Girlfriend deer rifle?
- Thread starter Wis65x55
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,857
- 7,638
I a tad unclear on your request. Are you asking for load possibilities? Bullet selection? Or a rifle that you might pick up?
Nothing wrong with a good .243 and a 95 Bt. Just respect the limits of the gun and you'll be fine. I
f bigger critters were ever going to be in the picture I would say 260 or 7-08.
I personally like the 7-08 quite a bit. 120 Bts for deer and 140 ABs for everything else.
f bigger critters were ever going to be in the picture I would say 260 or 7-08.
I personally like the 7-08 quite a bit. 120 Bts for deer and 140 ABs for everything else.
nvbroncrider
Handloader
- Aug 20, 2011
- 3,085
- 4
A Bob in a long action. Will probably turn into your favorite gun. Running 120 partitions your good for deer antelope and elk.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,105
- 7,723
My wife would be very upset if I had a girlfriend and would likely use one of my guns on me! :shock: I'd hope it's an old broken one that won't work...
Is your girlfriend a shooter? I found out while we were dating that my wife had accumulated a pile of NRA marksmanship medals as a kid. Of course she didn't tell me about those until after I took her out and "taught" her to shoot - then was puzzled when she had absolutely no problem knocking the heck out of the empty soda cans at which we were plinking... Some of these gals anymore have a lot of shooting experience.
If she's not a shooter, I'd get her a lot of time with a .22 rifle first, then as she progresses, give her a chance to try different rifles and cartridges. Might turn out that she likes lever action rifles, semi-autos, bolt guns, or she might have real classy taste and like something like a Ruger Number One... :grin: Rifle fit, weight, and a decent recoil pad are all important. She's got to be able to work it well, just like any other hunter. I'd be real tempted to show her one of those Ruger RSI's with the full stock, in say .257 Roberts... Put a scope on it with generous eye relief and a wide field of view.
You already know that for deer, "power" doesn't really make a lot of difference. Something light kicking, at least a .243 Win, would make a lot of sense - they're easy to shoot and kill deer just fine. I'd tend to look at easy-shooting cartridges like the 7x57, .243, .257 Roberts or .25-06, something along those lines. Even a .308 Win can be a good choice.
Real nice of you to be looking for a rifle for your gal, I hope it all works out - and if you've got time read The Short Happy life of Francis Mcomber a short story by Hemmingway. Something to do with wives, girlfriends, a hunting guide, and ...
Good Luck! :grin: Guy
Is your girlfriend a shooter? I found out while we were dating that my wife had accumulated a pile of NRA marksmanship medals as a kid. Of course she didn't tell me about those until after I took her out and "taught" her to shoot - then was puzzled when she had absolutely no problem knocking the heck out of the empty soda cans at which we were plinking... Some of these gals anymore have a lot of shooting experience.
If she's not a shooter, I'd get her a lot of time with a .22 rifle first, then as she progresses, give her a chance to try different rifles and cartridges. Might turn out that she likes lever action rifles, semi-autos, bolt guns, or she might have real classy taste and like something like a Ruger Number One... :grin: Rifle fit, weight, and a decent recoil pad are all important. She's got to be able to work it well, just like any other hunter. I'd be real tempted to show her one of those Ruger RSI's with the full stock, in say .257 Roberts... Put a scope on it with generous eye relief and a wide field of view.
You already know that for deer, "power" doesn't really make a lot of difference. Something light kicking, at least a .243 Win, would make a lot of sense - they're easy to shoot and kill deer just fine. I'd tend to look at easy-shooting cartridges like the 7x57, .243, .257 Roberts or .25-06, something along those lines. Even a .308 Win can be a good choice.
Real nice of you to be looking for a rifle for your gal, I hope it all works out - and if you've got time read The Short Happy life of Francis Mcomber a short story by Hemmingway. Something to do with wives, girlfriends, a hunting guide, and ...
Good Luck! :grin: Guy
- Nov 4, 2004
- 26,269
- 11,832
Wis65x55
Welcome to the forum.
Take a look at the Remington M7 in 260 Rem. Light recoil and death on deer.
Another excellent low recoil round is the 257 Roberts.
JD338
Welcome to the forum.
Take a look at the Remington M7 in 260 Rem. Light recoil and death on deer.
Another excellent low recoil round is the 257 Roberts.
JD338
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,304
- 826
If you can find a used 6mm Remington, that's another great round as well. Remington actually has their 700 CDL stainless Limted Edition chambered in the 6mm this year! The cartridge you mentioned is also another excellent one for her. The 257 Roberts and 25-06 are sweethearts also. My wife shoots a Remington MTN rifle in 25-06 and shoots it very well. Good luck on your search.
David
David
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
- 1,411
- 815
don't overlook the 250 savage either
RR
RR
CatskillCrawler
Handloader
- Jul 30, 2011
- 1,205
- 6
Keep in mind that the proper protocol is for you to buy a rifle that she may borrow... ;-)
You've been given every reasonable cartridge choice for this scenario. I would stay away from a synthetic stock if you choose a carbine length rifle for weight purposes. Besides, she'll appreciate the aesthetics of wood.
You've been given every reasonable cartridge choice for this scenario. I would stay away from a synthetic stock if you choose a carbine length rifle for weight purposes. Besides, she'll appreciate the aesthetics of wood.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,105
- 7,723
The only rifle of mine that my wife actually likes is the .22 Marlin 39A. She's not a hunter, so "power" means nothing to her except a lot of noise and a shove on the shoulder. But give her a good .22 and a brick of ammo, and she'll shoot, and shoot, and shoot some more.
She has her own Ruger 10/22, but since she put her mitts on the 39A lever action, the Ruger semi-auto has been gathering dust.
FWIW, Guy
She has her own Ruger 10/22, but since she put her mitts on the 39A lever action, the Ruger semi-auto has been gathering dust.
FWIW, Guy
The standard 25-06 will fill your bill perfectly. It has no more felt recoil than a 243 Win and shoots really flat so you don't have to worry so much about shooting over or under a deer out to 350 yards if you sight in 3 inches high at 100 yards. An the 25-06 kills deer like lightening struck them so there is no tracking most of the time with a in the vitals hit. A good Savage of Rem 700 would be good.
You seem to have a soft spot for the 6,5X55 Swede judging by your handle. With a 140 gr bullet it will dump deer all day long. So will the near ballistic twin the .260 rem. Both with mild recoil and great accuracy potential. If she can shoot it, I wouldn't look any further than those 2, especially if you already have a 6.5 in the stable.
A .270 win with 130 gr loads in a full-size rifle is also pretty easy on the shoulder. Not a fan of the 6mms on northern deer. The .257's will do a better job without any noticeable recoil increase.
A .270 win with 130 gr loads in a full-size rifle is also pretty easy on the shoulder. Not a fan of the 6mms on northern deer. The .257's will do a better job without any noticeable recoil increase.
- Thread starter
- #14
nvbroncrider
Handloader
- Aug 20, 2011
- 3,085
- 4
All the better for low recoil!! I would go with the .257 sweet little round no recoil especially if you can pick it up in a Ruger 77MkII at 7 lbs minus scope, cause it's in a long action and can really get some performance out of it. Plus you have a great bullet selection to put you where you need to be and take care of any and all varmints up to elk with a well place 100 yd shot.
When my wife showed a little interest in hunting, I bought her a Ruger Hawkeye 308. I really contemplated the 7-08 as well, but figured loading 125's in the 308 would be excellent for deer and I would have the ability to load it up some for larger game. So far it has been a good rifle (not a Winchester, but it shoots)...
I have been running medium loads of Varget and 125gr Sierra's and Nosler BT's and man, it is accurate, recoil is really mild and it hammers deer. Scotty
I have been running medium loads of Varget and 125gr Sierra's and Nosler BT's and man, it is accurate, recoil is really mild and it hammers deer. Scotty
sask boy":1v67xvbe said:Scotty, you are always a little ahead of meI was thinking a model 70 in 7mm-08 it is a caliber that would likely look after everything the young lady would want to hunt.
It is a under utilized caliber.
Blessings,
Dan
Dan, it has been crossing my mind to sell the Ruger and get a M70 for the wife to hunt with. I like the Ruger, it is a great shooting and handling rifle, but a Featherweight would be a nicer rifle for her.. Might put it up for sale after the New Year and see if it moves.
I don't mind the 308 much either. Pretty easy cartridge to load and shoot. It makes a excellent carrying rifle and is about as versatile as it gets as well. I like the 7-08 as well. Scotty
Scotty, I don't mind the 308 but everyone has one of them :lol:
M70 in the 7mm-08 is something you don't see very often. I like it when someone says why that
You should see the looks I get when someone asks me what caliber is your custom RMR & I tell them a 35 Whelen :mrgreen: the young guys think they are useless cause you can push something out @ 3400fps!
Blessings,
Dan
M70 in the 7mm-08 is something you don't see very often. I like it when someone says why that
You should see the looks I get when someone asks me what caliber is your custom RMR & I tell them a 35 Whelen :mrgreen: the young guys think they are useless cause you can push something out @ 3400fps!
Blessings,
Dan
