wifes first rifle
- Thread starter Trap99
- Start date
We have a winner, if your wife is small she probably won't enjoy carrying a heavy gun and in fact will have difficulty shooting a heavier rifle from field positions.
308 case, the 243 is smallish, the 260 and 7-08 with good bullets are moose rifles, get her a gun that is smallish that fits her and the recoil is mild.
I have outfitted my spouse and two teenage daughters. All 3 have settled on a Savage model 99F, two in .300 savage, the other in .308 that I will load light for her. They like them because there light and fit them well. They claim they are a classy looking gun (I agree). They have shot almost every gun I have owned or traded and they refuse to give these ones back to me. On the downside, they do have to cycle the rounds through the chamber when they unload but they state they really like the lever safety location. I also have two modified swedes in 6.5 with new stocks, triggers, safeties etc. but although they like to shoot them, they prefer the levers.
But, if I were doing it from scratch or for safety, ease of loading and suitability for easy scope mounting and view, and taking into account, what you would be shooting (my daughters only big game hunt at this point) I would also look at the Savage with a removeable mag or again the Marlin XS7 in the lower price range. A Remington model 7, Browning Micro or any "youth" bolt in .243, 25-06, 260, 7mm-08 will all work, if she likes bolt actions. These show up on the EE from time to time, often with a scope or rings and bases at a much lower than new cost.
I found the big, or harder issue was to find a gun style they liked for fit and feel and if they could shoot good with it. I think my associated females like the 99's because they shoot very well on targets at the range (my wife got two whitetails with her's this year) and they build up self confidence.
Trust me, its well worth getting them a gun "they" like, as I have a great time watching them shoot and hunt (then there's also more brass for me to load and my wife doesnt question every EMT I send out to buy gear and equipment). Just my .02 cents
But, if I were doing it from scratch or for safety, ease of loading and suitability for easy scope mounting and view, and taking into account, what you would be shooting (my daughters only big game hunt at this point) I would also look at the Savage with a removeable mag or again the Marlin XS7 in the lower price range. A Remington model 7, Browning Micro or any "youth" bolt in .243, 25-06, 260, 7mm-08 will all work, if she likes bolt actions. These show up on the EE from time to time, often with a scope or rings and bases at a much lower than new cost.
I found the big, or harder issue was to find a gun style they liked for fit and feel and if they could shoot good with it. I think my associated females like the 99's because they shoot very well on targets at the range (my wife got two whitetails with her's this year) and they build up self confidence.
Trust me, its well worth getting them a gun "they" like, as I have a great time watching them shoot and hunt (then there's also more brass for me to load and my wife doesnt question every EMT I send out to buy gear and equipment). Just my .02 cents
I asked a similar question on her two weeks ago. I decided to get a savage edge in 7MM-08 for my daughter based on the advice I received on here. The gun is nice and light and fits her well...and it is chambered in 7MM-08 so recoil is not an issue...yet it is great for north American big game ( excluding the Alaskan brown Bear and the other great bears )
deer , black bear , moose is all we hunt in these parts and it is fine for those game animals
deer , black bear , moose is all we hunt in these parts and it is fine for those game animals
X2 on finding a rifle that fits first.Get her to handle a few at the local gunstore.Go for a youth sized,carbine or short action caliber.
You can't go wrong with a .243,.260,7mm-08,.308.
If your going for animals sized from gophers to deer go with the .243.My daughter has been shooting one for 8 years now and has taken deer and caribou out past 200 yrds.
Both my wife and I shot 7mm-08's and wouldn't hesitate to take it hunting for any game with the proper bullets.
Good Luck with your choice.
You can't go wrong with a .243,.260,7mm-08,.308.
If your going for animals sized from gophers to deer go with the .243.My daughter has been shooting one for 8 years now and has taken deer and caribou out past 200 yrds.
Both my wife and I shot 7mm-08's and wouldn't hesitate to take it hunting for any game with the proper bullets.
Good Luck with your choice.
My view is get her to shoot a 6.5x55 krag and if she is like my wife, she will not want to shoot anything else again. They don't kick at all, balanced well, easy to handle, shoot flat and streight, fairly high Velocity, and hit hard when needed. I know of countless coyotes, deer, moose and bear that have been taken with the 6.5x55. It was used as an elephant gun at the turn of the century. As mentioned above, Tika and Remington now makes new models if you are looking for a newer rifle. I like larger cal. rifles but don't feel there is a need to go big to be successful. It seams that the trend now is to buy these newer rifles that kick like a pissed mule. I've seen several people sighting in their cannons/hunting rifles forget to flip the safety. The amount of flinch is very supprising. You don't notice much flinch when its a rifle with little to no kick. The flinch factor can greatly effect accuracy and comfort. If you can, have her shoot it before you buy it.
Start her off with a 22. It's easy to handle, no recoil and gets her used to the idea of using a firearm that is terminal for it's intended purpose.
Handling a gun, especially a smaller gun will get her used to the idea of shooting, aiming and seeing results. Then, up to a 243, or 30-30, same idea with just a liitle more omph...! Now you have trained someone from the start in a way that opens doors to larger calibers and larger game...!
