A gun for my wife.

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steve-o1979

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My wife and two of her friends have finally decided to get their PAL and hunter's safety course. My wife loves shooting my .22... and is a real good shot with it. She tried the 12ga. a couple times and wasn't a fan lol. I want to buy her a rifle in a calibre that doesn't have much recoil, would be good for deer/possibly black bear, and although I'm sure it wouldn't matter to her, I'd prefer something available in bolt action. Any ideas ?
 
I bought my wife a new Marlin XS7, youth model in 7mm-08 from SakoAlberta in the EE, around $440 shipped to me in Ont. I am still setting it up and relaoding for it. I may cut the barrel to 18.5 inches but I'll give it a try first at the factory length.

Her current rifle is a 308 in a military mauser conversion by Globe. Its OK but I wanted a better gun for her.

We hunt deer and moose.
 
Exact same scenario for me just over a yr ago. I bought my wife a marlin 3030 and had a pachmeir recoil pad put on it. I then came across a cil(savage 340) bolt 3030 that I put a 4X scope I had, and a limbsaver on it. She shot both with ease.
I recently bought her a 375win., and she's lost all interest in the 3030's, although I must qualify that had I started her on the 375, she wouldn't have taken to it like she has.
My advice, whatever you choose spend the bucks on a top of the line recoil pad; cheap enjoyment insurance.
Plus, there's nothing more enjoyable than ribbing your wife that you must stop at the gunstore to get supplies for Her.
I just got back from the Leth. gunshow; only thing I bought was some 375 brass. Let the teasing begin.:dancingbanana:
 
my advice would be to look at the 257 roberts or the 25-06 Rem. Both have light recoil and are more then capable of taking both deer and bear with factory ammo (federal loads both with 120gr Partitions). As for a rifle I would look at the Rugers and the Vortex scopes. Ths set up should run you around $1000.
 
If she tried a few at the range until she found one that was comfortable for her to shoot, it would help you find one she will enjoy and use. The venerable .30 30 is one that will cover her needs nicely, and not damage the pocket book. Plus you can get them in lever action or bolt action. If she doesnt mind a slight recoil, the 7.62 x 39 Russian in a semi or bolt action could be another option. Beyond those calibres a good Marlin in .357 or .44 magnum lever or semi could suit her purpose.
 
My wife shoots a 6.5x55 and loves it. She drools over the Ruger compact in 7mm-08, but is afraid her first love (the Swede, of course, not me) would be jealous if she brought a new hunting rifle home. So given your wife got a clean slate, I'd say the compact 7mm-08!

RG

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The best rifle IMHO I've seen for a smaller/new shooter in a long time is the M77 RSI in 250 Savage. Its light, little muzzle blast, little recoil and kills better than smaller calibers. AND, its 'pretty' which is sometimes important for girls. ;)
 
Mudpherson said:
The best rifle IMHO I've seen for a smaller/new shooter in a long time is the M77 RSI in 250 Savage. Its light, little muzzle blast, little recoil and kills better than smaller calibers. AND, its 'pretty' which is sometimes important for girls. ;)
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...in my experience, pretty guns are somehow more important for boys. Maybe we think of our guns as girls??? Anyhow that gun would be sooo cool, if he wasn't wanting a bolt action and could feed it....very cool. Is it available much? - It doesn't seem to be a current listing.

EDIT: I went right to thinking #1 RSI. So my reply is partly in error. I still think that would be very cool, though.

RG

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If you handload why not give the .260 Remington a try. It's in the .243 class recoil wise and with good bullets and shot placement is not out of place when used on any North american ungulate at reasonable ranges.
 
steve-o1979 said:
Just curious here...because I really don't know....243 win. good for deer... or is it more of a coyote round ?
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Steve-o. Here is a link to a bit I wrote a while ago about all these considerations about a rifle for a new hunter - cartridge, gun, ammo availability, recoil, what a .243 is good for, and so on. I set it up as a summary of a lot of the advise that keeps coming up from the CGN community in general for 'first hunting rifle threads', rather than entirely my thoughts, though some personal opinion does of course make it in.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431263

RG

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Ruffed Grouse said:
Anyhow that gun would be sooo cool, if he wasn't wanting a bolt action and could feed it....very cool. Is it available much? - It doesn't seem to be a current listing.

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Yes, its a bolt action stainless in walnut. It was a limited run made for Lipseys. I doubt there is any around as they were made a year or two ago and only a handful made it to Canada. The one I saw(and shot) was very nice and had almost no recoil. Ammo may not be at Walmart but isn't really rare either.
My buddy paid $1079 IIRRC.
 
You'll find people on either side of the .243 for deer fence. General concensus is that it works if you use appropriate bullets, but isn't ideal.

.257 roberts, .250 savage, 6.5x55, .260 rem, 7mm-08, and .30-30 are all great choices. Finding a gun that fits her is the most important thing.
 
Yeah, something between a 243 and a 6.5x55 but also possibly a 30/30. Comfortable shooting with low perceived recoil depends in no small part on the stock shape, how it fits the shooter and how much she's willing to practice. A good recoil pad and she won't have to work her way up the recoil scale from one rifle to another. I'd just put a good recoil pad on a Swede for her, or a Marlin 30/30 if she doesn't like the better caliber in a bolt action.
 
Ruffed Grouse said:
My wife shoots a 6.5x55 and loves it. She drools over the Ruger compact in 7mm-08, but is afraid her first love (the Swede, of course, not me) would be jealous if she brought a new hunting rifle home. So given your wife got a clean slate, I'd say the compact 7mm-08!

RG

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My Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 is my wife's favorite rifle.
In the warmer weather its hard for me to keep loaded ammo for it she likes it so much!
 
The fit of the rifle to the shooter and a good recoil pad are paramount. For calibre, I would suggest a 7x57. It has low recoil, but enough power for the class of game you suggest, and then some.

Hugh
 
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