Women looking for new rifle suggestions

sheehunter · Mar 20, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-20-15 AT 05:59PM (MST)[p]I'm looking for a new rifle for hunting deer and elk. Need a shorter stock and something that doesn't kick real hard. I've shot my husbands 308 and it's not THAT bad, but maybe a little softer. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Cahunter805 · Mar 20, 2015

7mm-08 is what I would recommend. Very good selection of bullets and easy recoil. Go to your local gun shop and handle a few rifles. Try some youth models as most usually have a shorter stock.

foghorn · Mar 20, 2015

+1 on the 7/08.
I bought one for my grandson. Reduced loads are available from Remington.
If you reload the bullet selection is great!
Later
Foghorn

foghorn · Mar 20, 2015

I would put a sims recoil pad on whatever you get.
It does make a difference.
Later
Foghorn

Whiterock · Mar 21, 2015

My wife shoots a Browning ABOLT in 243,but she does not hunt elk.I would also go with the 7-08 as a minimum if elk hunting.For deer or antelope the 243 does fine with low recoil.

Longun · Mar 21, 2015

my daughter shoots a .308 but with a synthetic stock and with a nice rubber butt plate and never complains about the recoil,,

sheehunter · Mar 21, 2015

Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming!!
Dawn

MaineFlatlander · Mar 21, 2015

Another vote for 7mm-08.

travishunter3006 · Mar 21, 2015

If your not worried about the added noise, go with a 30-06. Throw a muzzle break on that puppy and you'll have enough gun for deer and elk without hard recoil.

Don't underestimate your strength and ability to take a good shoulder whoopin ! My wife prefers my '06 to the 243. With the right recoil pad and a decently weighted gun most of the recoil doesn't come close to her shoulder.

I honestly would not look at a 7mm-08 because you begin to limit your ranges significantly. Some will argue with that but that's their right to be wrong

haha. Of course you can kill an elk with a 22 or even a BB gun but that wouldn't be my go - to mountsin rifle!

Muzzle break, recoil pad, decently weighted sto?k and you're set. Oh did I mention a set of hearing protection????

travishunter3006 · Mar 21, 2015

BuzzH · Mar 21, 2015

Nothing more funny than a recommendation of putting a loudner on the worst cartridge based on the 30/06 case...that being the 30/06.

sagebrush · Mar 21, 2015

7MM Remington Magnum with a muzzle brake. Kicks like a .243 and hits like, well a 7MM RM. You should always wear eye and ear protection while shooting and sit at the bench next to buzz.

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there.
The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're
still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard

Zeke · Mar 23, 2015

I'd have to throw my vote to the 7mm-08 also.
That sweet lil thing is way more than just a women's cartridge. It's a sweet killer for pronghorn up to moose.... with a bullet of proper constructed for the task at hand.
Zeke

Zeke · Mar 23, 2015

By the way, I'm a proponent of muzzle brakes (noise makers. So true) but NOT on a women's or kid's gun. The noise scares them more than the recoil.
My wife uses a 308 Win w/o a brake. It's a really light rifle so I only use moderate reloads with RL-15 and 150 grain bullets. The 7mm-08 would have a higher BC with a lesser weight and do even better than my wife's rig, but it works for her.
As usual, my 2 cents,
Zeke

Anaconda · Mar 23, 2015

#1 The above recommended 7mm-08 has very mild recoil and does a fine job of killing big game.
Use a premium bullet like Partitions or Barns for elk.

#2 A well designed stock can work wonders with recoil. My .338 wears a Borden Rimrock stock, and has less perceived recoil than your average 30-06 or .270.

#3 Proper form and stance makes a big difference in recoil.

Most major gun manufactures make a small/short light weight version of their main bolt action rifle, so go look at a few and find one you like in 7mm-08. If you want to reduce recoil and weight even more, consider investing in a quality aftermarket synthetic stock built to fit you. i

Boskee · Mar 23, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-23-15 AT 10:13PM (MST)[p]the 7mm/08 is a great cartridge as recommended, and will do anything you want and the bullet selection if you reload is second to none. They are accurate and have a mild recoil and can shoot flat enough to flat out do the job. The 7mm/08 will be your go to rifle for most hunts. My wife has used one for decades and has taken elk, mule deer, whitetail, bear, and other species with the round. 99% of what she shot with it were one shot kills . Given the quality of bullets today you can't go wrong with it. It definitely warrants your consideration. The other cartrides I would recommend are the .25/06, .270, .257 roberts. They all are great rounds and most woman can shoot them just fine if the rifle is set up right.

440sixpack · Mar 24, 2015

If you take care to use equipment to reduce recoil at the bench you can get her about any cartridge she wants within reason. that's where it matters.

My wife is small and she shoots a light weight 300 win mag with hot loads with precision. she's taken all sorts of game with it and doesn't feel the recoil. but I only let her shoot it from the bench with a lead sled.

Stay thirsty my friends

Weiserbucks · Mar 24, 2015

Another vote for the 7mm-08 here . My 12 yr old son has a youth model Weatherby Vanguard that comes with a shorter stock and he loves it . Light weight , low recoil , inexpensive to purchase and pretty darn accurate .

Gus_06 · Mar 24, 2015

I searched long and hard for exactly what you are looking for in a rifle for my wife, we ended up getting her a .270 Winchester and had the stock shortened a bit. I will tell you that after being on the fence about the adequacy of the 270 for elk, I have no doubt about its effectiveness. Her first two animals with it were elk, a 1 shot kill at 200 yards and another at 415. She also has used it to good effect on mule deer. The secret I found was handloading 140 Barnes tsx or Nosler accubonds to about 2800 feet per second, light recoil and substantial results on game animals. Actually I liked it so much I went out and bought one for myself.

Pre64 · Mar 24, 2015

#2 A well designed stock can work wonders with recoil. My .338 wears a Borden Rimrock stock, and has less perceived recoil than your average 30-06 or .270.

X2

Zeke · Mar 25, 2015

As a side note;
I bought a left handed Win 70 classic in 300 WSM for my youngest daughter.

I knew the recoil would be a bit stout for her so I loaded a moderate (Minimum load yet still darn fast) powder charge of RL-15 and used a 130 TSX Barnes. It's VERY low on recoil and none of the "brake" noise since it doesn't have one.

She's killed an elk and 3 deer... so far.

Like others have said, almost any medium bore rifle would work fine IF you load it a bit lighter and buy a stock that fits or have it trimmed down to suit.

Zeke