I am gonna get my girlfriend a rifle so she can go deer hunting with me next year. I took her to the gun shop and she tried several out and she liked the remington model seven the best.
I want to get her something that doesn't recoil very much but if she doesn't like hunting I also want a cartridge that I can enjoy too.
I like stuff that is fast and flat shooting and the rifle will have a 20 inch barrel.
the cartridges I was considering were 243 ackley improved, 260 rem ackley improved, 6.5-284 and maybe 6.5 remington magnum. I dont' want to have to rebarrel I just want to be able to take it to a gunsmith and have a standard model seven rechambered into something more interesting.
I would like some opinions on what I should get her I would also be open to any suggestions that are similar.
My Model 7, 20" stainless/synthetic in 7/08 loaded with 120 gr Barnes easily hits 3100 fps and weighs in at 7 lbs,loaded, with 1.75X6 Veri X III. Shoulder surgery necessitated it but personal choice(5 one-shot kills)keeps me using it since. Only gun makes me put it down (for deer)is a Rem.100XPR in 260.
My gut says buy one in 260 Rem and don't look back. Even with 20" barrel we're talking a 300 yard deer gun. The 7-08 is great and the 308 even better if your thinking about a bear down the road. If you handload then recoil is no problem with any of the 3. The 243 I would skip over for now.
As much as I love the various 6.5's, I doubt you would like a 6.5-284 or 6.5 Rem Mag in a Model 7. The magazine is very short and both cartridges need more barrel. The action work involved here is much more difficult than rebarreling, although it may not cost as much. If you want an interesting gun, I suggest a Winchester model 70 classic compact. The magazine can be made .25 longer by removing the spacer. Then you can get into some cartridges that while still mild can deliver the velocity your crave. The 7x57, 6.5x57, 6.5x55 and 30 Special and a 100 others that will not fit as well in a Model 7.
yes I reload if I didnt' I wouldn't be looking at improved calibers and wildcats.
I am sort of leaning towards the 6.5 caliber myself, because I shoot a 264 mag for deer.
what are your thoughts between a 243 ackley improved and a 6.5-08 ackley improved. I like the 7mm-08 but I'm afraid I would have to reduce it too much because I'm pretty sure she wouldn't handle recoil too well.
I think the 243 ackley shooting 85 grain X's at 3400fps or a 6.5-08 ackley improved shooting 100 grain X's or 125 grain partitions would be pretty easy in the recoil department and be plenty flat shooting to satisfy me if she decides she doesn't like hunting.
also I like odd calibers that most people don't have so take that into consideration.
I am not a big guy 5'9'155 lbs.and I hear people refer to recoil of 7-08 I dont get it my 7-08 is a model 70 fwt and recoil seems almost non-existent to me.My 19year old daughter who weighs around 110 shoots it regularly and has never mentioned recoil.
Posts: 610 | Location: MT | Registered: 01 December 2001
I understand the urge for a wildcat but I don`t think it would be worth it in a M7s 20" barrel. I believe the 6.5 and 350 Rem mags problems were related to the short 20" bbl on the old M600s. You can only burn so much powder in a short tube before your gaining nothing but flash and blast. I`d stick with the std 708 or 260rem for your girlfriend and load the rounds down for her if recoil is a problem. If she doesn`t like hunting or you take over the rifle, rebarrel to the cartridge of your choice with a longer barrel.
Posts: 2535 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 20 January 2001
I agree with getting the 7-08, my wife is 5-2 and 110 pounds, she shoots mine with no problem. I know how you feel about wanting something different that everyone else does'nt have but thats exactly why I bought a 7-08, outside of are little world of true gun nuts it's realy not that popular. It's been a factory chambering since 1980 and there are still many men that ask me "7 what"? I think it is a great little cartridge for long range targets, varmints, and deer that will one day catch on but for right now it's a semi sleeper.
quote:Originally posted by rock42: I am gonna get my girlfriend a rifle so she can go deer hunting with me next year. I took her to the gun shop and she tried several out and she liked the remington model seven the best.
I want to get her something that doesn't recoil very much but if she doesn't like hunting I also want a cartridge that I can enjoy too.
I like stuff that is fast and flat shooting and the rifle will have a 20 inch barrel.
Now, are you (A) going to buy a rifle as a gift for her, that she will own and do with as she pleases?
Or, are you (B) going to buy a rifle for yourself that you will allow her to use for hunting as long as she wants to?
If your honest answer is (A) you should buy her whatever she likes as long as it will do the job. If your answer is (B) you should buy something you like, that she can handle, perhaps with reduced loads.
Just my .02 but it seems important to sort out the ownership issue.
Think of it like buying a car -- do you want to get her the Miata that she likes to drive even though it won't haul much firewood (or ammo), or the 3/4 ton 4x4 that she may not like as much, but that will haul your firewood, and game, and ammo? The Miata may not be your taste but it will get her there, and if she likes it she will drive it more and better.
John
Posts: 1246 | Location: Northern Virginia, USA | Registered: 02 June 2001
well it will be mine but she will use it whenever she wants. since it will be stainless synthetic I will probably use it in the rain since she most likely won't want to hunt in the rain. but mostly it is for her. if she would ever want to hunt bear or elk I wouldn't have a problem getting her another gun for that, unless I get her the 7mm-08 now which is good for bear and elk.
there isn't anything in particular she wants other than it doesn't kick too much and it is good for killing deer.
Why get an exotic or wildcat caliber that will require you to go out of your way to find or make brass for it? Either a 260 or a 7mm08 would make a superb deer gun, and you can, if necessary or desired, buy off-the-shelf ammunition for it. You can also buy brass easily and reload for those calibers. Moreover, if you want to sell the gun sometime, you will be more likely to find a buyer for a standard factory caliber.
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
If you rally want a wildcat on a model 7, skip the 6.5 and 350 mags, the magazine is really too short for these two to do their best, and the short barrel just complicates things further. i haven't used a 260 Improved, but I think it would be a good cartridge. I have used the 7mm08 Improved (7mm SGLC, actually)and it is a great and efficient small cartridge. With either of these imroved wildcats you could still use factory ammo if you wanted, albeit at a slightly lower velocity and differant point of aim. However, since you're looking for mild loads for your girlfriend anyway, this could actually be an asset. Personally, I would go with the SS Model 7 and rechamber for 7mm-08 Ackley Improved. All the stuff about resale value is true, but most of us don't make much (if any) money from this hobby. IMHO - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
What Dan said is true, fireforming cartridges in an improved chamber reduces velocity and recoil. It could save some time for you, but I doubt you will see much of a gain on the high side. Either way, if she doesn't shoot now, you'll probably end up finding some reduced loads for practice. The 125 grain partition is a great bullet in that it doesn't have to be pushed to the max to perform. This will allow you to back off a couple of hundred fps and still make 250-275 yard shots. The Barnes X needs to be pushed to the max from the 260 to expand at range. The 120 grain BT is very easy to expand and will allow you to reduce velocity further. A 120 BT at 2600 is meat in the freezer.
