Help me chose my GF’s first hunting rifle

Suther said:
I cant say I see vanguard and light in the same sentence very often lol

They're fine rifles, but a bit on the heavy side - Weatherby lists them at 7.5lbs without an optic. Add a scope, mounts, rings a sling and a few rounds of ammo and you'll go over 9lbs, or be darn close to it.

OP, what kind of hunting do you do? The vanguard would make a fine gun if you're stand hunting, but if you're on your feet looking for game it might be too heavy for her to carry all day. My gun weighs just over 8lbs and it's not a huge burden, but you definitely know it's there.
Click to expand...

Walking, stopping x 8 hours.
 
Then you'll have to get her to decide if she'd rather have extra weight or blast and recoil. I believe that weight scales up proportionately. So a 10% heavier gun would have 10% less recoil. That might help you ballpark where she's comfortable if you know the weight of your 270. You'll want a gun she can be comfortable with at the range.
 
Steyn said:
Walking, stopping x 8 hours.
Click to expand...

You mention the most she can handle is a 270... Can you elaborate on that? Would she be comfortable putting 10+ rounds through it at the range? Or is she done after one or two shots?

If she can handle more than just a few shots from the 270, then you've got a lot of options.
 
cdn shooter said:
Kimber hunter in 7-08 gets pretty close to your number. She would appreciate the lightweight on the long walks.
Click to expand...

it honestly would...... an brownie points in the sack later on when she realises what yer got her to tote around with..........
I don't have a Missus /GF so I actually went down the Kimber road myself, love at first sight..... ;)

WL
 
Suther said:
You mention the most she can handle is a 270... Can you elaborate on that? Would she be comfortable putting 10+ rounds through it at the range? Or is she done after one or two shots?

If she can handle more than just a few shots from the 270, then you've got a lot of options.
Click to expand...

I actually never tested that. Will go to the range this weekend to gauge this.
 
You have mentioned the lady is not very big. Suggest keeping the rifle as short and light as possible so the weight is between her hands. You do not want a long barreled 270 as it will likely be muzzle heavy for her. A Tikka T-3 in 7mm-08 would be perfect. Same gun in 308 or 260 would also be hard to beat. Don't think that 260 won't handle elk or moose. Load the 125 gr partition on that 260 and it kills way out of proportion to its size.
 
I bought my wife a Browning BAR LongTrac in .30-06 and she loves it. Very little recoil which was surprising as it is significantly less than my older BAR in .30-06. It doesn't seem to be overly heavy either and she doesn't mind carrying it all day. She is very comfortable shooting it as well which is the most important thing.
 
I would lean towards a short action, simple bolt action rifle.
7/08 is a mirror to the classic 7x57 cartridge but is widely available in affordable new rifles.
I would look at this as a floor for the animals you mentioned and if she practices with it she will be very lethal.
If the she is comfortable she will become competent (it’s about the archer, not the arrow) and I would not try and give her the most power she can handle.
Your budget is realistic but save money on the gun and spend on the glass.
The gun; you will need her to go try a bunch at a gun shop as only she will now the fit when she holds it.
You can guide her away from junk but she might value different criteria than all of us and she needs to feel it is her decision to really appreciate it.
 
Take her to the store, give her a budget 50% lower than your expecting to pay and you both leave win win..... You seem like up came up with it and she get a gun....... The point is let her pick the gun she wants to use. maybe she'll get something for you......
 
Let her use your rifle and buy something that you are interested in off the EE.

Notice I said "let her use" your rifle not "give". See how she feels about hunting in 5 yrs time and reassess then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom