Suggestions for wife's first hunting rifle?

[petemi]

If you reload, I vote for the 7mm-08. I load 115 gr. bullets for my wife over Varget for 3100 fps. They're super accurate, light recoil, and better killing than our .243s. Plus, you can always load a heavier bullet for bear, etc.

I had a 6 mm Model 7 and serious problems. I loved the way it handled, and was accurate. I lined up on a 6 point one day, clicked off the safety and squeezed the trigger. The trigger wouldn't move. I double checked the safety. It was off, I raised the rifle to check it and it fired with my finger off the trigger. Scared the crap out of me. The temperature was way below freezing and I thought that may have been a factor. I took it home, shot about 20 rounds through it and it did it twice more. I took it to a gunsmith. He tore it down and found nothing wrong. I loaded the magazine and put the rifle in the chest freezer overnight. Took it out in the morning, chambered a round, shot it and emptied the magazine without a problem. I reloaded and took it hunting. To shorten it up, the same thing happened. Lost another buck. I traded it in a Ruger M77 MKII .308 and never looked back. About a year later, a buddy I was hunting with had the exact same problem with a .30-06 700. That ended my career with Remingtons.

Pete

 

[SuperCub]

My wife is taking the core course right now and I was looking for a small calibre rifle, maybe .243. She's fairly small, 5'2" and I was looking for suggestions on a youth model or something.
Thanks

What does she plan on hunting with it?

 

[SuperCub]

I had a 6 mm Model 7 and serious problems. I loved the way it handled, and was accurate. I lined up on a 6 point one day, clicked off the safety and squeezed the trigger. The trigger wouldn't move. I double checked the safety. It was off, I raised the rifle to check it and it fired with my finger off the trigger. Scared the crap out of me. The temperature was way below freezing and I though that may have been a factor. I took it home, shot about 20 round through it and it did it twice more. I took it to a gunsmith. He tore it down and found nothing wrong. I loaded the magazine and put the rifle in the chest freezer overnight. Took it out in the morning, chambered a round, shot it and emptied the magazine without a problem. I reloaded and took it hunting. To shorten it up, the same thing happened. Lost another buck. I traded it in a Ruger M77 MKII .308 and never looked back. About a year later, a buddy I was hunting with had the exact same problem with a .30-06 700. That ended my career with Remingtons.

Pete

...... and on the other hand, I've owned many/several Remingtons (currently own 13) over the last 20 yrs. and have never had a problem with safety and reliability. Many other have had the same experience.

 

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

Lots of good advice, but I'll throw in my 2 cents: A properly fitted bolt action, 5 to 7 lbs in weight, in .257 Roberts. Throw a fixed 4x scope like a Leupold & your golden.

 

[pbonura]

Tikka t3 lite 6.5x55. Your wife will enjoy this rifle and can be found for 700 for a blued version. I have one for love it. Pick your hunting prey yote, deer, moose and bear that 6.5 will do it all. Light to and damn accurate.

 

[Ardent]

Ruger No.1 RSI in .243, light, extremely small due to a 20" barrel and no action length, and pretty.

 

[emerson]

I will be looking for a similar rifle for the wife and son (and for me to play with). I like how 7-08 compares to the other options on paper.

 

[Wyntera]

I think it was savage that is making a lady hunter model now that is essentially a youth model for women.

I own a horribly named Savage Lady Hunter 11/111 (It's not for shooting ladies and in my experience most products with 'lady' in the name are attempts to market to women by adding pink and often lack attention to detail when it comes to design & function). It is definitely not just 'a youth model' for women. When I was shopping for a rifle I didn't even consider this model, I was looking at the Tikka T3 and the Savage Lightweight Hunter.

Once I'd handled the Lady Hunter there was no going back. Savage did an excellent job on this rifle, it has a 20 inch barrel and a lighter forend which balances very nicely and makes it very easy for me to shoot accurately from standing. I think this may be the most important feature as the rifle still has enough weight in the stock to control recoil but it's easy to hold and aim with less weight out front. The smaller pistol grip and length of pull also make it easy to handle and shoulder as well. It also comes with a decelerator recoil pad, which makes a difference, mine is in .308. I also like the raised comb which makes it easy to line up the scope quickly for the shot.

I'm very happy with this rifle, though embarrassed to call it a Lady Hunter. I think short of going with a custom designed/fit rifle it's one of the nicest rifles I've shot. It also comes in a ton of calibres including 22-250, .223, .243, .270, , 7mm-08, and 6.5 Creedmoor. I'd say take your wife out and get her to handle/shoulder a bunch of options and pick what feels best, but she should check out the Lady Hunter (she can always call it something else).