hunt deer with the 22-250 although I know that if I load some 53 gr. barnes TSX bullets the deer will go down providing a vital hit. (I really dont' want to start a 22 centerfire deer thread)

Im thinking about picking up a Ruger compact in .243 as it will be light and handy with a near perfect fit with the short LOP . Just hoping the blast from the 16.5" barrel wont turn her off practicing with the rifle .

I think I would load the .243 with 80 or 85 gr. Barnes Bullet ? What do you think about the Ruger Compact in .243 for a small woman getting into shooting and hunting ?
 
On the other hand, I wouldn't want someone's introduction to hunting to include the flailing and wailing of a wounded animal. It needs to go down right away.

I would be considering a 30-30.
 
.243 is a good choice, but I would choose an Ultra Light or International model over the Compact. Either still has a short barrel at 20" and 18.5" respectively, but won't have quite so much muzzle blast as the 16.5" barrel of the Compact.
 
I think the Ruger Compact in .243 sounds like a good choice. My first centerfire that my husband bought me was a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. I think that a compact is a good way to go, my rifle gets heavy after spending a day in the woods carrying it.
 
I think it is a fine rifle, and with proper hearing protection you should be fine for muzzle blast. I would recommend that you look at something with a longer barrel though. If you could find a .257 Roberts it is an even better cartridge for an all round rifle. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot even moose with the 115 TSX and they make that nice little TTSX for it now too. Good luck.
 
Pathfinder said:
Im thinking about picking up a Ruger compact in .243 as it will be light and handy with a near perfect fit with the short LOP . Just hoping the blast from the 16.5" barrel wont turn her off practicing with the rifle .

I think I would load the .243 with 80 or 85 gr. Barnes Bullet ? What do you think about the Ruger Compact in .243 for a small woman getting into shooting and hunting ?
Click to expand...

243 is a great choice. Any reason a Stevens 200 in 243 wouldn't work? If LOP is too long get a Boyd's laminated stock and shorten it an inch or so.
 
woolly said:
243 is a great choice. Any reason a Stevens 200 in 243 wouldn't work? If LOP is too long get a Boyd's laminated stock and shorten it an inch or so.
Click to expand...

They are ok, She's clearly not impressed with the Stevens after taking a look at some of my other rifles. I was also thinking about the Savage youth .243 model....as the fit would already be good..I dont' feel like tinkering aroud with this one.....

I thought the Ruger had a nice wooden stock, I like the fact the rings are included. I would throw on 2-7x33 Leupold scope.

Ive never shot a .243 so I didnt' really dont' know how to quantify the recoil...I know it would be a big more than the 22.250 with 55 grain bullets....lol
 
How about just purchasing some reduced recoil loads for the .308? I got a box just to see what their like, and its a world of difference

Then when she is more comfortable, switch to regular loads. It will also allow her to take moose without switching guns.

EDIT - My wife became accustomed to her 3006 using them. Shes 5'4, 115. Not exactly a big girl.

Also, has your wife expressed any fear of recoil? Sometimes guys just assume woman wont like big cal guns, but thats not always the case.
 
blasted_saber said:
How about just purchasing some reduced recoil loads for the .308? I got a box just to see what their like, and its a world of difference

Then when she is more comfortable, switch to regular loads. It will also allow her to take moose without switching guns.
Click to expand...

Ive already loaded up some 130 gr. loads with minimum powder which would be similar to managed recoil loads which I cant buy locally anyways. She doesnt' really care for the stevens....I dont' mind moving it.
 
I picked up a youth Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08 for my wife. Recoil is fine with moderate reloads. At a recent gun show I got my wife to hande a Ruger compact and she didn't like it.

I have shot a lot of 243 and 6mm and I find them a pleaseure to shoot. Little recoil with good ballistics and trajectory.
 
ruger compact is cool. Had a remington model 7 in 308 the wife really liked. I'd take her
to a shop and let her handle a few to see what she likes. 243, 7mm08, 308, 2506.
lots to choose from.
 
My girlfriend do mostly stand hunting so weight wasn't much of and issue, so I tried her out with a Tikka T3 Varmint chambered for 25-06. She loves that rifle. But when we do go walking, she takes along my Tikka T3 Lite also in 25-06. She loves it too. She says the 25-06 is her favorite 2 rifles out of all the calibers that I currently have. Maybe this'll open up new ideas for you depending on your type of hunting.
 
Maybe take a look at the savage model 14 american classic in .250 savage and shorten the stock as necessary. (also available in .243 I believe)

A winchester/marlin lever in .30-30 would work pretty well, and ammo is cheap and available everywhere.
 
Pathfinder said:
They are ok, She's clearly not impressed with the Stevens after taking a look at some of my other rifles. I was also thinking about the Savage youth .243 model....as the fit would already be good..I dont' feel like tinkering aroud with this one.....
Click to expand...

It sounds as though she cares more about the look of the rifle. If you bought a boyds stock or some equivalent and put it on before she ever saw it then she wouldn't even know it was the same rifle. I have heard that the boyd's have a fairly short LOP to begin with, but I have no first hand knowledge.

You may want to put a better recoil pad on whatever gun you get if she is recoil sensitive, so cutting the stock down and then fitting a recoil pad is not that much extra work, it just takes a saw and a drill
 
StevieK said:
It sounds as though she cares more about the look of the rifle.
Click to expand...

Welcome to my life. ;)


This the new model Stevens 200 (single stack magazine) Boyds does not make a stock for it. Just the old one where the magazine was part of the gun and not the stock......I pretty much dismissed the .308 for now anyways.

As far as Can openers go...I mean lever actions I have a Model 92 in 44-40 that has no recoil but doesnt' shoot very well and its basically a 50 yard deer gun as is.. (just dont' tell that to the deer I shot with it a few years back) Id rather setup her up with something modern that is ready for a scope.

anyways, I like the idea of that little compact Ruger...Im not sure how much more convincing I need....just need to make room in the safe now.
 
My wife found a nice 1953 HVA 1600 Std (same as the 4100 - Lightweight) in 30-06 in my safe, and said it was now her own. Made the transfer now she can't deny it.
What she loves is the small ring action with the light barrel.
She does not like shooting it from the bench, though.

You can also find them in 7X57 and 6.5X55.
 
I would say a Ruger Ranch rifle, semi-auto for less recoil, chambered in the new and soon to be very poplular 6.8spc. If price is more of a concern, then a decent Remington 7400 semi-auto, in .270 can be picked up in good shape used for around $400.
 
Find her a decent sized carbine/youth rifle that will fit her good.Take her too a few gunshops and let her shoulder the rifles.As for calibers .243-7mm-08.
my wife hunts with a Rem. model 7 7mm-08 has no problem with it my daughter also shot it abit when she was 14,but prefers her .243 over it and has taken both deer and caribou out over 200 yards (she knows the rifle and is quite accurate with it).
I myself hung up the Rem 700 BDL 30.06 and shot a Browning micro hunter in 7mm-08 the gun is a dream to shot as well,carry all day.Good luck with your choices!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom