Wifey wants to join me hunting moose. What should I get her?

Got the wife an Axis youth in 7-08. Put a 2x7x32 Nikkon Prostaff scope on it. It's nice and light and fits her well. I loaded some min load 130gr bullets for target practice and will load up some TTSX 120 gr at full muster when she is ready to hunt big game. She has already taken a coyote with it. I know they aren't pretty to look at, but the stock seems to tame down the recoil much better than some of the other synthetic stocks I've tried. I had once convinced her to step up to the gun counter at a gun shop and try a Browning Micro Midas and a Sav Lady Hunter. Both fit her very well with the Lady hunter being her preference. Price led me to buy the Axis and thus far I feel it was a good choice and she enjoys shooting it.
 
My wife wanted to hunt. She thought the Rem las mountain rifle looked great so purchased one in 260, shortened the stock and converted it to the Rem DM. She loves hunting but it probably would not be the same reaction if I bought her the cheapest POS. She has to like the rifle and feel comfortable using it. You had better try to encourage her.

Neilm
 
REALLY, SERIOUSLY. Better not let her choose between Antigua or hunting during Winter time. Warm, tropical breeze in your t-shirt and shorts.
rl4930 said:
Hmm that seems a little counter productive. I'd rather we spent a couple weeks in camp than spend a couple grand wasting away on a beach each winter in Antigua watching my liver slowly harden into the consistency of a hockey puck.
Click to expand...
 
Well, decided wife needed a moose/elk rifle for our hunt last season. She has a Savage 11/111 FCNS (before the accu-stock, but after the accu-trigger) in .243 with a youth stock and has taken ten deer with it and an SKS that counted for one as well. Neither is what I would count as an Elk gun. So, off we went shopping. First thing she picks up is a Savage 111 with a youth stock in .308, then a Ruger American, then a Vanguard, and finally the one we left with. X-bolt Micro Midas. It fit too well, shouldered too easily, felt too nice to her that I had to get it. $800!! I paid more for that rifle than ANYTHING I shoot! But, hey, she's happy. Too bad we had to cancel our hunt this year, though.
 
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Lots of good rifle/caliber options offered they blow away your price point, however, given the price point I'd look at a Ruger American Compact in .308.
If she has an issue with that add a Limbsaver recoil pad. If that don't work add a muzzle brake.
Put good glass on it too...
 
RUPZUK said:
Lots of good rifle/caliber options offered they blow away your price point, however, given the price point I'd look at a Ruger American Compact in .308.
If she has an issue with that add a Limbsaver recoil pad. If that don't work add a muzzle brake.
Put good glass on it too...
Click to expand...

There is no reason any healthy adult, no matter how small, couldn't handle a .308. Maybe for shooting all day off a bench, there could be issues, but for hunting, there should be no problem if you use 150-170 gr. loads. I got my first .308 at age 9, and my son's been shooting them since the same age (he's 34 now). For some odd reason, I just love the 7mm-08 cartridge. I don't own one, have never fired one, but it just seems like a dream cartridge. the thing to keep in mind is that modern bullets are light years ahead of what they were 50 years ago. A caliber that was sub-par back then is now plenty good for moose. About 50 years ago, a lot of guys felt that the '06 was the absolute minimum. mind you, an awful lot of guys felt the 30-30 was just fine, and thousands of moose wouldn't argue that fact. Let her try some out in the store. If you can, get her to test fire a few calibers. You might be surprised at what she ends up wanting.
 
When my wife first showed an interest in going hunting with me I went out got her a Browning A-bolt micro hunter in .308 with a leupold vx1 2-7x33. She`s shot moose and deer with no problems at all and continues to take that rifle even though her gun collection is quickly catching up to mine.

Hurketthunter84
 
Just me, and I'm currently in the same boat as you. I've decided to skip the entry rifle set of guns as I handled them and I'm just not happy with any of them. After looking around, i went back and analyzed what I like for hunting moose. Small and light was most important to me, so I use a Kimber 84 in .338 Fed. Now that kicks like a mule, so I checked out the other super light weights for my wife. Turns out the Savage Light Weight Hunter isn't rediculously priced and is available in some nice calibres. What I'm going to go with is 6.5 mm Creedmoor. Less kick than a 7mm-08, more range and I'm shooting it for target anyway so I have the reloading equipment. But because of Hornadys direct support for it, purchasing very accurate ammo is easy. Take a look, it also has some other very nice calibres.
 
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