Bushman Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 I want to buy my wife a rifle for christmas but am clueless as to what kind. It will be used to hunt whitetails, should have minimum recoil but be reliable. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FIREGUY Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? try getting either a 223 or 243 with synthetic stock if she hasnt shot many guns. if she has then maybe something a little bigger, perhaps a 260? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? A 243 Win, 7mm Mauser, 7-08, or other similar Handi Rifle would be ideal. They are short compact guns that will easily take deer and bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaCoyote Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? I bought my 11 year old girl (now 13) a Ruger M77 youth in .260. I LOVE that rifle and cartridge. I think I may buy a lightweight for myself in that cal. Factory loads are not exactly abudant though. Seems like most folks get there kids or wives a .243, 7mm-08, or a .308. I think the .308 has a bit more punch than a beginner needs though. My wife shoots hers fine but I wish I'd have got her a 7mm-08 or a .260 instead. As far as the rifle goes..... depends on finances, if you think she'll use it enough to justify an expensive one. Guess you'll have to go look at whats available and what she likes herself. I really do like that little ruger though. A rem model 7 would be worth looking at. AJ makes a good point with the Handi-Rifle. Decide on the rifle first then choose the caliber you want it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? My daughter shoots a Weatherby Vanguard Compact. It weighs right around 7 lbs. scoped, is very reasonably priced and shoots very well. She is not quite 13 and shoots it in .308 Win. The recoil is not horrible at all. It also comes in .22-.250, .243 and 7mm-08. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? I can tell you from personal experience. I'm a woman hunter. I was always very sensitive to recoil on guns when I was a young girl starting out in hunting. I also always had an issue with the guns being too long for me to hold them comfortably. My father had bought me a Remington Model Seven in .243 Win and put a bipod on it for me along with a nice scope. It's got a 20" barrel and 39 1/4" overall length. It weighs 6 1/4 lbs without the scope and bipod. By adding the bipod if I leave the legs up on it, it actually improves my stability with the gun when shooting like how a stabilizer does on a bow. I don't wobble as much since I got the extra weight added to the front by the bipod. The gun fits my arm length perfectly and is not heavy to carry through the woods. The recoil on the gun, while wearing my hunting outfit, wasn't noticeable. Especially when I had a deer in the sights, as I'd be too focused on my target to feel the recoil or hear the blast. When at the target range my father would just pad the inside of my shoulder if it bothered me ever. It only ever bothered me one time and that was the first time I shot it because I didn't listen and press the gun into my shoulder enough. That was my own fault and I learned from it. Even with me being sensitive to recoil on guns that gun never caused me any fear of shooting it. I really like the .243 Win caliber and still hunt deer with it today due to I like its accuracy and flat shooting. I've killed all my deer with this gun and can comfortably shoot it out to 250yards. Two of my deer were killed at around 200yards or slightly over. The other two were killed at between 100-150 yards. So, the caliber works quite well for me long and short distances. I'd recommend it to any women hunters who have the issues with recoil and arm length/weight of guns not fitting them right, especially youths as you'd really not ever have to upgrade this gun as she grows as it still fits me and I'm 21 now and use it for hunting still without ever feeling the need of upgrading my gun or caliber. You can see a picture of my gun here with the scope and bipod on it. It's the one on the far left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? I agree with AJ. Get a Handi Rifle. They are very accurate guns for the money. I can pick up pretty much any Cal for around $200 (new). I would also recommend the .243. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_218 Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? The 7 m/m-08 is another good mild recoiling cartridge you might consider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushman Posted October 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? Thanks for narrowing down the calibers. I think the best thing to do would be taking my wife into the store and having her hold the different guns. Time for shopping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yooperkenny Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? [ QUOTE ] I want to buy my wife a rifle for christmas but am clueless as to what kind. It will be used to hunt whitetails, should have minimum recoil but be reliable. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. [/ QUOTE ] My suggestion is the good ol Winchester 94 in 30-30 caliber. Has probably killed more deer than any rifle in history. Minimal recoil, compact and not heavy. Deadly out to 120 yards. I use mine for still hunting and tracking in the big woods, and absolutely love it. No reason it can't be used from a stand too. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? Bought my wife a savage model 10 in .243 about 5 or 6 years ago for an anniversary gift. Put her a pachmayer decelerator pad on it, topped it with a nikon buckmaster 3-9X40, and with some great advice from AJ I lightened the trigger up a bit. The rifle is a pretty sweet shooting little rifle. Got my oldest daughter a browning micro hunter a-bolt for Christmas last year also in the .243. She is 10 now, been shooting a .243 since she was 7 or 8. The .243 is a great round. Light recoil and plenty enough rifle to take deer. Both my wife and my daughter are pretty small, and they do not complain about recoil from the .243. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? [ QUOTE ] I agree with AJ. Get a Handi Rifle. They are very accurate guns for the money. I can pick up pretty much any Cal for around $200 (new). I would also recommend the .243. [/ QUOTE ] Another vote for the handy 243. It's plenty gun for most deer in the US, recoil is light, the handi rifle is very accurate for 3X's the money. Put good glass on it and have the trigger dropped by the factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_Goose Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? Well I personally don't lioke shooting anything lighter than a .260 for deer up here. I know guys who kill with the 243 but shot placement is very crucial. I was wondering if a .270 with a good recoil pad and a reduced load would work, that way she could try the larger loads later? I have no experience with the reduced loads so I was just wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowtech Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? yea i have a .243 in the ultra varmint .same as the handi rifle but with a bull barrel.. it shots grate and is a little samller than bolt action rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lilcrackshot Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? A NEF Handi-RIfle in 25-06 or 308. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? I just noticed you were from Canada. In that case, I would probibly go with the 25-06 or 7mm-08. You've got some big ole deer up there. I would still go with a handi rifle and put a good recoil pad on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? I'd go with a Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter in either .243, 7mm-08 or .308, depending on what kind of terrain your hunting. If it's wide open, all of them would be good. If it's in deep woods or brush, I'd stick with the .308. Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Rifle for Beginner?? Not to tell you what to do, but at least from my perspective, I wanted my daughters first rifle to be a fairly nice one. Being that it was a Christmas gift from Dad, and her first rifle I spent the money and went with the browning and do not regret it one bit. Would it make the gift more special to your wife to be something on the cheaper end like an nef or would she better appreciate a browning or something a bit more expensive is a question only you best know how to answer. Anyway around pretty well any caliber of those mentioned from the .243 up should be sufficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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