Wife Wants an Elk

[JFrameTwitch]

Over the weekend I sent in for the Elk Draw for this year. My wife saw the paperwork on the desk and said she wants to go "for something new."

Here's the thing. She has never shot, or taken any interest in firearms.

She held one of my revolvers once but that's the extent of her firearms experience.

I explained to her that you can't just head on out and go Elk Hunting. She does not take killing something lightly, but she is also unaware of what is involved with the process. I have a handful of .22lr rifles, a number of 12ga shotguns, a 4-10, and two nice 30-06 hunting rifles.

It won't be any problem starting her off on the .22's and I am sure she will enjoy it. But, when it is time to move up, I am a bit worried about the recoil of the 30-06's. She's 5'8" and a fit 140, so she is not tiny, but I don't want her leaving the range with a bruise either.

I guess the overall question is will I have any luck taking one of my 30-06 rifles and attempting to recoil reduce?

These are all family guns that are well kept and cherished so modifying in any way is not on the top of my list.

But, I don't have much in the way of money for yet another firearm.

I'm up for any suggestions. Thanks.

 

[ugaarguy]

You could start her off with Remington managed recoil ammo, or get someone you trust to hand load you some similar reduced power ammo. Get her a Caldwell PAST wearable recoil pad too. I think that she'll be fine with those two combined and then she can step up to full 30-06 loads and still use the PAST.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My suggestion would be to let her go hunting with you and participate in all the "dirty work" it requires. In my experience w/ family members and friends who have wanted to try their hand at deer hunting, once they get a sense for all the work required i.e. range time, scouting, food plot, rifle maintenance, field dressing, etc. etc. and its not as easy as just flipping a safety and pulling the trigger they lose interest pretty fast.

If your wife is willing to participate in all the extra work and puts in the effort then you have a keeper and she deserves a chance to hunt with her hubby.

 

[Sunray]

"...taking one of my 30-06 rifles and attempting to recoil reduce..." Lighter bullets will do that. You don't need a 180. A 150 or a 130 will do. Add a recoil pad(Pachmayr makes a slip on that works well) and get her shooting until she can hit a 9" pie plate, off hand at 100, every time.
Size is irrelevant. She won't be hunting in a tee shirt either.

 

[12many]

Might try adding some slip on padding to the gun or to her clothes. 30-06 is more like a push than a sharp hit, at least my heavy bolt is a hard push.

I agree, deer are a lot easier.

 

[wankerjake]

My wife said the same thing two years ago, I told her up front I wouldn't take her unless she put the time in shooting. She agreed, and when she drew a tag she went shooting numerous times before the hunt. Her attitude, which I appreciated, was that I knew what I was doing and was teaching her, so she did what I said. She was determined to shoot an elk and was willing to put in the work to learn how.


Recoil just never bothered her and I think it's because I didn't baby her about it and I didn't make her afraid of it before shooting. I had her shoot my 30-06 and my 300 WSM, she preferred the 300 WSM. She even got bit a time or two by the scope, so we went over cheek weld some more and got her straightened out. She shot the 223 bolt rifle quite a bit for practice as well, it's not fun shooting 50 round of 300 WSM in a sitting even for me but she'd put 10-20 round downrange with the 300 every trip to get familiar with it.

When the hunt came, she made a great shot on an elk and filled the freezer.

My suggestions on what worked for me/us are:
Be in charge and make sure you both understand that. You're going to show her what to do to get an elk. Start her on the 22, and when it's time to move up to the 30-06's tell her the recoil is greater but don't scare her about it. Just say it recoils more and to be ready. Practice good cheek weld etc. 30-06 just doesn't recoil very bad in my opinion and making a big deal about it doesn't help the situation.

Let her shoot both 30-06 rifles, she may perceive one rifle's recoil to be lesser even if it's not. My wife preferred the 300 like I said, certainly a bigger bump but has a better recoil pad and is more of a push than a bite.

Get her a lot of practice acquiring targets in hunting/shooting positions. It's different than sitting at a bench and a new shooter always struggles with it. Get her practice from those positions as much as possible, with numerous rifles.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

I recommend that you call Speer & explain the situation.

They were able to offer me a .260 Rem. load for my then-12 year old daughter to practice with (85 gr. bullet & 10 gr. of Unique) that recoiled no more than a .22 does. She practiced & became dead-on with it.

When we hunted, she never realized that her hunting load was any different from her practice load. I'll bet that they can do the same for your better half & a .30-06

Sam

 

[C-grunt]

Try using a lighter load that uses a premium bullet. My buddy hunts elk here in Az along with his entire family. His mother, who he describes as a small older woman, uses a 7mm08 with a light weight bullet and bags every one she shoots. My buddy uses a 270 with good 130s and never has a problem either.

For your 30-06 something like a 130 grn TSX or similar should put the smack down on an elk.

 

[Don McDowell]

The most important thing is to make sure the length of pull is correct, and the drop at comb isn't to low that she can't get a good and consistant cheek weld for a repeatable view thru the scope.
Cartridges that work rather well and offer manageable recoil, include the 260 rem, 7mm08, 7x57 and the 308.

 

[urbaneruralite]

PAST has a recoil pad that fits to the bra strap. My wife likes hers. She went from disliking her 12ga to shooting up a box at a time.

Since she's tall, you might get by without even moving the scope back. The issue is more likely that it'll be too end-heavy. Practice always shooting from a rested aim, even using shooting sticks standing, will help.

I would load up a 165gr Partition with a lighter load of powder and limit shot distance. You can use a Lee Loader if you don't have or want to put money into reloading equipment. Again, if you work up slowly and use that PAST pad, she may be able to handle at least a standard .30/06 load of 150gr or less.

I don't think you can get away with just sneaking in the full power load on the hunt, though. The shooter needs to zero their own rifle to get a dead-on aim at distance. She needs to at least put one through to verify zero before the hunt.

 

[12many]

On the flip side, elk are pretty hardy and if the distance is long, which it was when I hunted elk in MT, you don't want to go too light on the load with elk and wound it and lose it. Everyone has an opinion on this so I dont' want to go down this path, but many people might agree that full load 30-06 is as light as you might want to go for a large elk at distance. You wife may not be a marksman on her first elk hunt and will not be taking head shots. Just something to consider.

 

[CB900F]

Jframe;

Is getting a new rifle for her a reasonable proposition? If so, I'll suggest something in 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser. I live in Montana, sometimes hunt elk out my back door, but most of the time have to go about a whole 40 miles or so. However, I hunt them every year with my Swede, and don't feel under-gunned either. Get a modern bolt action, like the Tikka T3 or CZ550, and don't look back. The cartridge is known for accuracy and mild recoil. Couple that with 140 grain bullet loads, and you've got dead elk out to 300 yards.

If you hand load, I do, the cartridge really comes into it's own.

Getting her her own rifle will pay dividends I assure you.

900F

 

[Bullchip]

KDF muzzle brake. That 06 will recoil like a 7X57 without sacrificing performance. You'll be much less likely to lose an Elk with underpowered ammo as some here have suggested. I use them on heavy magnum rifles and they really work well. Should cost around $ 250 installed.

 

[Paul7]

Jframe;

Is getting a new rifle for her a reasonable proposition? If so, I'll suggest something in 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser. I live in Montana, sometimes hunt elk out my back door, but most of the time have to go about a whole 40 miles or so. However, I hunt them every year with my Swede, and don't feel under-gunned either. Get a modern bolt action, like the Tikka T3 or CZ550, and don't look back. The cartridge is known for accuracy and mild recoil. Couple that with 140 grain bullet loads, and you've got dead elk out to 300 yards.

If you hand load, I do, the cartridge really comes into it's own.

Getting her her own rifle will pay dividends I assure you.

900F

I'll second the 6.5x55, got the cow elk last Friday with one, hits like a .308 but with much less blast and kick.

I doubt if a new shooter is going to take a 300 yd. shot.

 

[CB900F]

Paul7;

I'm not saying that a neophyte shooter should take that shot either. But I am saying that the cartridge is capable if the hunter is.

What rig is that you've got in the picture? Don't see too many stainless lookin' Swedes.

900F

 

[Paul7]

Paul7;

I'm not saying that a neophyte shooter should take that shot either. But I am saying that the cartridge is capable if the hunter is.

What rig is that you've got in the picture? Don't see too many stainless lookin' Swedes.

900F

900F, that is a Sako 85 Finnlight, http://www.sako.fi/rifles/sako-85/85-finnlight At the time I was shopping they weren't making the Tikka T3 in 6.5x55. Scope is a Zeiss Conquest.

 

[Paul7]

KDF muzzle brake. That 06 will recoil like a 7X57 without sacrificing performance. You'll be much less likely to lose an Elk with underpowered ammo as some here have suggested. I use them on heavy magnum rifles and they really work well. Should cost around $ 250 installed.

I'd be leery of a muzzle brake for a new shooter, one unprotected shot can permanently damage your hearing.

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

Either she can hunt or she can't. I would give her a fair chance with the 22LR to learn. If you have all summer preparing for an elk hunt isn't such a job. If she wants to go in the next few weeks I would try to talk her out of it. If she wants to hunt this season it is going to be a strain on your relationship. My wife wanted to go hunting. She was already proficient with a 22. I set up some targets. Then I handed her the 270. She didn't talk to me for a month after a round with the 270. She went through the same thing with the 12ga. She has a 20ga but she had to try my gun. The 3" buckshot changed her mind.

My wife doesn't realize those women on TV that handle hunting rifles and go on safari are in great physical condition. They get a lot more exercise than walking a couple miles.

 

[stringnut]

Reduced loads are a good staring point. However, correct fit makes a huge difference jn perceived recoil. OP if your wife is 5 8 she may be able to handle a factory length of pull, but, then again maybe not. Any time you have to struggle to perform anymof the shooting operations it excerbates recoil. My wife can only handle 2 or 3 from my 9 lb 30/06 with 150s at 2750. From her 6 3/4 pound youth model 308 with hot loaded 165s she will burn up to 50. Past recoil do work well and do not add to the length of pull. If the stock is already too long do not add a slip on pad. It only makes the situation worse.

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

If you have a 91/30 that your wife can shoot well that is your best option. The stock is short and the gun is heavy enough to soak up the recoil. Sellier and Bellot 180gr 7.62x54 soft point ammo is awesome. S&B 7.62x54 180gr has a velocity of over 2,800 fps, it rivals 30/06 180gr loads. You cannot hunt elk with reduced recoil ammo. On "life below zero" a small Inuit woman bags Alaskan caribou first shot most of the time with her 91/30 loaded with 7.62x54 S&B ammo. But she is an experienced hunter who is absolutely fearless. She is comfortable taking a 200 yards shot with iron sights. Then she thinks nothing of knifing a wounded caribou.

 

[jmorris]

Let her learn to shoot it on a lead sled. The one shot she fires at the elk, won't matter much.

 

[Don McDowell]

I guess the overall question is will I have any luck taking one of my 30-06 rifles and attempting to recoil reduce?

Assuming that the rifle fits her reasonably well, then yes starting her out either on Remington or other managed recoil ammunition, or reloading it on your own using the Hogdons reduced 4895 is definetly plausible.
If you are a reloader it will be easy to come up with loads that replicate the ballistics of grand old cartridges with proven track records such as the 30-30, 30-40 krag, and the 300 savage.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

"You cannot hunt elk with reduced recoil ammo." That there is what there's a lot of out in the bull yard. If we're talking reduced .30-06 loads, then you most assuredly have to hunt smarter, and limit ranges. If you use something like my suggested 6.5 Swede, there are very few limitations as to what you can accomplish.

Elk are not armor-plated, they're just big deer. They get taken with all sorts of calibers every year here in Montana. Which is not to say that every caliber that could be mentioned is a good choice. It really depends more on the hunter than the gun in my opinion. Which brings up the question of the hunter's physical condition, which was mentioned earlier. Around here, you really can hunt both sides of the same acre. If you get outta the truck & off the ATV that is. Success is fairly easy if you get off the beaten path. Getting the critter out can be it's own adventure though.

Adventure is defined as finishing field dressing the carcass at 5:30PM on November 12, it's starting to snow, you're 680 feet down and two miles away from the truck. The carcass is at 7200 feet of elevation, and you haven't got a cel tower within 20 miles. Y'all have fun now.

900F

 

[Bullchip]

Paul7

I also like the .264 dia. bullets. My deer and antelope rifle is a Finnlite in 260 Rem. and I've taken many deer and antelope at ranges well beyond 350 yards with it. The high sectional density of .264 bullets gives them great penetration. In a 30 Cal. rifle it will take a 165 Gr. bullet to equal the SD. of a 130 gr. 6.5mm projectile. So in an 06 the OP needs to attain about 2850 fps. with a 165 gr. bullet to shoot fairly flat and achieve equal penetration. A pretty stout load for most women, hence the recommendation for a muzzle brake. BTW, KDF does beautiful work, the brake looks as if it was an original installation by the factory.

As far as muzzle brakes go, I agree they do increase the noise level. Especially if you shoot under cover of a shooting range. In my experience however, out in open country the noise doesn't seem to be too bad.

 

[Paul7]

Paul7

I also like the .264 dia. bullets. My deer and antelope rifle is a Finnlite in 260 Rem. and I've taken many deer and antelope at ranges well beyond 350 yards with it. The high sectional density of .264 bullets gives them great penetration. In a 30 Cal. rifle it will take a 165 Gr. bullet to equal the SD. of a 130 gr. 6.5mm projectile. So in an 06 the OP needs to attain about 2850 fps. with a 165 gr. bullet to shoot fairly flat and achieve equal penetration. A pretty stout load for most women, hence the recommendation for a muzzle brake. BTW, KDF does beautiful work, the brake looks as if it was an original installation by the factory.

As far as muzzle brakes go, I agree they do increase the noise level. Especially if you shoot under cover of a shooting range. In my experience however, out in open country the noise doesn't seem to be too bad.

It is also often possible to slip a pair of muffs on, I did with the elk in the photo above last Friday.

What kind of bullet drop are you getting at 350+ yards?