Deer hunting rifle for 16 year old girl

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You’re on the right track with the 243win. A Howa, Ruger, or CZ in 6.5 Grendel would also be high on my list.

Recommending those choices NOT with concessions for a teenage girl in mind, but rather the balance of performance, cost, and recoil for the task at hand. I find nothing better for whitetails at 0-400 yards than 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 243win, 6 creed, and those in their class.
 
6.5 CM. Recoil is closer to 243, performance will equal 7-08, 308, or 270 on game. Many more choices in rifles, and ammo at better prices.

Fact is that ANY of the above will work as would at least a dozen other options. But try actually finding some of the other rifles or ammo on shelves. There is a reason 6.5 CM is now accounting for about 1/2 of all new rifles sold. It is the best balance of availability, price, recoil, and performance.
 
sharps59 said:
So far we will look at the savage the winchester xpr 243, 6.5 creedmoor possibly 7-08.
any other suggestion.
personally I and everyone else I hunt w levers. my to are a 94 in 32 spc and blr in 358.
we hunt in NY w our property a 250 yard shot could be possible but not probable
rife & cal. thoughts Please
Click to expand...

What you haven't said anything about is her degree of recoil sensitivity and please don't forget muzzle blast. In a hunting situation most of us don't wear ear protection, and what a .243 and similar cartridges lack in recoil, they make up in muzzle blast, which for many is just as difficult to handle.

A .243 is excellent for broadside chest shots, provided you avoid the lighter varmint bullets. For close range I like the killing power of the 30 WCF and the 32 Winchester Special better. If recoil isn't a problem, .270, .308, and 30-06 are better choices which allow a slightly wider angle of fire to reliably reach the chest cavity. There are really dozens of cartridges that will do well.

Don't get me wrong. I love the .243, but it's best in the hands of the man who can look at a shot, tell himself he doesn't like the angle, and be happy not to shoot.
 
I like 243, but in the hands of a neophyte it can turn bad in a hurry. Not a big fan of small caliber guns for beginners who get excited and lack experience. I would go with 6.5 CM or 7mm-08 just because of the availability of cheap and abundant ammo. There are others like 257 Rob, 6.5 Swede, and 260 that are low recoil and spit enough lead to make up for an off-center shot, but there again, you get into calibers that you might not find at a Podunk, Arkansas gun shop.
 
Though I am not much of a short action guy I like the idea of a 6.5 CM, or 7mm-08 for your daughter. Quality ammo anywhere. Mild recoil and report.

I like the 6.5 CM more as it could be a once and done rifle for most game on the continent. I personally like as heavy of bullets as are accurate in your rifle. However, if factory ammo is used, you get what you get.

If a long action were to be used I would say 25-06.
 
I have a Tikka T3 in 7-08 with a muzzle brake. Near perfect deer rifle. I agree with all the other choices except 7.62x39. Very short range. I have shot a few deer with it . Ok short range but rapidly losses elevation and velocity and slow to start with.
 
I'd be fine with a 243, and I wouldn't worry about it in the hands of a kid either. There's enough umph in the round to still make a kill even with a less-than-perfect shot. It's a common kids round out West where I'm at, where ranges get long and the mule deer get pretty big.

That being said, 7-08 and 6.5 CM both bring more energy than a 243 and don't kick that much more - IME, 243 is a harder kicker than both the numbers and its kid-friendly reputation suggest because of the sharp recoil impulse. If the extra recoil isn't an issue, and it would make you and your daughter more confident about pulling the trigger, I'd pry step up to a 7-08.
 
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My kids all started hunting with a Remington Model 7 in .243. Today I’d look for a Creedmoor, but I’d still stick with a 6mm.
 
Any of the ones you listed would be a good choice.

I have a 16 year old daughter, who will be in the deer stand with me the weekend after Thanksgiving.
She will be wielding a tang safety Ruger M77 in .243 Win. She loves shooting it, and the kid is a pretty good shot.
 
As a mlsurp hunter I'd probably hand her one of my 6.5mm or 7mm Mauser sporters - her choice - and head to the range... .

And I deeply agree with:
40-82 said:
Don't get me wrong. I love the .243, but it's best in the hands of the man who can look at a shot, tell himself he doesn't like the angle, and be happy not to shoot.
Click to expand...
Better no shot than an iffy shot.
 
Varminterror said:
You’re on the right track with the 243win. A Howa, Ruger, or CZ in 6.5 Grendel would also be high on my list.

Recommending those choices NOT with concessions for a teenage girl in mind, but rather the balance of performance, cost, and recoil for the task at hand. I find nothing better for whitetails at 0-400 yards than 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 243win, 6 creed, and those in their class.
Click to expand...
+1
Nothing to add to that!

well maybe, I'd probably add the 6.5CM just because I like it
 
I think a rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor matches perfectly with 16 year old girls. Are double entendres allowed?

However, if it was my choice to make it would be a nice light 243.
 
40-82 said:
What you haven't said anything about is her degree of recoil sensitivity and please don't forget muzzle blast. In a hunting situation most of us don't wear ear protection, and what a .243 and similar cartridges lack in recoil, they make up in muzzle blast, which for many is just as difficult to handle.

A .243 is excellent for broadside chest shots, provided you avoid the lighter varmint bullets. For close range I like the killing power of the 30 WCF and the 32 Winchester Special better. If recoil isn't a problem, .270, .308, and 30-06 are better choices which allow a slightly wider angle of fire to reliably reach the chest cavity. There are really dozens of cartridges that will do well.

Don't get me wrong. I love the .243, but it's best in the hands of the man who can look at a shot, tell himself he doesn't like the angle, and be happy not to shoot.
Click to expand...
Do not know her sensitivity yet. My first plan is to find something that fits her . Then there is a range by us that rents guns too. Will see if they have what feels good to her. (They charge per gun and must use there ammo in their guns.
 
My perception... for square range work, wear hearing protection. For hunting, the report won't be near as noticeable. Something about focusing on the deer.

The part about the prospective hunter being a 16 year old girl... aside from her being a beginner, we really know very little.
 
If you can find one savage made a m 10 or 11 lady hunter built to a woman's frame. All of your mentioned cartridges are good deer rounds if you reload you might even try a 250 savage, 6x45, 6x47.

I'm in the school of thought concerning recoil not give a shooter too much recoil to fast.
 
earlthegoat2 said:
Though I am not much of a short action guy I like the idea of a 6.5 CM, or 7mm-08 for your daughter. Quality ammo anywhere. Mild recoil and report.

I like the 6.5 CM more as it could be a once and done rifle for most game on the continent. I personally like as heavy of bullets as are accurate in your rifle. However, if factory ammo is used, you get what you get.

If a long action were to be used I would say 25-06.
Click to expand...
I’m a short action guy myself
 
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