rifle for a pipsqueak?

Mr. Friendly

Mr. Friendly

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I have a friend who's slight in size (5' 9") and recoil sensitive that is trying to get into hunting. they've already got their BC hunters # and are just waiting on their PAL to come in.

he's on disability so can afford next to nothing, so I told him I'd help him get a rifle. originally I was going to give them my FrankenMauser M96 in 6.5x55...but realized, it's not light and that may prove too difficult for them.

up to this point, accompanied by friends, they have used an old bolt action 30-30, which he says doesn't bother him recoil wise. our .308's on the other hand proved to be much to formidable for him.

saw that WSS has the Vanguard Youth on sale for $500, so was thinking of that in .243. alternatively, I have a Rossi 92 with 16" barrel in .44RM. lastly, if we spend a bit more money, we could look at something in .30-30 or maybe a Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter. .30-30 since that's what he knows and it'll be good for deer (which is mostly all he's going for) and doable for moose, should the idea ever take him. it's all matter of opinion, as it's placement that counts, but the .243 shoots awfully light bullets and doesn't inspire confidence in me to drop a moose effectively, at least, not with my friend in mind, anyhow.

I also have a couple Thomson Center's that could be re-tasked if we drop a different barrel in. an Encore in .270 and Pro Hunter in 7mm-08.

anyhow, looking for insight and recommendations?
 
Mr. Friendly said:
I have a friend who's slight in size (5' 9") and recoil sensitive that is trying to get into hunting. they've already got their BC hunters # and are just waiting on their PAL to come in.

he's on disability so can afford next to nothing, so I told him I'd help him get a rifle. originally I was going to give them my FrankenMauser M96 in 6.5x55...but realized, it's not light and that may prove too difficult for them.
up to this point, accompanied by friends, they have used an old bolt action 30-30, which he says doesn't bother him recoil wise. our .308's on the other hand proved to be much to formidable for him.

saw that WSS has the Vanguard Youth on sale for $500, so was thinking of that in .243. alternatively, I have a Rossi 92 with 16" barrel in .44RM. lastly, if we spend a bit more money, we could look at something in .30-30 or maybe a Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter. .30-30 since that's what he knows and it'll be good for deer (which is mostly all he's going for) and doable for moose, should the idea ever take him. it's all matter of opinion, as it's placement that counts, but the .243 shoots awfully light bullets and doesn't inspire confidence in me to drop a moose effectively, at least, not with my friend in mind, anyhow.

I also have a couple Thomson Center's that could be re-tasked if we drop a different barrel in. an Encore in .270 and Pro Hunter in 7mm-08.

anyhow, looking for insight and recommendations?
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30/30 a bit light for moose. How about a 35 Rem, or a cheap 7x57, or 7.62x39 carbine (deer). 44 is an excellent deer gun within 100yds. Took a big doe with a 44 at about 70yds.
Tradeex might be an option for you.
 
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My eldest Daughter is 5'4" ( maybe 120-130 lbs) and shoots an 8 x 57.
I'd say get more trigger time on a 308 sized rifle, I find them pretty tame myself.
Would a 243 & 308 not be close recoil wise? Basically the same cartridge, necked down. I find the smaller faster 'necked down ' rounds to be brisker recoil wise.

Edit; ...and Pipsqueak is a frame of mind. Snap outa that STAT!
 
Kevan said:
Yeah really ! Pipsqueak eh ? Thanks, I'm 5' 7.5"...... Go for a Vanguard, I did and I'm a happy pipsqueak.... LOL !
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so that 1/2 inch counts?- boy that's stretching it- i'm 5'8 and somewhere around 240 - that's what I meant by breadth with height- u c us fat guys can run 338 win mags
with weatherby you're buying a NAME
 
tokguy said:
Would a 243 & 308 not be close recoil wise? Basically the same cartridge, necked down. I find the smaller faster 'necked down ' rounds to be brisker recoil wise.
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I don't find them even close to the same. 243 is very tame. The last 308 I had shot was close to the same recoil as my 30-06
 
The only 243 I've shot had a bull barrel, so can't really compare.
As far as 308 I've shot only a full length Chilean mauser ( which is heavier of course ) but it was much more sedate than my Mexican Mauser in 30-06. Same size rifle for all intents and purposes
I found 308 to be remarkably tame actually.
Put him behind an M44 for a bit, then anything seems tame, lol
 
Kevan said:
Yeah really ! Pipsqueak eh ? Thanks, I'm 5' 7.5"...... Go for a Vanguard, I did and I'm a happy pipsqueak.... LOL !
Click to expand...

This from a guy that owns more rifles over .40 than most own rifles, probably has a gun room to hold his collection. There is a big part of being accustomed to recoil in the equation.

My vote would be for a 308. In the south province, everything would be handled by a 308 150. Pack a few premium 180's and you have close or medium range handled for the North. One sees a lot of 308 rifles go by on the EE, something like a BSA or Husky, maybe a tang M77.
 
Getting a rifle that fits him correctly is going to determine the amount of recoil that he feels in any given cartridge. A 7mm-08 or 270 in a gun that fits well would be my choice. There are LOTS of economical options that all go bang.
I know I'm gonna get a lot of flack from this but I'll say it... As some others have said it is probably better to just get more trigger time with a 308 to get used to the recoil. Realistically a 308 is not that much recoil, a 7mm-08 slightly less. But if those recoil levels are always going to be too much then just admit your limitations and don't hunt moose! I am in no means an advocate for magnum moose hunting but if you can't handle recoil of tame cartridges like the 7mm-08 then just know your limitations and stick to deer. Flame on
 
he is very recoil sensitive and he will avoid anything like the .308.

he has commented that he's comfortable shooting the 30-30, which I believe he's done in an older bolt action.

.243, even when shooting at the upper end of 120g bullets has very mild recoil when compared to .308 or the .280.

a light weight bullet in the 7mm-08 may be a consideration, since if he does decide to go for moose, can be loaded up accordingly.

he's not a big guy and while not frail, not overly strong, so I want to make his hunting to be as easy and enjoyable as possible.

I told him he should start holding and shouldering different rifles to see what he finds to fit and be comfortables to hold and shoulder.

going to talk more about this with him now that he should be getting his PAL sooner rather than later.
 
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