Youth & ladies rifles

KyleM

KyleM

Regular
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Location
Alberta
Well, my girlfriend has finally gone and officially designated herself as a "Keeper" Not only does she want to get into IPSC, she wants to get a rifle and go Moose hunting this fall. (Shucks, I have to buy more guns now! Darn it anyways!:D :D ;) :rolleyes: )

The question is... what is on the market for small framed shooters? She's not a beginner, she learned to shoot in the reserves and on the farm growing up, so she can handle a reasonable share of recoil, but she is quite slightly built.

The rifle has to be a fairly multi-purpose unit.... Moose on the high end, coyotes on the low end. I'm thinking .308 win right now, and I can just handload for her ("honey, you have to do your share, you get to sort, clean and prep these, I'll be over here watching TV if you have questions!!" :eek: ) so the ammo can be dialed up or down as required...

What I have seen so far in the catalogues:
Winchester M70 Classic youth (.243 and 7-08)
Browning A-Bolt II Micro Hunter (.243, 7-08, .308 and WSMs)
These two still have long lenghts of pull, up over 13 1/4 inches - probably still too long for her...

Remington Model Seven Youth (.243, .260 rem 7-08 and 6.8 SPC)
Remington M700 SPS Youth (.243 .308 .270 win and .30-06)
Length of pull on the Remmys is 12 3/8" - much better size!

Is there any other compact rifles on the market that will have the do-it-all flexibility she is looking for? we will have to go and try a few for fit, I'm sure before we pick which one to get for her, but some other input would be appreciated.
 
I would get the GF into a gunstore and have her try out several rifles in any of the above cartridges! 308 would be fine and anything like that dow to the 6.5 x55/260 remmington! Then go with want fits the GF best!!
 
I have to give the nod to the 6.5x55 or the 260Rem as well. Next the Tikka T3, cheap, 6.5lbs without scope and incredible accuracy in any given bullet weight, even with factory rounds. Never thought I would say this about a low end rifle. A low end T3 shoots as well or better than a lot of custom rifles and for about the same price as a decent barrel and installation. Take her to a shop that sells them and let her try one for fit, I'll bet the boys in the store will treat her like a queen and even give her a better price or throw something in, they love haveing more women in the shooting sports. Good for you getting her involved by the way, if my wife wasn't so understanding about my love and passion for the sport, ??????????? Bearhunter
 
First off -- get her LOP measured by a good gunsmith. If you hunt more in colder weather, get her measured with he hunting jacket on. It do make a difference.

Next -- decide what your cartidge requirements are going to be. My wife and oldest daughter are also slight gals, and I had an older Ithaca LSA 65 in 30-06 cut down to fit them. The rifle is made by Tikka fo Ithaca. It has always been VERY accurate.

Next -- you are a reloader, so you can manufacture the right bullet/load for what she can handle and still do the job on the animals she is going to kill. I had initially used Hornady 165 gr BTSP in the ladies' 30-06 with a light charge of IMR4350, and it still rocked them pretty good. I felt sorry for them, so I went looking through some old manuals. In the Speer #8, I found a load with IMR3031 that gave a 150 grain bullet 2840 fps -- basically 308 #'s -- and I loaded up some 150 Partitions. They shot pretty close to minute of angle for them, and the recoil was noticeable less. Things that effect recoil is bullet weight -- lighter is better -- charge weight -- lighter is better -- rifle weight -- heavier is better -- Velocity -- slower is better.

Of course, coupled to that is velocity and bullet weight requirements for the game you shoot. I found that a 150 gr .308" bullet at 2840 fps would knock a deer out of its tracks at 200 yards, and would drop a bull moose at roughly the same distance. They both connected with satisfactory results -- two deer -- one at 195 yards, and the other at 190 yards. Done deal! They love it, and it is mild enough to practice with all day!
 
FWIW my wife bought herself a used M70 featherlight in .257 Roberts for deer. Now she's looking for a bigger caliber in the same gun for elk etc.

Dean
 
another vote for the 260 Rem, housed in the youth Model Seven, with a good hunting load of a 130 gr. Barnes Triple Shock @ 2700 fps'ish

A good recoil pad on that Model Seven is key, Im not 100% they come with Limbsaver R3's from the factory...

7-08 is the same thing, 140 triple shocks - good to go
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If she's hunting moose don't get to small a caliber. .308 win or my preference a 30-06 in Ruger MkII ultra light or Tikka T3. Then take her & the gun to a gunsmith & get the length of pull cut to suit her. She'll have a lot less wounded game with a larger caliber like the .306 or.30-06
 
6.5x55 [or 260 Rem], 7x57 [or 7-08 Rem] As has been suggested, get her LOP measured up properly and then put a decent recoil pad on the rifle. Do not buy a rifle in 30-06 in an ultralight package, the recoil can be substantial, and may be unpleasant to shoot for a slightly built person. Regards, Eagleye.
 
OK, I found the Ruger 77 Compact in their online catalogue, but it doesnt list the length of pull. does anybody actually have one of these around that could say if these are significaly shorter or not?
Tikka T3s are another one I thought about, but I didn't see a youth/ladies model in their catalogue either... does anybody know offhand if they make one?
 
Check this out Chola has this thread on this same forum.


Quote Chola "What I have here is a Tikka T3 Lite in stainless 7mm Mag...Leupold rings and bases and a Burris mildot scope in 3x9x40...it's all unfired brand new,the whole package...Tikka sling and a Tikka rifle case,the blue nylon one.....can take it for $1000 out the door...what do ya think...handled it today,nice gun and all,didn't like the stock,but it seemed light and well balanced...price alright or ??????....they told me this was some kind of package deal with special pricing,dunno if it was a promotion thing or what....."

7MM mag is a great caliber. Load it a little under max with 120gr or 140gr & it's a great deer gun with very little recoil. For Elk or moose 160gr or 175gr have lots of kill power even loaded a little light if recoil is a problem. I used my .30-06 for near 30 years until I bought my 7MM Rem mag because it was a bargain & a beauty. Now I use it all the time. has less recoil & a little flatter trajectory than the 30-06
 
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