Made my wife an addict

Kjm1971

Kjm1971

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Excuse the poor quality,
Was a screen grab from a video, taken with an IPhone, through a cheap spotting scope. But, pretty proud of the wife, took her from anti-gun 1 year ago, to shooing pistol, from never having fired a rifle 2.5 months ago, to 5 on 5 on the gong @ 300 yards, stiff breeze, sitting with bipod, no bag, using a cheap axis 22-250 with a mediocre 3x9 40. Terrible trigger.... Anyways, she is the one bugging me to get a new gun now, and I think she is ready for an upgrade. Was shooting my Henry 30/30, standing, buckhorn sights, and putting lead on target at 75 too. I knew she was a keeper.

What would you folks recommend for her? $1000-1500 range, lighter recoil, deer capable, but mostly target(does not have to be super light). She does not enjoy my synthetic 7mm rem mag, in the least.

capture screen
 
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Ruger scout in 308,

You can probably pick one up in the EE for $900 or under. Hunt, plink, scope, irons. It's all covered, plus you have adjustable length of pull.

My wife enjoys using mine.
 
Kjm1971 said:
... Anyways, she is the one bugging me to get a new gun now, and I think she is ready for an upgrade. ...

What would you folks recommend for her? $1000-1500 range, lighter recoil, deer capable, but mostly target(does not have to be super light). She does not enjoy my synthetic 7mm rem mag, in the least. ....
Click to expand...

Pick a cartridge which is easy to buy. I'd suggest .308 with lighter bullets at first. The stock design will also be a factor. If the rifle is too light and too much angle on the butt or cheekrest, and she will get beaten by the recoil. IMHO, a synthetic stock is a better choice for recoil absorption. At a certain point aesthetics aren't everything.
 
243 or 25 of some type. A 6.5 maybe easier to find ammo for as they're now more popular than the 25 class. A 260 rem is a great choice for target and hunting deer. Let her pick a rifle she likes. Everyone chambers the 243 and with proper game bullets it is a great deer round
 
The fit of the rifle to the shooter is important for two reasons; for ease of handling, and to reduce perceived recoil. Too long a stock kicks harder, which perhaps explains her distaste for the little 7 mag. The rifle your wife shoots needs to fit her, that is when she holds it in a viable shooting position, her forearm to upper arm, should form a 90 degree angle. Typically the ocular of the scope is in line with the cocking piece of the bolt, when the LOP is correct. If the rifle doesn't have a high quality factory recoil pad installed, I like Decelerators, one should be installed, taking into consideration the length of pull she needs with the pad installed. The second part of the equation is the placement of the scope, if so equipped. The scope should be situated on the rifle so that she has a full field of view at both high and low magnification, but that the ocular bell is far enough forward to ensure she doesn't get hit by it.

If the rifle is going to be used for big game hunting, I think a 6.5X55 is a viable but mild mannered cartridge. The 7-08 is another. If big game isn't in the mix, a 243 or even a .223 are viable options, the .223 is much cheaper to shoot. IMHO, adjusting the LOP to fit her is easier if the rifle has a wood stock, you might even be able to do it yourself, but plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, of soft compound stocks like the Hogue are best left to a gunsmith.

The rifles I'd consider are from Howa/Vanguard, CZ, Tikka, and Winchester if new, and a commercial Husqvarna the 1600 series is good, from Tradex if used.
 
Another vote for the 243. It is one of the most fun guns in the world to shoot often and lots. You didn't say if you reload but regardless it is relatively inexpensive compared to most. If your wife shoots a lot she will become very good, very fast with it, so no need to worry if she uses it occasionally for deer or antelope as she will put the bullet where it belongs.
243s as a rule are very accurate, I have owned many over the years and I don't recall one that wouldn't keep MOA and several that did much better. They shoot as flat over 500 mtrs as just about any cartridge and make hitting steel on the range easy and enjoyable.
 
I'd go with either a 243 WIN or 270 WIN with the option of the 7mm-08 REM or 6.5 CREEDMOOR if you handload or otherwise have access to a well stocked store.

There are several rifles in the price range you're looking at, but be sure to leave enough for a decent scope ($500 or so).

Personally I like the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500 rifles.
 
.243, 7MM08or 6.5X55, get her one with wood or laminate wood stock. Some synthetic stocks are too light (read Tupperware) Pay attention to LOP when selecting one, multiple lady or youth rifles out there if she need a shorter LOP.
 
25-06 in a browning bar.... I bought for deer hunting ....- and took my girlfriend out shoot it .... And she just loves it and told me that it's hers now??????
I'd say look at 25-06... Any 6.5 .257 wby ...270... Maybe 308
Good luck and buy a nice rifle not a cheap junk one .... (Browning the best there is)
Davide
 
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