Rifle for girlfriend

[Peakbagger46]

I need some advise on a hunting rifle for my girlfriend. She is about 5'06" tall and small of build. Right now she is using my Remington Model Seven in .308, but that light gun beats her up quite a bit.

The requirements include a shorter stock and it must be large enough for mule deer and elk. I'm thinking 7mm-08 as about right.

The only gun I can find so far is a Remington SPS youth in 7mm-08, but found the barrel is only 20". What other options are out there?

 

[jester_s1]

The SPS is about as good as it gets. Savage has a big line of youth guns, and Weatherby's Vanguard youth guns are impressive too. If you want the longer barrel, there's nothing wrong with buying a standard wood stocked gun and cutting it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Friend of mine armed his girlfriend with a Remington Youth in .260. He said if he had it to do over again, it would be a 7mm 08 and he would provide her with graduated handloads, starting light for practice and medium for deer, saving the full charge loads for elk.

 

[DIM]

Have you tried .270 or .243? Well .243 be off limits for the elk but 270 has lighter recoil then .308 that's what I think since I use both of these fine calibers
On the other hand Remington makes 6.8 mm spc very light recoil les then .243 but has more punch, but will not work for the elk.

Caliber Recoil [Foot Pounds]
.243------------------------8.4
.25-06--------------------12.4
.270-----------------------15.7
7x57-----------------------12.2
.280-----------------------16.2
7mm Rem. Mag.---------24.3
.308-----------------------14.8
.30-06---------------------20.0
.300 Win. Mag.----------27.2
.30-30---------------------11.4
(Recoil data in ft.-lbs. based on selected typical hunting loads and rifle weights published in NRA Firearms Fact Book and Balltec Tioga Engineering.)

Looks like 30-30 for short distance or (7X57 7mm 08) for "long" shots are you best choices

TC Encore makes very nice single shot riffles you can get one in youth stock

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/encoreCenterfire.php

 

[Maverick223]

Rifle for girlfriend

What does she look like...and for which rifle? She is a little short, but I might be willing to trade...but I'll need pics first.

Do NOT go with .270...that is very nearly the recoil of a .30-06! I think a .30-30 (Marlin 336) would be best for close range and a .260 or a 7mm-08 would be best for moderate range. The .30-30 is probably the best bet as it is light, inexpensive, quick/points well, little recoil, and with Hornady LeveRevolution can handle fairly decent ranged shots on deer. The .260 is more versatile, but at greater expense, more recoil, and more costly ammunition and little choice of bullets for those that do not reload.

 

[cratti]

Weatherby's Vanguard is available in a "youth combo" - Shorter barrel, but a youth and full-size stock. Priced around $500 with no optics.

 

[JASmith]

Interesting comments so far --

The very light rifles typically made for the 30-30 make it a bruiser too! Thoughts for calibers: .257 Roberts is a classic. 6.5 Grendel or .260 Remington give very good performance vs recoil for varmints through big game.

On the other hand, I would take a very strong look at the managed recoil loads in .270 through 30-06. Go with one of these calibers with an appropriately sized rifle and you have a good starter equivalent to the smaller cartridges and growth potential as she becomes more comfortable with shooting!

 

[Maverick223]

JAS, since when did they quit making .30-30 reduced recoil...besides IMO standard .30-30 is has less felt recoil than .30-06/.270 reduced recoil...with comparable loads there is no question which has the lighter recoil...and before someone spurts it out .30-30 has more than enough capacity to kill a mule deer or elk.

DIM, that is just low...changing your [previous] post to concur with mine...:smiley wags finger:

 

[browningguy]

The youth models from Savage, Weatherby or Remington would work well. Personally I'd go with a .260, even though I don't own one it's a very good cartridge, good penetration with the right bullets and modest recoil. Plenty of Elk have also been killed with the .243. With a modern load like the 85 gr. TSX there is no quesiton about getting adequate penetration.

While I thinkt he managed recoil loads are a good idea in theory I think you give up to much. They tend to use very light for caliber bullets which does nothing for penetration on game.

 

[Will Fennell]

Do you reload?

If you reload, I would take a strong look at the TIKKA T3 in 6.5 Swede. Overall lightweight, soft recoil, and with appropriate reloads, plenty of performance. If not, the same rifle in 7/08 would work.

 

[PT1911]

.257 Roberts!!! as versatile as anything... low recoil.. and some pretty cool options out there as far as the make and model go.

 

[Runningman]

I would look for a rifle in 6.5 x 55 Swede myself.

 

[doublebarrel12]

Maybe better to just tame down that 308 with a muzzle brake. I had one put on a gun for my daughter, she could handle it good so I didn't need a new gun persay. She just wasn't enjoying the thump. I cut down a stock as the previous guy mentioned, added a good kick pad and that didn't do enough so then came the muzzle brake. It is almost like shooting a .22lr now, just much louder!!

 

[bpl]

A new model 70 featherweight is a beautiful rifle and the 7mm-08 comes with a 22" barrel. You could have an inch cut off the stock and the recoil pad reinstalled.

Examples:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=140402538
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=139882800

 

[bpl]

PT1911,

I think .257 Roberts would be a great choice for deer in this case, but for elk? I'm not sure I'd choose the Bob for elk, especially for an inexperienced shooter.

 

[PT1911]

the inexperience is the question... guess it comes down to the shooter...I personally wouldnt have much hesitation taking the shot on an elk with a load I felt comfortable with.

but I understand why some wouldnt.

 

[jpwilly]

Rifle for girlfriend

I'm in...What does she look like?

 

[bpl]

peakbagger46,

I think with the 7mm-08 (short action), there is very good performance from a 20" barrel. You have reached pretty close to your max velocity by then. You'd see a more substantial velocity benefit with a longer barrel in a long action caliber (more powder left to burn) than a short action caliber.

 

[rangerruck]

forget all that stuff; get you an old remmy 600/660/mohawk; they are tiny, but they do have some weight, being old school and all. They also came with pretty good recoil pads, usually the Redlines. Get one in either 6mm remmy or 7.08.
the 6mm remmy , is like a 243 on steroids.
here is a real gem; 13 inches LOP, and 36 inches , with pad, overall.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=140299061

if you have to have a bigger bullet, get one of these in 6.5 rem mag.
these are the same size, but typically even heavier, because of the laminate stock.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=140111945
check this one; made for a girl.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=139999022

 

[Peakbagger46]

I really like the look of the savage youth in 7-08. It comes with an adjustable muzzle brake. I do reload, so custom loads will not be a problem.

I've never shot with a brake. How much louder does that make the gun? What can you "adjust" on it and how does it affect accuracy?

 

[blackops]

Peak,

Let me tell you a brake will make it EXTREMELY louder. I would highly recommend wearing ear plugs. As for “adjustments” from my experience you either have it attached or you don’t. I don’t think a brake makes you more accurate or less, but it will take a little velocity away. The 7-08 is going to have a bit of recoil, I’m no expert, but I would recommend something a little lighter. You have a tossup for which caliber. Get the caliber she can fire all day and is very comfortable with (243) which is good for deer size game and below or the larger caliber that can take elk (7-08), but isn’t likely a gun she is going to want to repeatedly fire. I listed my opinion for you, but it’s just that…an opinion.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/672/products_id/97475

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'd keep the Rem M-7 in .308.

If you don't reload, find some factory loads with 125gr bullets. They recoil less.
Secondly, have the stock cut down to fit HER, and install a KickEze or similar recoil pad.

The difference in the recoil of the .308 and 7mm08 is insignificant. I have a Remington M7 in 7mm08. The 20" bbl isn't enough of a velocity loss to be significant. According to MY chronograph, my 20" bbl on my M7 losses nothing.... I regularily see 2,850fps from both factory and handloads with 140gr bullets. Factory PMC with 139gr Hornady's see's over 2,900fps. So, excellent performance, but NO velocity loss, and of course just as much recoil as a .308.......

But, if a new rifle is what you want, you can't go wrong with the 7mm08 in that youth SPS.... In fact, at 300yds and beyond, the "little" 7mm08 actually outperforms the .308.

If you know some reloaders, the very best course of action would be to get some 125 or 130gr handloads loaded down somewhat for practice/deer hunting, and of course use full powered ammo for such as elk.

FWIW; fitting the stock and a good recoil pad and hearing protection should "fix" the problem anyhow... .308's don't kick that much anyhow. And, much cheaper than a new rifle.

 

[briansmithwins]

Brake.

A effective brake can reduce recoil by 20%. Of course, TANSTAAFL applies and the rifle will require hearing protection to shoot.

You want killing power with light recoil in a rifle that can be carried in the field hunting. That's a hard thing to do without a cheat like a brake provides.

BSW

 

[shaggy430]

I'd keep the Rem M-7 in .308.

If you don't reload, find some factory loads with 125gr bullets. They recoil less.
Secondly, have the stock cut down to fit HER, and install a KickEze or similar recoil pad.

I second that. I've got a Rem Model 7 in .308 that I used for years when I was a kid that was an absolute deer slayer. My brother had a Model 7 in 7-08 and there was no difference in the recoil.

Try loading Hornady 130 gr spire points over a light load of 748. Low recoil and kills deer like lightning. Also, most major manufacturers make a reduced recoil load. No sense spending money on another rifle when the one you have is perfect.

 

[sniper5]

I'll put in another vote for 6.5 x 55 Swede. Don't hunt but my VERY recoil shy wife started shooting milsurps with me and that was her introduction to large bore rifles. I loaded her some light loads with 140 grain bullets, 17 grains of SR4759, and CCI 34 primers and she loved it. Almost no recoil at all. Now has enough confidence to handle full house loads. And she's shooting a steel buttplate. If you put a nice Kickeez pad on your GF's rifle you should be good to go. Energy wise in the .308 class but with better penetration. Should do the job if she does hers.