Guns for women

[JD338]

..."Guns for women", what's next, giving them "The Vote"???...

...accountants market "Ladies Rifles", gunsmiths build 'em. Just in case you've never noticed, women are built different from the floor up (maybe that's part of the problem, a lot of "accountants" never noticed women are different). Cutting 9 1/2" off the barrel, an inch off the stock, & drilling a few hole in it to make it lighter doesn't make sumpthin a "Ladies Rifle", it just makes sumpthin miserable to shoot. Chambering it for a smaller, lighter rounds just makes it a little less miserable...

...don't matter who you are, if it doesn't "fit", it's going to be harder to shoot. Generally speaking, & it's a matter of 10ths of inches, a shorter length of pull, smaller hands, smaller shoulders, shorter arms, a different stance. W/ absolutely no scientific evidence to back it up, I'm firmly convinced that 2/3rds of "recoil" is "muzzle blast", getting pushed by the stock doesn't make you flinch, the pressure blast of the bullet exiting the barrel makes you flinch, puts you out of position & allows the stock enough room to smack you, causing more flinch, more smack. Three options, reduce the caliber/ cartridge, build a rifle that allows a more upright stance while maintaining the basics, good cheek weld, supported shooting position, or train to lean into the rifle w/ the same good position, or a combination that allows "Rule #1", "Shoot the biggest bullet you can shoot well" whether it be a .223 or a .470 ( :mrgreen: )...

...let's face it, w/ the plethora of choices in rifles, ammunition, accessories, etc. anyone can become pretty proficient w/ some decent training, instead of the "Here, pull the trigger on this .338/ 12 gauge, it'll make a great youtube vid" mentality...

Well said Gene.

JD338

 

[Vince]

Very well said wildgene.

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[filmjunkie4ever]

Ditto Gerry.

I'm not near as "seasoned" as some of the brush busters you'll talk to on here, but lately I've been holding my .30-06 pretty close. Actually its kinda of like Linus with his blanket.

I no longer own any "magnum rifles" just standard calibers. The only magnum I'm ever likely to get is a .22 WMR

So don't feel alone...I too have taken to getting more cozy with the standard stuff.

My personal faves are the .25-06, .300 Savage, and of course my .30-06.

If I can't kill it with one of those, I've likely been shipwrecked in Africa.

To those who love their Magnums - Shoot what you love, love what you shoot!

 

[gerry]

I just realized that I only have one "magnum" left now, a 264 Win Mag, hardly a bad kicker. Along with the 264 WM in centerfire rifles we have a 260 Rem, 6.5x55, 270 Win, 303 British and a 35 Whelen.

And yes everyone is free to shoot what they want big or small

Gene brought up the point on gun fit, thankfully my wife's Tikka T3 6.5x55 fits her quite well, I had her handle one before doing the trade for it. She still says it fits well and she can shoot it accurately, weight was an important factor for her since she is slim and doesn't have much upper body strength. Much heavier and she would have trouble holding it properly.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Palouser, I also only have one magnum, a 7mm Rem Mag, Mauser. This is a new situation for me as I have always had the 7mm Mag plus, usually a .300 Mag, a .338 Mag and a .375 H&H. Given that my hunting days of larger game adventure are pretty well over with, I can live with no magnums and get by just fine. All I really need to have is an elk rifle and I have two. The .338 Federal and 9.3x74R.

 

[PJGunner]

"I'm firmly convinced that 2/3rds of "recoil" is "muzzle blast", getting pushed by the stock doesn't make you flinch, the pressure blast of the bullet exiting the barrel makes you flinch, puts you out of position & allows the stock enough room to smack you, causing more flinch, more smack."

Many years ago, 1973 to be exact I bought a Remington 660 in .308 Win. That rifle flat out kicked the snot out of me. I had it restocked in a Mannlicher style stock and even with the slight gain in weight it plain just hurt. For my birthday, the kids bought me a set of those ear muff hearing protectors. I took that rifle out and damn! Where did the kick go? Not only did the kick go away, I must of lost a bit of flinch because because I shot better groups. Now I even wear the muffs when I hunt. I had them on just five days ago when I shot my elk. Had them on for two reasons. One to save what's left of my hearing and two, at 25*F they kept my ears warm. :mrgreen:
Paul B.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I also had on of those Model 600 Remington, .308's. Between the weird stock shape and the short barrel, it was worse to shoot than my Browning .338 Mag Safari!

 

[cloverleaf]

hmmm- I wasn't gonna- cause some of you know whats coming... If your 250-3000 Savage fits you right, (Man or Woman) load up some 100gr PT's and go find your game. Inside 300yds you are good to go. And you will likely shoot it better than your slobber knocker. +1 on hearing protection. Even if the recoil didn't hurt , your brain is screaming at your body "Hey you idiot...that aint good...we cant shut the ears OFF!!! Don't do that again... Nice Sweede BTW CL

 

[Guy Miner]

hmmm- I wasn't gonna- cause some of you know whats coming... If your 250-3000 Savage fits you right, (Man or Woman) load up some 100gr PT's and go find your game. Inside 300yds you are good to go. And you will likely shoot it better than your slobber knocker. +1 on hearing protection. Even if the recoil didn't hurt , your brain is screaming at your body "Hey you idiot...that aint good...we cant shut the ears OFF!!! Don't do that again... Nice Sweede BTW CL

Good stuff right there.

 

[cloverleaf]

hmmm- I wasn't gonna- cause some of you know whats coming... If your 250-3000 Savage fits you right, (Man or Woman) load up some 100gr PT's and go find your game. Inside 300yds you are good to go. And you will likely shoot it better than your slobber knocker. +1 on hearing protection. Even if the recoil didn't hurt , your brain is screaming at your body "Hey you idiot...that aint good...we cant shut the ears OFF!!! Don't do that again... Nice Sweede BTW CL

Good stuff right there.

Nothing profound....school of hard knocks. CL

 

[Africa Huntress]

Wildgene, your post about "fit" is spot on sir

Best Regards

Jamila

 

[Oldtrader3]

That is the point Jamila, your rifles are fitted to you and should always deliver satisfactory results.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Jamila, I have a single shot, Ruger 9.3x74R which I bought to hunt elk in the rain forests of western Washington. Any animal that carries on for another 100 yards or more, after being shot in the rain forest, may often be lost. The recoil of this rifle is no worse than a .338 Win Mag.

What gun maker made your double 9.3x73R, just curious mostly, we don't see many of those around here any more.

 

[Vince]

Wildgene, your post about "fit" is spot on sir

Best Regards

Jamila

Jamila,

You had a longer reply that it seems you edited.

I was thinking of a reply and wanted to read it again before replying as I wanted to express how much I agreed with what you had to say. I think all of us can benefit from a properly fitted longarm.

I'm a pansy when it comes to recoil but I've noticed that even harder kicking cartridges are tolerable when the longarm fits the shooter. I'm selecting my rifles these days with an eye towards fit.

I wish your original post was still up as I thought you brought up some valid points that we all should heed.

Vince

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[wildgene]

...a little more insight...

http://hunting.scout.com/story/1422386- ... t-you?s=77

 

[DrMike]

Good article, Gene. Sounds as if this lady knows whereof she speaks.

 

[gerry]

Good article, I like her choice of cartridges and would also add the 7mm-08 to that list. Glad she spent so much time on gun fit, thankfully my wife's Tikka fits her so well and she can shoot it well.

 

[Africa Huntress]

Vince

I have tried to think of a way to make my point more palatable to some members. I will only say that my father had my rifles and shotgun made to fit me at the factory. It was an arduous affair, but for me personally, it was worth the time. I believe the lady in the article has made some excellent points and her rifles will certainly be easier to sell, as all she has to do is take off some tape and foam. She did not mention another difference, involving anatomy, that can also be a factor in how the rifle fits, especially when a round is touch off and neither will I. There is however not just a difference in men and women ( anatomy wise ) but a difference in women, size wise.

Charlie, I answered your question via pm last week and I thank you for asking

Best Regards

Jamila

 

[Vince]

Jamila, I doubt you could ever type something unpalatable as you have far too much class.

It seems many of us are saying the same thing and the smart person would consider that a clue. Fitment is very important to how enjoyable one finds a rifle to shoot.

Vince

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[longrangehunter]

I had to laugh as I read an article in a hunting magazine about a year ago written by one of the more prominent outdoor writers who was talking about hunting big game in the Bob Marshall wilderness area and stated that a 308 is only marginally adequate for western game and on the low-end of the power spectrum needed to kill big game out west.

I have that article as well, "Gearing up to go West" by Joseph Von Benedikt. His remarks about "heavy-bodied game and extended often-unknown ranges at which game is shot in the Bob", is frankly, a joke!

He was referencing to the extreme, but who shoots at those distances today not knowing the range in the first place? Sure back in the day it helped having a flat shooting cartridge, but with the equipment we have access to in this day and age, anything with a properly placed well constructed bullet can get the job done as long as it's not well beyond the range of the given cartridge as far as velocity/energy for the bullet to do its job.

He went on about knocking the stuffing out of big fat Bears and heavy-boned testosterone invested Elk at these animals at once again "unknown ranges"..... sorry but what a schmuck! You invest in a hunt and everything else and you're gonna guess the yardage? Which is more important then what your shooting buddy.... and why game gets wounded, Loser!

I've been getting away from the heavy hitters myself and as you guys know I sold the last one other then my 338 LM and my 458 Lott, my 300 Jarrett for that very reason. But Ok, there is a point at which these magnums due come into their own and that is at those extended ranges where the extra velocity/energy is needed in some cases... those extreme long range shots. The Lott is for whenever I go back to Africa for a big Daga Boy, and the TRG-42 for punching steel beyond 1000 yards.

But even the 308 Winchester is capable of cleanly taking game out to 450-500 yards if you've practiced enough and shooting at known distances. Who guesses at anything beyond 300 yards anyways? When I didn't have a range finder, anything over 200 yards, I was so terrible at guessing the distance you have no idea how many times I shot way over the back of an animal. For real!

Once I started using a range finder, my shot success went up 100%, mainly because I didn't miss. Now I can almost guaranty the percentage of my accuracy for a given shot at any distance. Which is when I either take the shot or not.... or try and get closer, but never at the risk of wounding an animal.

And Dr. Mike hit it on the nail head with his statement, funny how that happens.