Author Topic: wife's rifle (Read 2423 times)

jrnsuz · « **on:** March 14, 2006, 11:46:38 AM »

i posted this on the medium bore string also; just looking for different ideas.

my wife (5'2" 130lbs) thinks her first deer rifle should be a .243. she bases this decision not on experience but on conversations with a girl at work (LARGE girl) who shoots .243 exclusively.

i think .243 is to small for pure deer rifle. ok for combo deer/varmint, but straight deer hunter, i think, should be at least .26 cal.

ya'll got any thoughts on this? :?

mjbgalt · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2006, 06:22:50 PM »

confidence is a big factor. if she THINKS a .243 is best let her have it. if she can shoot well enough to put that bullet where it goes, there won't be a problem anyway.

beats her rushing a shot with a .308 and throwing it at you later and saying "if i had the .243 i could have had that deer."

and you KNOW what i am saying is true.

-Matt

nomosendero · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:22:26 PM »

Yes, confidence is a huge factor.

My Wife does very well with her 6.5X55, having one Wife this is all I have
observed. That's my story & I'm sticking to it.

poncaguy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2006, 03:10:46 AM »

I would get her to shoot a 260 Rem or 7mm-08 with a good (Limbsaver) recoil pad on the rifle.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:53:48 AM »

I learned a long time ago that I could make my case but my wife would do what she wanted to do anyway. The more I argued with her the more determined she was........

MJBGalt makes a good point and I'll go a little farther if I may......If you want your wife to hunt with you and have a good time, and she feels the needs to make her own decision then let her. If she doesn't like the rifle then she can give it to you and you can get her another one. Knowing women, you might end up with a lot of rifles. Heck, my wife, who I dearly love, still has to read the menu at McDonalds even though she's been there no telling how many times.

Seems to me, one of the differences between the sexes is that women have a tough time deciding, and then often change their minds. Not all women, but alot. I was told along time aga it was a womans purgative to change her mind........

That's okay though.....I've learned to live with it.......Consider yourself lucky to have a mate that likes to do things with you......just go with it.......

Mac11700 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2006, 07:45:35 AM »

I would say if you have a rifle that some of the reduced loads from Remington are available for..buy some let her shoot them and see how she can handle the recoil from it....

Mac

beemanbeme · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2006, 12:57:59 PM »

Its one thing to let her make some decisions but when she wounds a deer with her .243 and has it run off not to be found or spends a half day busting briars to find the deer, you're gonna lose a hunting buddy.
I agree with a minimum of a .260 or a 7-08. If you reload, you can start her out practicing (I assume you plan on spending a lot of time helping her with her trigger time) on kinda watered down loads and as she gains confidence and ability, work up to a better load.
If you don't reload, start her out on the lightest bullets available in ready rolls.

flintlock · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2006, 05:09:56 PM »

Actully there was a study a few years back where it was proved that the type bullet and shot placement was more of an issue than caliber...Most of the deer I've killed with a .243 dropped at the shot....none went over 125 yards...If she loses one...it won't be because of caliber....

We kill 45-50 deer a year on our farms...I have seen them shot and shot them with 22-250, .243, .260, 7mm-08, .270,.280,.30-06,.270WSM, 7mm Mag,.300 Win Mag, 30-30 and of course, slugs, buckshot, 50 caliber inlines and .40, .45 and .54 caliber round balls...Once you get into the high powered rifles from .243 to 300 Mag...it dosen't matter...Actually with the larger caliber, you are blowing most of that energy into the ground on the off side of the deer...

You certainly don't need more than a .270 or a 7mm-08.
I don't advise a .260 or a 25-06...I had to take a fellow on a 60 some mile round trip a few years back trying to find a box of .260 rounds...If you reload, its ok...As long as you take an extra box, in case you fall in the swamp and knock your scope off like he did....And 25-06s have too long a barrel for what they are...I'd opt up for a .270 before a 25-06.

Nothing wrong with a 7mm-08...except they aren't popular everywhere and a .270 or .243 shoots flatter....They are nice in the Model 7....but I'm 6ft 5...and a Model 7 feels like a toy to me...And the blast with a 20 inch barrel is awful...

nomosendero · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2006, 05:46:45 PM »

No doubt, bullet placement & bullet const. are more important than caliber,
but why not have a little more caliber & still place your shots & use good bullets. They are not mutually exclusive. I had a 243 as a starter rifle for
my boys & when they turned 15 or so, I sold it. A 243 can do the job, but
I was not overwhelmed with the performance.
A big 25 will kill the biggest Deer walking & quick, but flintlock was right
in regards to buying a gun for a small Woman (subject of this post) & I
would not buy a 25-06 for her, as flintlock stated you need at least a 24"
barrel for them, not an issue for Men but it could be for a Woman. My 25-06AI is my favorite Deer rifle with high Sectional Density bullets, but it is not for everyone.
It is hard to fault a 260, 6.5X55 or 7-08 for this application. An inexperienced hunter can & do shoot Deer without studying the angle that
the Deer is standing. If it is quartering toward you & they shoot the point of the shoulder, I would rather trust the Sec. Density of a 6.5 bullet compared to the .243 if we are dealing with high velocity up close & if it is a big bottomland or grain fed Buck as opposed to a small Southern Pineywoods Buck, I have shot both & it matters.
Just install a Limbsaver Pad & have her practice with light loads before season & you will not have a problem.

Idaho_Hick · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2006, 04:42:10 AM »

I think victorcharlie touched on an idea that is genius in concept. If I could convince my wife she wanted a rifle, my collection would double inside of a year. Hmmmm, lets see, so we have spring, summer, fall, and winter rifles, they come in black, brown, green, and some oddball (designer) colors, you have blued and stainless, you can accessorize them with leather and nylon, thousands of different sighting arangements- this is a new gun procurement strategy that deserves serious consideration.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2006, 11:09:54 AM »

Always glad to help......It's worked for me to a certain extent in the past.

Flintlock and I have similar experiences with the.243 while I don't shoot 50 deer a year I guess I've shot more than 50 with a .243 and only had 2 run, the farthest around 80 yards. The .243 is ever bit the adaquate deer rifle in my experience.

Slamfire · « **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2006, 04:34:41 PM »

Too bad you can't find her a .250 Savage. One look at that round and women fall in love with it. It is a premium deer killer too. :wink:

mitchell · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2006, 04:43:08 PM »

get her a 30-06 with a muzzle brake and have her put muffs on befoer she shoots . with a good brake a full house 30-06 will feel like a wimpy 223.

just make shure she muffs her ears before she shoots even while hunting.

nomosendero · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2006, 06:08:33 PM »

flintlock & victorcharlie

I looked back at my post & I see that I should have been more clear on my view of a Woman's Deer rifle for where this poster lives.

True, I was not overwhelmed by the performance of the round which is in
reference to it being a starter rifle for my boys. It worked, others would have been better. To me it is a better round for the experienced hunter,
one who is more likely to place his or her shots with percision. If shot
placement is good, in the vitals (shoulder or not involved) for normal sized
Deer or Lungs (not shoulder) for Big Bucks, you will have a dead Deer if you range is modest. An exception can be a bullet like the 100gr Nos. Part.
or Barnes TSX, then shoulder shots on Big Bucks could be done. As far as
solid lung shots are concerned, you can kill Deer at close range with smaller rounds than this, but that is not my point at all. Most of us could
fill our tags with a 243 each year if that is what we had though it would
take longer as I would pass up a few shots that I don't have to now.

SO, my concern is 2 things for THIS hunter.
(1). A beginner is more likely to get excited in the heat of the moment &
not pay attention to the angle of the animal. If the animal is nearly facing the hunter, it would be nice to have a 25cal. & up. If the point of the shoulder is facing the hunter, I hope they have a good bullet.
(2) THE QUESTION IS ASKED BY A HUNTER FROM LEXINGTON, MISSOURI. This is in Northern Missouri & the bucks there can easily be 200 plus pounds. I noticed this & illuded to it in my first post & to me it matters. We have some Deer like this in a river bottom that I hunt &
a 200plus pound Deer is alot different than a 120# Deer. I am not saying
that the Deer you hunt in NC & TN are allways small, they are not, but
N. Mo. & Iowa Deer are big.

Most Women's rifles are not used for Varmits & Deer as 243's are used by
some people, so that has no relevance usually.
With the current technology of recoil pads & the ability to obtain light loads, I see no advantage of the 243 over 260, 6.5X55 or 7-08 for Deer &
with Deer hunting loads the trajectory diff. is small & beginners should
keep ranges modest anyway.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2006, 04:04:58 AM »

fl[ntlock said:

Quote

I don't advise a .260 or a 25-06...I had to take a fellow on a 60 some mile round trip a few years back trying to find a box of .260 rounds...If you reload, its ok...As long as you take an extra box, in case you fall in the swamp and knock your scope off like he did

What's wrong with bringing an extra box of ammunition from home that's not handloaded? I drive very short distance's to where I hunt locally and I take along 50 rds. I see no reason to have to worry about ammunition most anywhere you go. Much is made of the lack of ammunition theory, I've even made it myself but, it really doesn't fly for most situtation's.

I said earlier, maybe on the other thred, my wife gave up her 6mm Rem when she got her 6.5x55. SHE said it was more plesant to shoot! Where we live, it also gave her a lot more versitility. Should she go elk or bear hunting, I would prefer her have the 6.5 cal over the any 24 cal.

Mack the Knife · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2006, 08:56:35 AM »

Do not start her out with anything bigger than a 243. I have a nabor just bought his first rifle a 270. He is 6' 4" , 250 #. First time at the range, one bloody nose, bent glasses,& a very sore shoulder. Take my advice,
start out small, you won't be sorry. Long time married, long time shooter
Mack

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2006, 09:45:07 AM »

Sounds like quite a butt kicking that boy took with his first rifle.
Maybe someone needs to teach him how to hold that sucker. I see pilgrims
pick up guns in gunshops & hold them as if they were firing them & I think,
wow is he really going to hold that gun like that. :eek:
Bent glasses & a bloody nose, now that takes talent!!!

Actually it sounds like his scope has limited eye relief or mounted in such a way to
not utilize the available eye relief, his glasses should never get hit with such a mild round. A poorly fitted stock could have caused the nose bleed unless he is a decendant of Jimmy Durante & if that is the case, I would advise him to handgun hunt.
My Mom is nearly 80 & shooting a 270 would not be a problem for her, but
we have advised her not to shoot the 45-70 Guide Gun with the Garrett Load.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2006, 06:27:13 PM »

Quote from: Mack the Knife

Do not start her out with anything bigger than a 243. I have a nabor just bought his first rifle a 270. He is 6' 4" , 250 #. First time at the range, one bloody nose, bent glasses,& a very sore shoulder. Take my advice,
start out small, you won't be sorry. Long time married, long time shooter
Mack

I can't pass this one up...

Looks like he's a perfect canidate for a Leupold's non-critical eye relief scope to me...Beat ya to it Redhawk

:-D :-D

I still say to look at Remingtons reduced recoil loads...they work...here...read about them..http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_7_50/ai_n6038091/pg_2

Mac

coopershooter · « **Reply #18 on:** March 19, 2006, 11:01:25 AM »

I HAVE READ THAT A .410 SHOTGUN IS NOT FOR BEGINERS, BUT FOR EXPERTS. I THINK THE .243 FALLS INTO THE SAME CLASS. OK, IF THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.
I USE THE 6.5X55. MY WIFE SHOOTS IT AT THE RANGE AND LIKES IT. I WOULD THINK THE 260, 7MM08, 250 SAVAGE, 257 ROBERTS, WOULD ALL BE OK FOR A LADY. AND NOT HAVE MUCH MORE RECOIL THAN A .243. BUT THE BULLET WEIGHT IS THERE.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #19 on:** March 19, 2006, 03:25:19 PM »

There are certainly other options than a .243. Selling them to your wife might be more of a problem than just going with her first choice. Any round based on a 308 case up to and including a 308 shouldn't hurt her much more than the .243. The 6.5 x 55 would be a great choice as well. A .250 savage or .257 Roberts would work. A 7 X 57 mm would be fine.

No doubt, making big holes makes things deader quicker. The problem isn't with any of the rounds that the previous posters have suggested. It appears to me the real thing you need do no matter what choice is made, is to let your wife think she made it herself. Women feel good when they feel "empowered", but hate to be "controlled". Heck, not just women, the same would apply to anyone of either gender. I don't really see this as being about making a good choice but really is about her making a choice.

There's no right or wrong on calibers as long as she's happy at the end of the day.

If Mama ain't happy, ain't no body happy......Misery loves company.

nomosendero · « **Reply #20 on:** March 19, 2006, 05:07:25 PM »

Indeed, if she reads this thread it would not hurt a thing, that is if she wants to. She can then make an informed decision based on the opinions/experience of many, seldom a bad thing.

longwalker · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2006, 08:19:26 AM »

What victorcharley said.

Let her decide then take her to the range with a good set of ear muffs and teach her to shoot. Teaching her to hunt will be tough enough.

longwalker

beemanbeme · « **Reply #22 on:** March 20, 2006, 11:41:36 AM »

"6'4", 250#, bloody nose, broken glasses" What?? did someone take the rifle away from him and club him with it?

I think Coopershooter pretty well covered why you don't start a kid or new hunter off with a .243.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #23 on:** March 22, 2006, 06:57:38 AM »

Had a friend that didn't weigh over 130 lbs, who tried a 243 for white tail hunting for a couple of years. He loved its light recoil and accuracy. However, after shooting 5 deer with it (all less than 100 yards away) he switched to a 308. Shot placement is important, but it didn't do my friend much good with his 243. Except for one, bullet in head, the rest ran and he had a problem finding most of them. My friend was an excellent shot, and he would not take a shot unless he had a good one, so his shot placements were darn good. He switched back to a larger caliber for deer and used the 243 for smaller game.

PEPAW · « **Reply #24 on:** March 25, 2006, 06:53:54 PM »

If you are hunting the larger deer than we do here in TX, I would advise the .260 for her. I use 140's, but the recoil is still light. Cut the stock to fit and add an after market pad (Pachmayr or Decelerator). My wife and son use the .243 on deer and hogs and it is plenty with proper bullets for broadside shots. I have taught them to be patient and you will get the shot you want.
We use ear muffs and I feel that solves most of the recoil problems, with a good Decelerator pad.

pepaw

7.62X63 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 27, 2006, 06:18:11 AM »

My Wife decided she wanted her own rifle to hunt deer with and after
shooting my BAR MK II 30/06 w/150 gr loads,she wanted one like it.I found a used REM 742 30/06 w/cheap 4x32 scope for $200.00 at a
pawn shop and bought it for her.She shoots it well and then I made the mistake of telling her if she shot a deer,she could have my BAR.Well
I dont guess I have to say what happened!VERY PROUD OF HER and lost
a great feeling/shooting rifle at the same time!Bottom line is dont forget about a gas auto as far as reducing recoil,but the compromise is the added weight and length.I was sense bitten by the ENCORE bug and so was my wife.

Mike in Ct · « **Reply #26 on:** April 15, 2006, 01:30:10 AM »

A 243 win will be fine if she shoots a decent weight of well made bullet any of the 95 to 100 grain big name brands will do fine...I'd spend the 40 dollars or so & rig that shortened stock with a recoil reducer (& make sure it has a good recoil pad)...they only add 8 or 9 ozs but it will keep her from flinching...The muzzle brake is good too Brownells sells them from 40 on up ..installation will add to the cost...I taught one young guy to hunt deer with the 243 win he picked it out himself..The gun & the scope...I set him up with some light handloads to start..It was early summer so he could practice at the range & hunt chucks with me....He got really good at shooting...I was about 100 yds away when he killed his first deer..I saw it walking up & across the hill from me toward his stand...I was waiting to hear the deer stop & then the shot...he put one right above the shoulder just slightly forward broke the neck while the deer was walking....One shot one kill ...I jumped up to look & saw nothing but heard the whooping..first buck...100 gr win power points or something they called them back then.... mike in ct

victorcharlie · « **Reply #27 on:** April 15, 2006, 06:28:48 AM »

Mike in Ct makes some very good points. Getting the stock shortened and a good recoil pad installed will make a huge difference.

I have thought for a long time at a Remington 7400 auto loader in .243 shortened and with a limbsaver recoil pad added would make a good deer rifle with low felt recoil.

Having a rifle that fits the shooter is very important.

Brithunter · « **Reply #28 on:** April 24, 2006, 05:18:00 PM »

Hmmm I had to smile at some comments in this thread. Now I don't have a .243 Win and have never had one nor desired one although I have shot a Muntjac Doe (Muntjac are small... make that tiny deer) when I picked up the wrong ammo box and found out when 100 miles from home :roll:

My friend the gamekeeper uses a Mannlicher Shoenoauer that he had re-barreled years back to 243 Win and he has used it all over Europe. A few yeasr ago he dropped a nice 22 stone (308lbs) Red Stag in Austria with one shot using 100 grn Federal Premium ammunition. Sure if the shot is wrong then the deer will run, heck sometimes when the shot is perfect the darned deer run :roll: other times they just drop on the spot or take a few steps.

Choice of bullet and it's construction and terminal performance is more important than changing cartridges.

Now back to the .243 :wink: ............................... although I never desired a .243 I did pick up a Parker-Hale 1200V rifle last June chambered for the 6mm Remington cartridge. Like a lot of rifles I own it was the rifle which called to me and not the cartridge the rifle is in good condition over all with and excellent bore and throat, pity about the chip out of the rosewood grip cap :roll: . Now 6mm Remington is not an overly popular cartridge here in the UK it seems and it took a while to get dies and new cases together ( shortage of funds didn't help here either) then lack of range availablity hampered things somewhat :? but last Saturday we finally got to try her out. Prone is not the most comfotable postition for me so my shooting is not the best from prone but after sighting in the rifle it shows real promise and was with a handload just picked at random from Hodgdons web site.

Once I sort out a steady rest to test her off I fully expect some steller accuracy. At present I am using Sierra 70 grn HP Match bullets, no soft points allowed due to the stupidity of our laws :?

Yes the 6.5x55 is an excellent softly recoiling cartridge unless you shoot the 156-160 grn bullets hotly loaded then it can grab your attention. And the Swede performs well on Deer.

A well fitting rifle is actually more important than the chambering the rifle is in. Let your wife choose the rifle :wink: if she likes it and is comfortably holding it and shouldering it .................................................. well that's over half the battle won. The idea to get her to try firing various rifles is a good one providing they fit her reasonably well. Having her try out a rifle with an obviously over long stock is not going to help her or you one little bit.

Good luck on your quest :-)

younghunter12 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 22, 2006, 01:52:24 PM »

A .243 will take a deer pretty much all the time.

My dad took his first deer with a .222 rem. If a .222 rem will take a deer then a .243 will take a deer too. The shot placement may be more important in a .243 than say a 7mm 08 or a .308. That doesn't mean that you should not take only good shots. Just get what your wife likes and thats what counts. Thats my thoughts. Alec.