What cal. and rifle is best for small wife?

[Remmy]

I am leaning to a 223 SAKO. She is small so weight and recoil is a factor. It will be used for target, coyote (summer practice) and late season deer.

[victorcharlie]

Many years ago,I bought my wife a Ruger ultra-lite in .243.  She loves it!  She's 5'4, 120 lbs......

[Rangr44]

When running the public sighting-in days at my club, I've noticed that the most common complaint amongst the smaller women was that a gun was too long. The front of the barrel was always dropping down, while they held the rifle(s).

Women's stature/musculature doesn't allow them to easily shoot offhand like a male can - even from a stand. As a result, their hold is unsteady, with resultant poor accuracy - even in a light caliber.

The second common complaint among those women boiled down to "too much scope" - new users have difficulty picking up targets, especially a moving target, in a larger, higher powered scope.
Keep a scope simple & small, like a 2-7x33 or smaller or fixed power.

If you plan on a .223, I would suggest the new Savage Classic 25 Sporter - since it's a new design for that cartridge.

http://www.savagearms.com/25model_classicsporter.htm

If she can step up to a .243, however, (a much more effective cartridge) I would suggest a Remington Model Seven, since they're both short and light.

Either rifle would likely be a less expensive, more easily resold, mistake, than the Sako you like.

[Dave in WV]

Remmy, do you reload? If you do you can load reduced recoil loads for her. I have loaded a reduced .243 load for a friend's son. He got his first deer last season. He's small for his age and the Handy rifle youth model he was using is quite light. I agree with the previous post about stock fit. A poorly fitting stock makes shooting accurately more difficult and seems to increase felt recoil. A forgiving scope (eye relief and field of view) makes things easier too

[RaySendero]

How about this rifle in a 308:

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_seven/model_seven_CDL_specs.asp

With this ammo:

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/managed-Recoil.asp

[beemanbeme]

Model 7 in .260 in a youth model or with a cadet stock. You can use it for varmint and it's a deer rifle you don't have to wonder about.  You'll only have one problem.  She may get mad if you start borrowing it too much. 

[Freezer]

     Remington Model Seven all the way!  2x7 Leupold on top and she'll have a gun she can heft.  I wouldn't consider 223 for deer.  In many states the 223 is not permitted for deer it's just not enough.  There are allot of folks that would argue that the 243 is questionable deer load and that shot placement is critical with that round.  Alas all is not lost the Model seven is chambered in 260 Remington and 7-08.  The 260 is a fine lite recoil cartridge and the 6.5 bullet has a very high bullet coefficient meaning it will penetrate. It's fast and flat shooting so within reason a 260 can do just about everything she'll need including deer to 300 yards.

[Graybeard]

Mrs. GB is 4' 11" and we won't discuss weight. 

Her big game rifles are an old Remington Model Seven with 18.5" barrel chambered in 7-08 and cut to her proper pull length and a Marlin Model 336 chambered in .44 magnum also cut for her proper pull length. She shoots both rifles well and has taken game with both. She used the Marlin to take a couple of rams on her first big game hunt and since then has mostly used the Remington.

[deerman12]

"we won't discuss weight."

There is one smart man.  I see alot of driver's license.  I am constantly amused what some women say is there weight.  Just makes me chuckle. 

[BBF]

To me the pull lenght is the most critical part. If the stock doesn't fit, a 22 is no good and leads to terrible shooting habits There are a number of reduced recoil type factory loads available. I'd go over 243 if possible. Don't go with a shorty barrel in a small caliber and watch those super light barrels, they heat up in a hurry and sighting them in is a real PITA

[aflineman]

Look at a Ruger compact in either .243 or 7mm-08.

[slim rem 7]

 if she good to you let her pick it out

[beemanbeme]

Slim's got a good idea. Take her to a big box store and have them lay out several of the "youth" and micro sized rifles. A model 7, a Micro hunter and and so forth and have her handle each one and see what she sez. It don't have to be the right calibre, you can have them order that.

[Cheesehead]

AR-15 in an M4 configuration chambered in 6.8 SPC. It meets the criteria of small, light weight and low recoil factor. I have one and know this to be true.

Cheese

[Remmy]

Rangr44 and Dave in WV
I would perfer owning a 243, I mean my wife owning one I am sure lucky she wanted to go shooting with me and really enjoyed it. Dave, I took up reloading this past winter for my 30-06 so if it will shoot a lighter load, this is an option.

"RaySendero How about this rifle in a 308:"
I don't think she would go for the recoil RaySendero.

beemanbeme ,I read a lot of good things about the 260 but it is for her so I must keep reminding myself to think about weight, size and recoil.

She is a good lady, I might even top her rig out with a Sworvoski.

Hmmm....7-08 I need to read up on this one...to bad a 270 would most likely be to much for the little woman (less than 115 lbs ) She is not shy at all about this info.

I am tossing out the 223 idea.

I own a M700 in 30-06 and am happy with it, MOA half inch at 150 yards and still working up loads. I had it out for the first time needed to resight it after working on her over winter, Reloading is a lot of fun I am hooked. But the other Remington models i am not so sure of.

I am thinking of no more than 1200 dollars not counting the scope of course.

[Remmy]

"AR-15 in an M4 configuration chambered in 6.8 SPC. It meets the criteria of small, light weight and low recoil factor. I have one and know this to be true."

I am going to run this idea across my wife

[bigjeepman]

Here is a much-used recoil chart for the different calibers ... you can see the 7mm-08 might just be perfect for her ... I know I am looking for one for myself.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

bjm

[Remmy]

Hmmm... this chart shows the 7-08 has a little less punch with a heavier bullet than the 260...might be better even with a half pound more weight....I wonder which one shoots straighter

[GRIMJIM]

I'd want a semi auto for my wife. She's quick!

I'm liking the m-4 idea. You can get the adjustable stock, that way when you take it to the range to make sure it's still okay you can make the lop longer.

[Cheesehead]

The adjustable stock on the M4 is a very good point. It will adjust instantly for any size shooter.

Cheese

[BBF]

How about one of those Thompson Center Single Shots. Just get different barrels as needed. 

and believe me, you will     n e e d   

[Dave in WV]

Remmy, here's the link to Hodgdon's youth loads.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

[Remmy]

What are your thoughts on the M70 in a light kicker?

[beemanbeme]

I have several 7-08's and a single .260.  And I shoot 140's in both of them.  They both  kill deer like the Hammer of Thor.  But then so do several other cartridges (that doesn't include the .243). But we're talking more of nimbleness and recoil.  The 140 makes for a long bullet in the .260 and so my thoughts were to start her out with the 120's which should be more than adequate for WT's and might give a bit less recoil. Then maybe work up to 140's. 
I only started fooling with a .260 after I moved to WV and so have never shot a mulie with one.  I wouldn't hesitate to do so but I would use a 140gr bullet.  The 7-08/140 NP bullet is big medicine for mulies and I have killed several with that combo. 
IMO the 7-08 makes the .270 obsolete and any feats attributed to the 6.5 Swede can be matched by the .260.  (now tell me that ain't gonna bring some squeals from the luddites) 

[merwin]

If it's my small wife and she's protecting her young, you're gonna need a howitzer!

Sorry, couldn't help it.

[Remmy]

beemanbeme thanks for your thoughts ,the 7-08 is starting to get my attention the more i look into the cartridge. I almost got a 270 but then decided on the old 30-06 standby because my wife said i can only have one, that is, until i took her shooting with me . A gun for anything, well...almost anything.

[RaySendero]

"RaySendero How about this rifle in a 308:"
I don't think she would go for the recoil RaySendero.

Remmy,

Look again at the Managed-Recoil Ammo in the second link!

Have two friends at work that started their sons on a 308 with this reduced recoil ammo - It works!!!

[TribReady]

I'd say, in order: 7-08, 243, 308
Ammo for all is plentiful and relatively inexpensive also

The 6.8 SPC idea seems interesting, but you'd have to see what she thinks of the AR type platform vs traditional. Also, what's the ammo availability for the 6.8?  I think for the range of use from target to varmint to hunting, the other choices give infinite bullet/load options

[chickenlittle]

An option I am considering for a low recoil deer round for my wife is 7.62x39mm. Beyond the semi-autos, you can get it in two imported Remingtons, the single shot SPR18 and bolt action Mini-Mauser model 799, and in the nicely sized CZ 527 Carbine.

[Dave in WV]

A model 70 is a fine rifle but I like the Ruger M77 MKII more. I have both.