Rifle progression for my wife

[neededausername]

My wife is an excellent shot with handguns, but she is a bit scared of rifles. I recently watched her shoot her dad's 10/22 and she was excellent with it. She wants to work up to shooting my Mosin 91/30 but is scared of the recoil. What would everyone recommend to get her up to that level?

She has an uncle that has a 30/30 and a SKS. I'm thinking if she shoots those and is comfortable the Mosin wont be a problem.

 

[Wolfgang2000]

I hear people swear by the limb saver slip-on recoil pad. You might give it a try.

 

[Ruddie]

A. Nice name.
B. Look at rather cheaperthandirt.com or sportsmansguide.com for the 7.62x25 conversion for the Nagant. That's what I'll be using when I teach my wife how to shoot mine.
My wife prefers shooting rifles rather than handguns (my 1911 excluded). Last time we went plinking she grabbed my AK-47 and went to work. Afterwards she informed me that I no longer had an AK. So it looks like I'll have to get another one (darn).....
As far as dealing with the recoil, without spending a bit of money on a recoil suppressor and drilling into your stock, just get the padded buttpad. Unfortunately for me, I'm going to have to get one due to the pins holding my right shoulder facing outward.
Before I let "the boss" lose with the thunder stick I will probably be doing both.

-God bless

 

[Ruddie]

The "conversion" I speak of is a slip in tube, not an actual conventional conversion.... thought I might clear that up.

-God bless

 

[Ruddie]

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/762x25-rifle-chamber-insert.aspx?a=698155&pn=1

 

[oldfool]

the SKS is a good bet
or anything in 223 caliber

if know someone with a 38/357 lever action, that would be a good next step up from rimfire (near zero recoil), or any pistol caliber carbine, for that matter

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

folks build up recoil into something it isn't. my advice is to forego the special treatment and just tell her to shoot.

 

[Z-Michigan]

My wife went from .22 to .223 with no problems, have not tried to go to .308 or 12ga just yet. She went from 9mm to .45 ACP without mentioning anything about recoil, which I found annoying!

The mental factor is far more important than physical recoil. If you hold the gun right, the physical recoil should be a non-issue. In fact it often seems that relatively smaller people (including most women) have less of an issue with the physical recoil (maybe because it more easily moves their whole body so it doesn't cause as much compression right on the shoulder pocket?).

 

[henschman]

Just teach her how to properly pocket the stock and to turkey neck and get cheek weld. Recoil is not a problem if you do these things, even for a small woman and a high powered rifle. I believe it does help to learn the proper techniques on a low-recoil rifle like a .22 LR or a poodle shooter though.

You should go to an Appleseed marksmanship clinic with her. She would be WAY more confident with a rifle after one of those, and I am willing to bet you would learn a thing ot two, as well. It is a really good time... we shoot the 25m Army Qualification test (so you can use a .22 LR if you want), and we tell a little bit of Revolutionary War history that you've probably never heard, too. www.appleseedinfo.org

 

[Jeff F]

Started mine off with a 12 guage shooting 7/8 ounce light loads. I told her what she needed to do so she would not hurt herself and told her it would kick. The first time she pulled the trigger I think she closed her eyes. She said it didn't kick that bad. She shoots clays with me now and I bought her a Wingmaster. Next she wanted to try shooting a rifle, so I broke out a No4 Enfield in .303 British. She took right to it, though she said it was heavy. One of my friends came by with a Winchester 94 that he just got. I have one of the big bores in .375 that I got out and we went out back to shoot a few rounds. Wife comes out after a few minutes and wants to try a lever gun. We let her shoot the 30-30. Then she wants to shoot my rifle, I told her it really kicks hard and she might want to reconsider. Shes not having any of it and wants to shoot it. She fires one round and gives herself a fat lip and ends up with a bruise that lasts for a week. She doesn't like the .375. Maybe next time she will listen.

 

[hogcowboy]

My wife went from .22 to .410 to .22-250 to .30-30. I'll always think it was the idea of recoil that got her the most not the real recoil. But that's the trip she made so I'm happy.

 

[neededausername]

I like the idea of the slip in tube, I'll have to check that out.

To those saying just have her shoot it, I will never try to get someone to handle a firearm they are not comfortable firing. I'm lucky to have a wife who enjoys shooting and encourages me to buy firearms, I don't want to do anything to turn her off of shooting sports.

 

[BrocLuno]

I'm with you. Take it easy and keep her in her comfort zone. Recoil is different to different folks. Some of it is sound & fury, some is impact on the body. Let her work up to her limit over time. 22 is great, 22Mag is better, 223 is even better. Once you are to center fire, the curve goes up fairly steeply. You may need to borrow a 243 along the way?

Part of this may be that she likes history (milsurp?) or weapons with sentimental value like grand-pa's old 30-30 or something? Let her show you where she wants to go next

 

[Still Shooting]

I have to smile reading this thread. My wife had never used any firearm before last year. She has a Ruger M77 Lightweight in .243 (present from me), and we joined a club locally so she could learn some basics before doing her Hunter Safety course. On Day 1, I set her up on a rest at 50yds and told her we would work on only 2 things - breathing and trigger. Her first group at 50 was about 2". We went out to a 75yd target, and the group shrunk a little. Finally, at 100 she put 5 shots into the target with a max. spread of 1-3/8".

I had brought my Ruger M77 in .270 to check sight-in, and when I fired the first round, she asked, "What's THAT rifle?!?" I told her, and let her know that its bite was as sharp as its bark (150gr. handloads, with 53.5gr. of IMR4350). She was determined to shoot it. A week later, we were back at the range. She insisted that she try the .270.

First group at 100yds, she cloverleafed the first 3 rounds, and the max. group spread was 7/8". Her comment? - "I want to hunt with THIS rifle!"

It's an individual thing, and like others have said, it's more about attitude than it is about impact...

 

[chrome_austex]

I'll second the 223 and the appleseed. Both are a good progression.

If you can get a loaner 223, that works too. She'll probably be ready for something bigger after one 2-day appleseed.