New Deer Rifle for the Wife... Any Suggestions???

[Brian Williams]

Here is my Deer rifle pair, a Win Mod 70 Compact Classic in 7mm-08 and a Marlin 1894C in 357. If I can not do the job with these two, I should not be woodswalking. As to calibers any of the short action rounds mentioned and a Win Compact classic, Remington mod 7, or a Browning A bolt, would be fine rifles.

 

[Anthony T.]

25-06

It is a necked down 30-06. It's just the lighter caliber and bullet that makes the recoil easier. I'd place it between a 243 and a 270. The 257 roberts is a great deer cartridge also. It has a lighter recoil than the 25-06. I like the 25-06 because of the extended range capabilities. 25-06 and 7mm-08 are about equal in kick. 25-06's that ive shot seem to be slightly less recoiling than the 7mm-08's I've fired. Also, another thing, the 257 whetherby and 257 roberts are completely different altogether. the cases dont interchange, though they both shoot the same .257 caliber bullet. So yea, it would come in handy reloading.

 

[usmccpl]

My missus cant really take recoil but still we got her shooting a trimmed down savage 111 in 30-06. Sometimes after she gets over the initial fear that it is gonna hurt she forgets that she only has 40 rounds to shoot and asks me for more. She tried my model 70 featherweight once and said it is too much but she could barely reach the trigger. Then we found the Savage it was made for somebody shorter than her it has a different stock that was cut down about 6 inches and had a thick recoil pad applied to it.





one shot one kill

 

[mustanger98]

I strongly believe in .30-30, .243, and .30-06. I recommend looking at either of the first two first. Recoil in a sporter-weight deer rifle will be stout with the '06. IMO, you can't beat a .30-30 levergun, but that's me. A petite lady I know locally really likes her Rem. M7 in .260 though. All this said...

LET HER CHOOSE. SHE'LL LIKE IT A LOT BETTER IF SHE DOES.

 

[knoxx45]

everyone thankyou so much...

you have all given us so much help. This weekend, we are going to the range to try out a few different options. I called a bunch of friends and scrounged up some voulenteers a win 94 trapper in 30-30, a Marlin 1894c in .357, and a tikka T3 lite SS in 25-06.

i'll let you all know how things turn out.

 

[WYO]

I am firmly in the .260 and 7mm-08 camp as a good all around rifle. My wife loves her 6.5x55, but it is strictly a handloading proposition, and I don't mind loading all the ammo she can shoot. If your wife is shooting an 870 Youth in 20 gauge, she won't notice the recoil in any of those calibers, if the rifle fits her.

Also, I am firmly in the "let her choose" camp.

 

[stellarpod]

A hearty "amen" to the "let her choose" proposition.

stellarpod