.30-30 Bolt Action?

stevens 325 C

This was my first deer rifle, if a 7 year old can shoot one your wife should be just fine.

Why not a lever action?

Do some folks make outrageous statements here to be funny or to show total ignorance? I am just curious.

Ruger produced a short run of M77 boat oars in 30/30. Nice little rifle however the boat oar design made them kick alot harder than need. I do not know if a wood stock version was ever produced. Ruger made some non traditional calibers in bolt rifles. I am currently looking at one in 7.62x54R.

however the boat oar design made them kick alot harder than need.

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It also made them alot uglier than needed.

Reduced recoil ammo is made for 7mm-08, .308 Win, .270 Win, and 30-06.

If she's stuck on .30 caliber, the .308 Win, using reduced-recoil factory rounds would be perfect for her. The short-action bolt guns are great for women, though watch out for synthetic stocks that can't easily be shortened to fit smaller statures. I'm impressed with the Remington Model 7 with a youth stock.

I looked for 7mm-08 reduced recoil rounds and can't find them in most places. As good a cartridge as it is, many of the big-box stores don't carry even the regular ammo in that cartridge.

Another round that may be under-rated for deer is the .243 Win. It has the advantage of flat trajectory that minimizes holdover at reasonable ranges, and with 100 grain or other "deer-sized game" rounds, is a quick killer.

The Savage 340 is an "okay" gun, but it a bit clunky with a scope, needing a side mount, due to the cut in the receiver top. They may be fine with receiver sights, but I haven't seen many on them. I don't recommend lever-actions for beginners due to the loading/unloading situation with gloves on and in the relative darkness/cold. I've witnessed several accidental discharges.

I started hunting with a savage 340 30-30 carbine bolt with a weaver k-4. nice rifle. i still have it. but when it was time for my son to start I set him up with a winchester 70 fwt compact in .308 with a leupold 2.5x. I put a soft recoil pad on and used federal low recoil ammo. He spent a whole summer shooting my 77/22 .22lr and then switched to the .308. he never noticed the change because I limited the number of .308 rounds. I never told him about recoil and he has never "learned" to flinch. deer season rolled around and the 170 grain flat nose nosler partition (30-30 bullet) light loaded in the .308 did the job right. one shot,one deer. the only problem is now he thinks its "his rifle" . he was disappointed when I explained that it was a kids rifle and each of his siblings was going to get a chance with that rifle. I am shooting for a family tradition. all four kids take their first deer with same rifle.

My brother Dave had a bolt-action .30-30, probably still does, but I couldn't tell ya what it is. Pretty old though, it's been at least 35 years since I last saw it. Maybe longer.

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Emailed my bro, his is a Stevens 325C, which has been mentioned several times already.

I've owned a Springfield 840 in 30-30 for 30 plus years,walnut stock,deep rich blewing,4x32 compact scope.will groupe 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards.I love it.I seen many variations of this rifle at gunshows for 300 or so,keep looking. biker

Buy her a 30-06 and load them light or buy the reduced recoil ammo.

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+1, especially if you already have a .30-06.

The Stevens version has a classier bolt handle. Sort of like a butter knife handle. This is my pick if there was a choice between Stevens and Savage.

Both rifles are sturdy and have an excellent reputation.

TR

Darn, I had the perfect rifle for your wife - a Savage 45 Super Sporter in 30-30. Came with very nice receiver sight and a detachable magazine. It took me a year to sell it as I have too many 30-30's and it was redundant, but it was a very nice classic rifle. In the $300 range and it will never loose any value. They have bottomed out on price and are now starting to climb. It never had a problem shooting pointy bullets including Remington 22 Accelerators

I picked up my Stevens Model 325 in 30-30 for less than 200 bucks few years ago. I did put a Williams FP aperture rear on it, very accurate little rifle.

I exclusively shoot the Lyman 170 grain #311291 cast boolit at around 2,000 fps. One thing to bear in mind about the Stevens 325 and later Savage 340 models, they only have one locking lug. So not to be hot rodded, keep pressures in line for lever guns like the 94 or 336.

Oh yeah, the Savage model 45 Super Sporter has 4 effective locking lugs. Two up front and one opposite the bolt handle and the base of the bolt handle. Very strong action.

Load the 30-06 light, go to the Hodgdon site and look in load data/youth loads. Their reduced load is right in the 30-30 ballpark.

A Savage 340 or a Stevens 325 in 30/30 is a terrific rifle. Very plain and very accurate. Magazines can be purchased brom Brownells if needed. They sometimes need a little filing on the tabs for an easier fit but that's no big deal. I have a Savage 340 made in 1954, it is light to carry and fun to shoot.