Girl Gun?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Stainlessbutcher

Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Messages
38
Location
Fort Worth TX
I know, that title is kinda lame, but it's exactly what I need help with. I want to get my fiance' a rifle for deer hunting here on our farm in TX that won't bruise her, but will still get the job done. Specifically I'm looking for either a bolt action or single shot that can be scoped. I'd buy one of those 30-30/20 ga. over and unders in a heart beat if people wern't asking so freaking much money for them. Ideally, someting in the 7.62 / .30 cal range would be great. I'm rather fond of the 30 cal variety. Any suggestions?
 
Depending on her tolerance to recoil, anything larger than .223 in this lineup would be great, IMO -

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeLaminateCompact/models.html

My wife likes her .243 Win and says she isn't interested in even trying my .30-06. She says it hurts just to watch it... :)

The much-maligned .243 is just fine for deer, and hardly any youngster or spouse complains about the recoil. It's there, but it isn't punishing and it usually doesn't cause a flinch.

If she can shoot accurately with it, from field positions, she'll do better than trying to fight a larger caliber that intimidates her.

Obviously, shooters vary in the feminine persuasion and some aren't bothered by recoil. I believe these are somewhat rare...

Anyway, that's my two cents.
 
If she's delicate, try a 243. If she can take a little more recoil go with a 7mm-08. That will drop any whitetail (assuming that's what your hunting) without too much punishment. Just get her out shooting a bunch before she hunts to get her used to the recoil and noise to keep her from being flinchy. If you're shooting short range (100 yards or so) the 30-30 is a real good choice. More deer have been converted to venison with this cartridge than all others combined, even though many think it is underpowered. I don't agree with that school of thought. If you don't handle recoil well, you will do much better with a lighter round like the 30-30. I have a buddy that shoots a 7mm mag and misses damn near every deer he shoots at because he's afraid of the punch he's about to experience every time he shoots. He'd be better off with a milder caliber/cartridge. I have told him this repeatedly, but he's a tough-guy that needs a flame throwing belted magnum to carry around. Good luck and congrats on getting yourself a little gal that wants to hunt with you. You're a lucky man. (by the way, women are naturally better shots then men. I know because I've taught many. It hurts the ego, but it's just simply true.)
 
...I know a lot of hunters who hunt successfully with a .243...from little women to big macho men...the cartridge will do the job...maybe a single-shot Handi-rifle type with a scope....
 
.243 is an excellent cartridge. I also enjoy shooting a friend's .250-3000 Savage, although I do not own a rifle in that caliber. He has taken plenty of whitetail with that rifle.
 
My pop hunted with a Parker-Hale .243 way back in the day and brought home quite a few deer. Unfortunately, our property is very heaily wooded, so that light a round is likely to cause a lot of misses that would be hits. I've got a pre-64 model 94 in 30-30 and I'm sure she will shoot it, but she does want her own, and I'm not about to part with Daddy's 30-30, nor am I about to plop a thousand dollars down for some fancy stainless steel monstrosity. I'm a simple man, my girl is a simple girl...so we'll use the ol' keep it simple approach. As for recoil, well, she shoots her ill fitted Mossy 12 Ga with out too much complaint, however, since the stock hasn't been fitted yet, it bruises her pretty bad.

B.
 
Roughly in order of light to medium recoil:

.243 Win
30-30
.257 Roberts
.260 Remington
6.5x55 Swede
7x57 Mauser
7mm-08
 
There are a few 30-30 bolt actions out there and with modern ammo are great deer guns. Check them out on Gunbroker.

If she is petite get a Reminton mod 7 in 260 remington. Light recoil and great gun. Savage also makes some very good quality guns in various deer calibers at a great price. If you're shooting at close distance, 100 yards or less, a 20 gauge can be perfect.

I've never shot a .243, but from what I've read it's the minimun you need for deer. This usually means that shot placement is also critical or you could be chasing, and losing deer. If she is recoil sensative, a 260 remington should fit the bill just nicely.

Enjoy.
 
A CZ-527 in 7.62x39 might be a good choice. I kinda would like to have one (thanks for making this thread - I forgot about that one until you brought it up!).
But what I would do...
Get the girl to the gun store and let her look at them. Have her handle them but make on like you're just killing time. Pay attention to what she likes, then go back and get her one when she's not with you.
Unless you're not trying to make it into a surprise, in which case you can just take her there and buy the damn thing.
 
Keep in mind that recoil is a function of rifle mass as well as projectile mass and velocity. A heavier rifle of the same caliber will have less recoil energy, so a super light rifle in a lighter caliber may not offer any recoil advantage of a standard weight rifle in a heavier caliber.
 
bolt action 7.62x39..there are a couple on the market(cz527 carbine, ruger m77 hawkeye compact, and fn spr usa)...federal and winchester both put out factory loads intended for deer hunting and if u handload there are somr good bullets available for it..and pretty light recoil..
 
FIRST... take her shopping..
SECOND... look at the .243, .257 rbts, or possibly a .260 if she isnt THAT recoil sensitive.

STAY AWAY FROM.... 30-30 (the nonexistent recoil pad on many can hurt some shooters), the 270 and the 30-06 unless she is just set on them...
 
Pink AR15
Click to expand...

I know a woman who would slap somebody if they suggested a pink gun to her...

Better let the lady pick out her own gun and her own color.

An AR, however, in a hunting legal caliber would not be a bad choice at all...particuarly with a nice reddot on it...
 
Seeing nobody else mentioned it yet, I'll throw in my .02

A great first deer gun for the ladies is the Marlin 336 Lever action in .30-30

Easilly scoped, shoots to 200m if you do your part, not very heavy, light recoil, and just plain looks good :)

I've got one myself, and have used it for deer hunting for 16 years now. The wife loves to shoot it too.
 
...the 30-30 is a real good choice. More deer have been converted to venison with this cartridge than all others combined
Click to expand...
The 30-30 is fine, but I wonder if that's even true any more?

There are a few 30-30 bolt actions out there and with modern ammo are great deer guns.
Click to expand...
That seems kinda pointless, a 30-30 without any of the good handling properties of a lever gun. A 30-30 bolt gun would work, but a 243 has less recoil and extends your range farther.

our property is very heaily wooded, so that light a round is likely to cause a lot of misses that would be hits.
Click to expand...
It shouldn't. Studies have been done and the difference between "brushbuster" calibers and more standard high power rounds is way less than most people think. In reality, you should be taking clear shots no matter what you are shooting, trying to bust through stuff between you and the deer is a bad idea. That said, if the property is heavily wooded a lever gun would be plenty, although as someone previously mentioned a 30-30 with no recoil pad gives a little more bump than you might expect.
 
Last edited:
Before you buy a NEF double-duty gun (shotgun/rifle combo) find someone who has one and ask to shoot it. I've seen rifles that shot patterns like shotguns. Others shoot softball-size groups. Too, for me, their recoil is excessive - mostly because the stocks don't fit me well. I shot a 20 gauge twice, put it down, and went back to my Mossberg 500 12 gauge - it felt better to me.

I can't urge you enough to try that gun before you buy it, even in .243.

Q
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

TarDevil
  • Locked
Two Missions, Two Paths, One Gun
2 3 4 5
Replies
107
Views
4K
TarDevil
TarDevil
A
  • Locked
.270 bolt: which one?
2 3 4
Replies
80
Views
4K
AStone
A
K
  • Locked
Kachok's Caliber Guide
2 3 4
Replies
75
Views
4K
H&Hhunter
H&Hhunter
G
  • Locked
257 Roberts and the Remington 700 action
Replies
15
Views
4K
flashhole
F
T
  • Locked
Advice: Lever guns for my girls!
Replies
15
Views
867
unwise11
U
Back
Top