mdence
Member
OK, I'm in Nevada and I got blanked in the draw this year, but my daughter that just turned 12 got both a deer and a cow elk tag on her first draw. The deer tag in an area that has a "Wildlife Management Area" where only slugs in 20 gauge or larger are allowed, but the rest of the area can be hunted with a regular rifle. I have a couple 12 gauge's, and she has a youth size .410, but no 20 gauge (and no slug barrels).
I also have a couple regular centerfire rifle's, in 8mm Mauser and 30-06, but nothing smaller.
She's 5'3", so all of my guns are too big for her (can't shoulder 'em to shoot 'em), so it looks like I'll be getting her something.
BTW, I have 3 girls, the younger 2 of which will hunt. The middle one is the one with the tag this year, but the youngest is really small, and will probably be >100 lbs by the time she's 12 and old enough to draw.
I was looking at the Rossi S20-243YMB but have not seen one in person, and am not sure it's something she'll use long term since it's single shot.
Also considering a Mossberg 100 ATR Youth with the stacking stock butt. Haven't seen one of these in person either, and would have to look at a separate slug gun if we hunt the WMA.
The things I'm trying to accomplish here are a good fit so she can properly shoulder the gun, and low recoil so she's not afraid to shoot it. I know fit will help with recoil, and since she's a girl I'm pretty sure a youth size gun will be all she'll ever need (my wife is about her same size [5'3"] and she prefers youth models).
Thing is I'm not real familiar with how smaller caliber centerfire's recoil. I've always hunted with 8mm Mauser or 30-06, and have never really shot anything smaller than 30-30. I think a .243 is probably the caliber of choice for deer, but had also considered a 7.62x39 (cheap to shoot), .257 Roberts (harder to find), .270 (more than needed for deer, and still probably not enough for elk) and .308 (maybe enough for elk, but might as well use the -06?)
Any recommendations on a gun or guns that might fit the bill?
I also have a couple regular centerfire rifle's, in 8mm Mauser and 30-06, but nothing smaller.
She's 5'3", so all of my guns are too big for her (can't shoulder 'em to shoot 'em), so it looks like I'll be getting her something.
BTW, I have 3 girls, the younger 2 of which will hunt. The middle one is the one with the tag this year, but the youngest is really small, and will probably be >100 lbs by the time she's 12 and old enough to draw.
I was looking at the Rossi S20-243YMB but have not seen one in person, and am not sure it's something she'll use long term since it's single shot.
Also considering a Mossberg 100 ATR Youth with the stacking stock butt. Haven't seen one of these in person either, and would have to look at a separate slug gun if we hunt the WMA.
The things I'm trying to accomplish here are a good fit so she can properly shoulder the gun, and low recoil so she's not afraid to shoot it. I know fit will help with recoil, and since she's a girl I'm pretty sure a youth size gun will be all she'll ever need (my wife is about her same size [5'3"] and she prefers youth models).
Thing is I'm not real familiar with how smaller caliber centerfire's recoil. I've always hunted with 8mm Mauser or 30-06, and have never really shot anything smaller than 30-30. I think a .243 is probably the caliber of choice for deer, but had also considered a 7.62x39 (cheap to shoot), .257 Roberts (harder to find), .270 (more than needed for deer, and still probably not enough for elk) and .308 (maybe enough for elk, but might as well use the -06?)
Any recommendations on a gun or guns that might fit the bill?