Rifle for girlfriend

[cluttonfred]

Two points....

1) Why not simply go with lighter .308 loads for all the times that you're not hunting elk?

2) Since good ammo very quickly adds up to the price of a new gun, and if you don't want to add another caliber but want something that kicks less, maybe the answer is heavier gun in .308? A Model Seven is handy and light but part of the kick is because it weights only 6 1/2 pounds. There are other guns, handy but not so light, that would do the trick.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Brake: Of course not. That's ridiculous on a hunting rifle.

Caliber: .260 Rem or 6.5x55, possibly 7mm-08 or .25-06 or .257 robts.

Recoil pad: Yes

Rifle weight: Toward the heavy side, if possible. Choose wood over plastic.

Rifle: What's the budget? Maybe the Model Seven Youth, or like someone said, the Vanguard Youth. The LOP is the most important issue here, besides recoil. Are you SURE she's better off with a true youth LOP (in the 12.0-12.5 range), rather than a shortish "adult" LOP (in the 13.0-13.5 range)??

Yes, using a "managed recoil" load in .308 either handload or off-the-shelf, is probably the best idea - just use the existing rifle. Add recoil pad, too. And/or drill the end of the stock and add lead weights.

In fact, if the current LOP is indeed a bit short for her, then adding the recoil pad will kill two birds with one stone!

 

[Uncle Mike]

Well all my daughters are about the size you mentioned and they use Remington Model 7's in 7mm-08 and one Savage in the same caliber.
...never a problem, except an argument over who's going to help clean the critter. lol

The recoil is negligible between the 260 and the 7mm-08, so opt for the one with more punch... the 7mm-08.

I wouldn't suggest a 'heavy' gun, recoil is a part of shooting, your GF needs to realize this and 'learn' to handle it properly...the recoil generated by the 260 or 7mm-08 isn't going to cause a flinch problem if you teach her about recoil, how to deal with it and proper technique before the first shot is fired.

Unless your going to carry that thing around for her, and she will complain if it's too heavy, then think light.

The Remington model 7 is perfectly balanced, more so with the synthetic stocks.

A word of caution, I would bet that your GF will need a full sized Model 7, not the youth model. Try them on before purchasing one.

She may like the feel of the Savage youth, we sell a lot of those for use by the ladies, but again, let her fondle them all, try them on for fit.

The recoil pad on the Savage is one of the most absorbent you'll find on a firearm. lol

Muzzle brake...not, forget that, they never were any count on a deer gun cept' for ear splitting noise.

My pick, and I'm basing this on what I know works on that sized gal... either a Remington Model 7 synthetic in 7mm-08 or a Savage youth, Model 11? in wood or synthetic in the same caliber.

 

[GunTech]

Remington model 7 in 7mm-08 or 260. Ruger also makes a compact M77 in the same calibers.

My rather small wife loves her model 7.

 

[tomt]

There is a really good article in Hodgon's 2009 Annual Manual titled "The Right Start". The author has worked up loads for the .308 with 10-11 ft-lbs recoil, which is right at a .243 win. He uses Barnes TSX bullets.

Good Luck.

 

[Unflappable]

I have the same issue with my wife, she is small and while she is not overly sensitive to recoil it's still an issue. I bought her a Tikka T3 hunter in .308 (22" barrel) installed a recoil pad and downloaded the ammo for practice. I'm using 37 grains of H4895 pushing Hornady SST's in 150 grains. She can shoot this load all day with no flinching. As we shoot at different ranges I adjust the scope so that it will hit at the same place a heavier load would hit. Of course I had to do a bit of range work first to work this out but ballistic programs are a great help.
Now when we go in the field after Elk or Mule deer I'll hand her some rounds with 41 grains of H4895 and Sierra Game King 165 grain bullets. If she shoots this at an animal she will NEVER feel the extra recoil because she'll be so excited. I'll do the sight in with the hunting rounds before we go, all she has to do is put the sights on the target and press.
Unflappable

 

[gralewaj]

Bought my girl a Rem 600 in .243 last fall. before that rifle, the only thing she had ever shot was a .22 rifle she said was too heavy for her! She absolutely LOVES the Rem 600 and asks me to take her shooting all the time! Great investment. I was looking at the 6mm Rem too, but I really like the look of the vent rib on the earlier 600s so went with what I could get at the time and it was a .243

I'll have a 6mm someday...