Art Eatman
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Major gun show and/or bigger gun store: Let her feel and fondle for fit and weight.
Looking for a deer rifle for her!
- Thread starter h20oni
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scaatylobo
Member
Let HER try them
My vote is whatever SHE chooses AFTER trying a few rounds from each .
.243 , 7mm-08 , 30-30 , 6mm , 7 X 57 , 6.5 X 55 , . to name a few that come to mind.
And then there is the 7.62 X 39 [ I have a CZ that is a hoot to shoot model 527 ].
But find friends or a LGS that has them for her to try,and a youth model would be THE choice.
My vote is whatever SHE chooses AFTER trying a few rounds from each .
.243 , 7mm-08 , 30-30 , 6mm , 7 X 57 , 6.5 X 55 , . to name a few that come to mind.
And then there is the 7.62 X 39 [ I have a CZ that is a hoot to shoot model 527 ].
But find friends or a LGS that has them for her to try,and a youth model would be THE choice.
Tophernj
Member
If not the AR, I have a Winnie Featherweight Compact in.308 that I love. I like the smaller LOP and the 20" barrel makes it a bit handier. Taking it out this year for it's and mine first deer season. Good luck.
C
C
351 WINCHESTER
Member
A .30-30 is probably all she will ever need. Marlin, Winchester in that order.
ScrapMetalSlug
Member
Look at a h&r handi rifle in 243. That is what I got for my wife. Lightweight and low recoil.
kanook
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My wife is 5' 1/2" tall. She can shoulder fire a BAR till the mag is empty. That's 20rds of 30.06 in a few seconds. Put one of them light weight rifles in her hands and she will wrap it around somebodies head.
She has chosen ON HER OWN a Ruger Compact in .260rem. The length of pull fits her perfect. It is light enough to carry all day and still enough weight to absorb some recoil. She has used it for Deer, Bear, and Hog.
She says that her 44mag Marlin has more recoil than the .260. The stock is 2" longer, so it doesn't fit as good. She still likes her .270 Remington but will always grab the .260 first.
She has chosen ON HER OWN a Ruger Compact in .260rem. The length of pull fits her perfect. It is light enough to carry all day and still enough weight to absorb some recoil. She has used it for Deer, Bear, and Hog.
She says that her 44mag Marlin has more recoil than the .260. The stock is 2" longer, so it doesn't fit as good. She still likes her .270 Remington but will always grab the .260 first.
I will second ScrapMetalSlug's suggestion about the handi-rifle. It's not very exciting (about as basic as they come) but they're good rifles. I have one in .22WMR that is very accurate, and based on my experience with it I'd consider a center-fire version for sure. I like their laminate version. Check this out it looks like you can get it in .243
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/hunter.asp
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/hunter.asp
Well we went to the range today instead of yesterday, but the results were as predicted... she liked the ar in 300 AAC... I might look into getting her into a lighter version than mine... maybe a carbon fiber hand guard and a pencil barrel... that should lighten it up pretty significantly. Plus I'm a colt certified armourer, so I know my way around an ar pretty well! Lol makes it easy for me! Lol!
edmo01
Member
Here is a different twist from all of the bolt gun suggestions and a rifle I'm looking at purchasing.
How about a lever gun in 357 Magnum?
The two models which I'm eyeing are the Marlin 1894c and the Rossi 92. Both are light weight and would be easy for her to handle and shoot.
With 38 Specials it would be a cheap and fun range gun or plinker. With 357 Mags the velocities and energy levels out of a rifle length barrel are more than enough for deer. It could also serve double duty as a home defense gun.
Recoil is very light and if your hunting distances are short (I'd say inside 100 yards) it has all the power she would need for deer.
Just a different twist.
Edmo
How about a lever gun in 357 Magnum?
The two models which I'm eyeing are the Marlin 1894c and the Rossi 92. Both are light weight and would be easy for her to handle and shoot.
With 38 Specials it would be a cheap and fun range gun or plinker. With 357 Mags the velocities and energy levels out of a rifle length barrel are more than enough for deer. It could also serve double duty as a home defense gun.
Recoil is very light and if your hunting distances are short (I'd say inside 100 yards) it has all the power she would need for deer.
Just a different twist.
Edmo
30-30 lever sounds like the easiest "good to go" choice. It's a great all around platform, and always gets respect.
The other choice I'd recommend is Thompson Center Pro Hunter. I just got mine from EABCO, complete with action job. With a 16" barrel, it looks like an SBR. With a 20" barrel, it looks like a very compact rifle.
The other choice I'd recommend is Thompson Center Pro Hunter. I just got mine from EABCO, complete with action job. With a 16" barrel, it looks like an SBR. With a 20" barrel, it looks like a very compact rifle.
JeeperCreeper
Member
LENGTH OF PULL IS KEY!!!!!!!
My vote: Ruger American Compact. Super inexpensive but super quality. 12.5" LOP
But honestly, let her pick. Go for a youth gun if you can
My vote: Ruger American Compact. Super inexpensive but super quality. 12.5" LOP
But honestly, let her pick. Go for a youth gun if you can
Both of my kids are on the small size daughter 13 and son 10. I got them a deer gun a rem700 308 AAC-SD tactical 20" h-bar. Installed the muzzle brake ( as it is threaded for it) and they love shooting it. The fact that the rifle is on the heavy side it absorbs most of the recoil with the help of the brake. They love it and I kind of like it more then my old weatherby.
Deer Rifle
Although I own an AR15, I would not want deer with anything smaller than a .243. The 7mm-08 should be a good but consider .260 Remington as well. According to John Wooters, the .308 will do 90% of want the 30-06 will and some of those better.
Although I own an AR15, I would not want deer with anything smaller than a .243. The 7mm-08 should be a good but consider .260 Remington as well. According to John Wooters, the .308 will do 90% of want the 30-06 will and some of those better.
astocks2622
Member
the solution my wife found most appealing was a sporterized mauser in 7x57. I load the 139gr hornady interlocks, & she can shoot those all day into about 1" at 100 yds. I have some heavier Nosler partitions that we'll use if she ever decides to go for elk. under 300 yds, whatever she's shooting at is done. they just don't know it yet.
I had both the barrel & stock shortened with a limbsaver recoil pad, & installed a long eye relief scope. her only probelm is that it's cock-on-close, instead of cock on open like most modern bolt actions. just makes the bolt a bit harder to close.
BTW, my wife is 4' 11" & 105 lbs, w/o much of a shooting background.
Good luck!
I had both the barrel & stock shortened with a limbsaver recoil pad, & installed a long eye relief scope. her only probelm is that it's cock-on-close, instead of cock on open like most modern bolt actions. just makes the bolt a bit harder to close.
BTW, my wife is 4' 11" & 105 lbs, w/o much of a shooting background.
Good luck!
Sunray
Member
If she doesn't like the '06, she won't like a .308 either. Mind you, since it's more about the rifle than the cartridge and bullet weight, take her shopping.
Sounds like the OP is going with .300 AAC should be very similar in terms of ballistics to 7.62X39
Given the choice between these two I don't know which I'd prefer.
7.62X39 has been cheap to shoot in the past but I don't think this will continue going forward, especially with all the political problems between the US and Russia right now I don't think we'll be importing ammo from them in the future...
.300 AAC has the advantage of using easier to find components (if you reload) just use standard .308 diameter bullets and make your own brass out of .223 cases. But .300 AAC is a new cartridge I think it's only been standardized for a few years? Not sure if it will stand the test of time. I think 7.62X39 will be around still in 20 years, not sure about .300?
Arizona_Mike
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a .260 or 7mm-08 will giver her more game options than a .243 (but she would not be ill served by that either). A short action may be in order. What LoP seems to fit her well?
Mike
Mike
Arkansas Paul
Member
At 5'1" tall length of pull is going to be your issue I think.
That leads me to believe a youth model will be what she likes the best. Let her handle a few and see what fits her the best.
My wife is a small framed girl too and is only 5'4". I bought her a rifle when she wasn't with me. It worked out in my case as she loves it and shoots it well, but if I had it to do again, I'd definitely make her pick out her own.
She has a tang safety Ruger M77 in .243 for what its worth.
She's fired one shot at an animal and it was DRT.
That leads me to believe a youth model will be what she likes the best. Let her handle a few and see what fits her the best.
My wife is a small framed girl too and is only 5'4". I bought her a rifle when she wasn't with me. It worked out in my case as she loves it and shoots it well, but if I had it to do again, I'd definitely make her pick out her own.
She has a tang safety Ruger M77 in .243 for what its worth.
She's fired one shot at an animal and it was DRT.
sharps59
Member
I was small & my son was small in size when we started hunting. Started of w a 94 9n 32 spc. worked for him to when he started. he was maybe 5'3'. I'm a lever guy so I would suggest trying a browning BLR in 308, 7mm-08, or 243.
Nom de Forum
Member
Have her find some rifles that she does not find too heavy and comfortable to manipulate the action. Then find a cartridge and bullet weight combination that is appropriate for hunting deer at the range she expects to shoot at them that has one half to two thirds the recoil of a .30-06. I think you may find the .243 and similar cartridges to be good choices. If the range is less than 100 yards a .30-30 is a good choice if she like a lever action. You can find charts on line that give recoil poundage for various cartridges in typical rifles.
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