First time gun owner need to pull the trigger on something!

[maple_leaf_eh]

So I'm 5 foot nothing, 100 lbs on a good day, but run a hobby farm throwing bales lol get the picture? deciding between a 243 or 6.5 Creedmore? Browning Micro feels good...deer/elk is what I want in my freezer. Thoughts or other considerations please? Thank you

Welcome and hope you were ready for the firehose of well intended advice. Most shooters and hunters get a .22, a 12-ga, and a big game rifle in the locker and then they realize what they don't know is what matters. Asking good questions is a great way to improve those decisions. Your average gun store is not going to give you much information, but lots of opportunity to try shouldering several guns. They sell - they don't necessarily fit guns. The US market has advanced to the point where there are enough new shooters who are like you - small stature and leery of heavy recoil. Follow those leads first. IMHO, you will never go wrong with a Savage as a first rifle.

I like to tell how my BIL and his SIL each bought ordinary Savage .300 Winchester Magnum "package" guns (rifle, synthetic stock, scope, rings, sling, case) from one of the big retailers. One shot a mule deer buck that just missed the minimum score for the record book, the other shot a slightly bigger one that got into the book. Hunting is all about having a positive wildlife experience! And what gives you that excitement doesn't have to cost a bucket of money.

 

[NovaSpeed]

Like the fellow above said and to add to;

Rifle: 308/30-06/6.5
Shotgun
Muzzle Loader (extra month of hunting in most areas)
Fun: 22 Lr

 

[emerson]

My wife bought a T3X that fit her well, but she is 5’ 7”, so a bit longer reach. Like a previous poster said, go to a large store with lots of stock and handle everything that might work to see how it feels. 6.5CM is a good choice. Yes, you need a bolt action 22 for practice if shooting is new to you. If not, feel free to disregard.

 

[reb]

The 243 is a great choice.
Low recoil, Accurate, Easier to get factory ammo, can be had most makes and models.
From Coyotes to Elk it will do the job.
Good luck.

 

[hunter5425]

My wife has never seen 5" and she hunted with a BLR308 for years before I made her a 7-08 lightweight in a Rem 700. The 6.5 or 7-08 are good for most big game but I personally believe the 243 is light for elk.

 

[Meroh]

Like others have said; 6.5 x 55 would be perfect for you... If you reload, and if you can find components to reload.
It is my favorite all round caliber, and while the 260 Remington and 6.5 CM are great, they don't quite measure up to the venerable Swede. Ammo availability is a big selling point.

Also a good .22 bolt action. I am partial to the CZ family, BRNO 2 all the way up to the newer CZ 457. Iron sights will teach you more than a scope will, and you will have hours of fun.

Having grown up on a farm, a 12 ga. of some sort can also be very handy for pest control.

 

[old303]

Having same-brand equivalent-model .22 and 6.5 sibling rifles means that skills and instincts transfer readily back and forth, and the one acts as a trainer for the other.

 

[Jmcc]

Im gonna pile in with the need to add a 22lr (in addition to what ever else you choose)

You can get a good simple bolt action off the EE for about $200

it will handle any pests smaller than a Coyote
And they are great cheap way to practice

 

[Thirsty_Fox]

So I'm 5 foot nothing, 100 lbs on a good day, but run a hobby farm throwing bales lol get the picture? deciding between a 243 or 6.5 Creedmore? Browning Micro feels good...deer/elk is what I want in my freezer. Thoughts or other considerations please? Thank you

Either cartridge will work great for deer and elk, within a certain range (about 250-300 yards for 243 and 4-500 yards for 6.5CR... maybe a bit less for both on elk). Bullet selection will be critical -- use a heavier bullet like 95gr for .243 -- as will shot placement, so you want something you can shoot well.

Recoil is nice and mild with the 243 at about 9.5 ft-lb, but the 6.5CR is still quite mild at around 12 ft-lb (compared to 18 ft-lb of .270 or 308, 21 ft-lb for 30-06). So if you're particularly recoil sensitive go for the 243 but I think most people would find 6.5CR to be acceptable, especially for hunting where you aren't taking hundreds of shots at once. Getting a rifle that feels right for you when you shoulder, handle, and fire will help with the felt recoil. Bronwing X-blot Midas and Tikka T3x Lite Compact would be great options.

Ammo selection around me is similar for the two as is the price. The main difference is the range at which you can hunt (especially elk as they are a bit tougher).

And like others are saying, having a bolt-action 22 to practice and learn to reliably place shots will help tremendously with your hunting success (and is just a ton of fun!).

 

[sillymike]

So I'm 5 foot nothing, 100 lbs on a good day, but run a hobby farm throwing bales lol get the picture?

Somyou can get a good grip on just about anything

Nothing wrong with your choice... pick your flavor and run with it.
- find a rifle that fits you... and maybe invest in noise cancelling earmuff? Oddly enough, pretty much all women (wife included, sorry if I assumed your gender) are more bothered by noise than by recoil. Go figure.

 

[pete dobinson]

So I'm 5 foot nothing, 100 lbs on a good day, but run a hobby farm throwing bales lol get the picture? deciding between a 243 or 6.5 Creedmore? Browning Micro feels good...deer/elk is what I want in my freezer. Thoughts or other considerations please? Thank you

Go with the Browning Micro if it feels comfortable, it's a great little rifle. 6.5 CM is a good choice.

 

[FLYBYU44]

Personally I would skip the .22lr thing and spend the extra $200-300 on ammo for the 6.5. I have shot piles of .22lr, there is no recoil, doesn't do anything an airgun won't do for training.