I'm sure that you want to buy your lovely wife a varmint rifle, but you forgot one thing. You might end up getting to shoot it if she gets bored with chuck hunting. Buy her a nice rifle, something that both of you will enjoy.
My suggestion would be the 6mm PPC by Saco. Great rifle, moderate...
I know this is an old post, but I'd like to weigh in on this one.
My load consists of 58 gr of H4350, federal primer and the 165 partition.
I have shot mule deer from as close as 25 yards out to where I had to hold 30" above the back of the deer. (not recommended unless you practice alot) and...
Good choice of calibre, I have been taking game for about 10 years with mine and will pass it on to my son for his 1st hunt.
87 gr bullet ....45.7gr of vv-n160 with a Rem. mag primer
100 gr bullet ... 44gr of vv-n160 with a Rem mag primer
BOTH ARE MAX LOADS, both shoot sub MOA in my rifle (Rem...
I load for the following:
.223 Rem
5.56 (AR-15)
6mm PPC
6MM Rem
.308
7.62(M1A)
.30-06
.30-06(M1 Garand)
.338-06
.38 spl & .357
.44 spl & .44 mag
.45 auto
as well as 12, 20, 28, & .410 shotgun