I'm searching for a rifle in a caliber suitable for a woman. I don't see it ever being used for anything larger than small to medium plains game and in the U.S. white tailed deer.

I've considered the 270, 280, 7mm-08, 7x57 and 308.

Recoil is certainly a consideration.

Also, approximately what length of pull would be proper? 12 1/2" ? She is of average height (5'5")

7x57 for sure ! A M70 Feather weight perhaps ? Not too sure about length of pull but let her handle a few rifles and I am sure she will find one that fits. Good Luck !

7x57 or 7mm08 would be my first and 2nd choice, 3rd would be 308

Does the OP handload? That will make a difference in his choice. IMO the two 7mms make a lot of sense for the non-handloader - but the level of recoil for all five choices can be adjusted through handloading so factory recoil levels really don't matter.

What action type is desired? That will matter too. The most versatile for all uses would be the .308.


.

My wife was a non-hunter when we married...but she took up hunting and started with 7x57...that worked great for her. Since then she has decided that she likes the .270 better.

Recoil is a consideration...the 7x57 is a great starter round, and would be my choice. I think the fit of the stock is probably as important as the choice of caliber...

Zee

260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm08

My daughter started with a 6.5x284 and won't change. I would recommend a .260 or 6.5x55. Almost no recoil even in a lighter gun.

As to LOP, again, my daughter went with 12.5" and still loves it. She is now 5'7" at 25.

25-06, 7-mm-o8 or the classic 7 x57.

If you don't reload stick with the more common calibers like 7mm/08 instead of the 7x57 and the 260 Rem. instead of the 6.5/55. Much easier to find ammo. The shorter (308 length) cartridges will make for a slightly more compact rifle than the longer cartridges like the 25/06, 270, 280.

As for length of pull, either have her measured for the proper length or let her try some different length rifles to see what fits her best. Try some of the youth/ladies rifles that have short LOP. She should be wearing her hunting clothes when she does this. You can't determine LOP solely based upon a persons height.

7mm Mauser..

257 roberts; some of your choices will kick; in fact, they all will; how tough is she? If she is on the "feminine" side, she won't like any of those.If she is a tough girl, that is different; Point is, everyone senses recoil differently.
A lot of people recommend the 243/6mm for women; great idea for deer. But I do not use them as I like the option of heavier bullets and the 257 can use a 120 grainer. LOP; rest a stock in her grip and see where it is relative to her bicep; it should barely touch. But my daughter has gorilla length arms so that test does not work. It does help her play violin though.

My wife went 7X57 and hasn't bothered with anything else. She is a petite woman at 115lbs and a towering 5' 4". But she shoots 160gr bullets out of it loaded to 2700fps without a thought. This will work for everything in the US up to moose IMHO.

It took me a year to get her to realize that recoil is mostly in your mind. I had her shoot my 9.3X64, then shoot her rifle. Recoil quickly became a non-issue. Perspective is good to have. She still didn't want to try my .416.

All that said, she will be most comfortable with a stock that has some toe out (for a right handed shooter). Regardless of cartridge. Rifles with no toe out dig into uncomfortable places on a woman.

My wifes stock has a 12.5" LOP, .25" cast off and 0.25" toe out. Comb is 0.75" if I recall correctly.

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
257 roberts; some of your choices will kick; in fact, they all will; how tough is she? If she is on the "feminine" side, she won't like any of those.If she is a tough girl, that is different; Point is, everyone senses recoil differently.
A lot of people recommend the 243/6mm for women; great idea for deer. But I do not use them as I like the option of heavier bullets and the 257 can use a 120 grainer. LOP; rest a stock in her grip and see where it is relative to her bicep; it should barely touch. But my daughter has gorilla length arms so that test does not work. It does help her play violin though.

Nailed it on all counts.

Whatever caliber you decide on make damn sure she picks out the rifle. Will give her confidence a nice boost knowing it was something she picked out instead of having forced on her.

MEN.....shouldn't choose a woman's rifle or caliber

Let her decide

My wife has had great success with her 30.06 and the recoil has never bothered her a bit. As a previous poster pointed out, recoil is perceived differently by each individual but don't handicap your lady by saying "this is going to hurt" before they punch their first primer.



It's hilarious to me how frequently guys are astounded that my wife shoots an'06; guess she's just tougher than them!?

quote:

Originally posted by lrich:
..I don't see it ever being used for anything larger than small to medium plains game
and in the U.S. white tailed deer.

I will refrain from suggesting a cartridge,
but will say that Brittany BOddington nailed her big Bull Eland @200yd with her 7mm/08.
and also her large Zebra at @200yd with 7mm/08
and Caroline Boddington took her bull gemsbok near 300yd with 7mm/08.

My wife uses a 7x57 for any big game. Taken Elk and African plains game. Most 1 shot kills.

If possible, stick with calibers that can readily be found at Wally World. A hunt can be ruined if ammo is left at home and the only place open is a Wally World.

Any of the calibers mentioned in the OP will work.

As Ted Thorn stated, let the person shooting the gun be the one to decide what they want.

Nice thread.

LOP has been covered. Don't be surprised with 13". Plains game in Africa is done without a heavy coat.

Calibre depends on future. Strictly one gun or two? All of the calibre mentioned are great for a first rifle. If one rifle only, she should consider a 375 Ruger. It's often in smaller rifles than H&H. Legal for anything anywhere. AND the 200 gn GSCUSTOM Bullet can be loaded from 2600fps to 3200fps, that is, from a 3006 level through a 35Whelan/9.3x62 ... 338WM ... and 375Weatherby levels. A good recoil pad and proper fit will do wonders with the right training. Little Connie Brooks (Barnes Bullets) used to use a 338WM for all purpose US and even a 500 for somethings, so I heard.
Anyway, my wife has a 270 for Calif and a 375 Ruger for Africa. She had shot my 338 as 'no big deal, jumps a little' before getting her 375, which she likes more than her 270! (Probably, because the LOP on her Tikka 270 is too long so we are getting her a wood 13.25" replacement.)

Its nice that you get to do things together, and it's her rifle.

260 Rem should fit your criteria

308 IMO --excellent choice
Great bullet selection

I purchased a CZ550FS in 6.5x55 last year and when my wife saw it she was drawn to it. Up until then she wasn't willing to shoot anything larger than either an AR-15 or a 204 Ruger.
When she pulled the trigger on the 6.5x55 she let out a little squeal and I was thinking to myself oh great now she is going to go sit in the truck but she was laughing. She enjoys shooting it even when loaded with the 140gr bullets.
The CZ has a nice recoil pad that really absorbs what little recoil the gun produces. It's more than enough gun for deer here in the US. I've never been to Africa so I can't comment on it being more than enough for over there.

While i'm not really a fan of Savage rifles, I have seen they sell a lady hunter that looks like it has a shorter length of pull and lighter rifle vs. their standard rifles. Not sure what calibers they are available in but i'm sure they would have at least one or two in the calibers you mentioned.

I have used a 7mm08 for white tails & consider it a fine caliber for that. I have never hunted plains game in Africa so I cannot address that. It does seem to be effective that according to other accounts.
I have shot a few different rifles chambered in 7/08 & the recoil has been in a range from pleasant to noticeably stout. It depends on several factors.
My approach would be to let her shoot as many different rifles & calibers that you could get your hands on & let her pick what she likes.
Just my two cents.

Whatever you choose, proper rifle fit will make more difference in comfort than caliber. My daughter started with a .257 Roberts at 12 and moved up to a 9.3x62 for elk at 16, my wife only has a .30-06. Their rifles were fitted to them and neither has any trouble with the selected calibers. I cannot overemphasize that it is more about rifle fit than anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by loud-n-boomer:
Whatever you choose, proper rifle fit will make more difference in comfort than caliber. My daughter started with a .257 Roberts at 12 and moved up to a 9.3x62 for elk at 16, my wife only has a .30-06. Their rifles were fitted to them and neither has any trouble with the selected calibers. I cannot overemphasize that it is more about rifle fit than anything else.

Best advice in this thread. In the standing position, most women shoot higher recoil rifles better than men. They are more willing to give to the recoil. There are lots of women out there that shoot a .375 very well. Where recoil becomes a real issue is in the prone position. Like said above...recoil has more to do with fit than body size.

quote:

Originally posted by loud-n-boomer:
Whatever you choose, proper rifle fit will make more difference in comfort than caliber. My daughter started with a .257 Roberts at 12 and moved up to a 9.3x62 for elk at 16, my wife only has a .30-06. Their rifles were fitted to them and neither has any trouble with the selected calibers. I cannot overemphasize that it is more about rifle fit than anything else.

+1

Has she shot a properly-fitted rifle of any of the calibers that have been mentioned here?

Has she shot a sub-optimally fitted rifle of, say, .243, 7mm or .257?

Knowing that — and knowing if you are a hand loader — would help answer your question.

We have had the ultimate caliber for the ladies and youngsters for a decade or so, and it kills big animals all out of proportion to its size. I have been shooting it for over 70 years now and shot my first five or six elk with it and all one shot kills..It is also the most consistently accurate rifle from gun to gun that I have ever used, and I've owned many of them.

The 250-3000....I have two mod 99 Savages in that caliber, one will shoot an inch with most any load, and the other is a 1929 Take down and it will shoot 30 caliber 3 shot groups almost every time..I have won at least 50 turkeys and hams with it, and several thousand dollars, pictures to interested parties with groups and any doubting Thomas is welcome to come by and shoot shoot a group with it. I recently purchased another exactly like it and it will shoot likewise, so I put it away for my grandson.

No recoil and an awesome deer killer, mostly instant kills..Am I prejudice? whatever gave you that idea!

B shoots the Springer 9.3X74r with a bit reduced loads

Classic pose and outfit. The Lady is ready to handle anything.

Lots of good info and suggestions in the thread.

I will just share that I thought about the 7mm-08, 270, and 30-06 before settling on the 270 for my wife. I also got her a Browning Safari BAR in 270 Win and I loaded her some 150 grain Nosler's for it.

She assisted in picking it out and approved it before me purchasing it too. But she relied on good local inputs too.

She isn't big either at 5'6" and 118 lbs or so. While a bolt 270 doesn't recoil too much either, the BAR just soaks it up even more. She was comfortable with the the semi auto too as she has been shooting ARs too for some time.

You can't go wrong with a 7X57, 7MM-08 or a 257 Roberts. I lean more towards the 7MM as bullet selection is greater. I have all three in more than one rifle and all three have taken White tails, Mule deer and Antelope without a problem. I have taken a 7X57 to Africa as a light rifle as well.

As stated previously make her a part of the process. If you have friends who have these calibers perhaps they will let her take them to the range and see what SHE likes to shoot. It's her rifle and at the end of the day it's her choice. I'd be so damn happy if my wife liked to shoot or go hunting with me she could buy or have built any rifle she wanted.

What a bunch of twattle.

LRx & scutulatus have it right .....

..... it's not about the recoil of the cartridge ..... it's all about the weight of the rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by lrich:
I'm searching for a rifle in a caliber suitable for a woman. I don't see it ever being used for anything larger than small to medium plains game and in the U.S. white tailed deer.

I've considered the 270, 280, 7mm-08, 7x57 and 308.

Recoil is certainly a consideration.

Also, approximately what length of pull would be proper? 12 1/2" ? She is of average height (5'5")

My wife uses a 20" barrel 30-06 w/ 12 3/4" LOP. Has a 4X scope.

I reload 150 gr Nosler partitions at 2,500 fps for reduced recoil. That reload is only a little faster than a 30-30. It produces about 2,000 ft-lbs energy at muzzle yet carries 1,000 past 350 yds. She likes it.

My wife is 4'8' so I cut about 1 1/4" off all her stocks. Her favorite is a 722 in 300 Savage, 20" barrel and loaded to 2450fps with NP. She's killed ton's of brown bears,moose, wolves,seals, and caribou with it. I've offered her my Kimber Montana in 308 and a nice little Mauser 9X57 but she won't budge!

You will not go wrong with a 257 Roberts or a 6.5 X 55 mm cartridge.

The 6.5x55 is a great choice. I did one up in a Model 70 Featherweight and it is a great rifle.

I think proper fit is the most important thing, although one that appeals to the hunter inspires confidence and that's important, too.

If a blue McSwirly makes her happy, then I order one!

quote:

Originally posted by LRx:
My wife has had great success with her 30.06 and the recoil has never bothered her a bit. As a previous poster pointed out, recoil is perceived differently by each individual but don't handicap your lady by saying "this is going to hurt" before they punch their first primer.



It's hilarious to me how frequently guys are astounded that my wife shoots an'06; guess she's just tougher than them!?

In Northern Southeast the 06 was considered a good women's rifle. It will usually turn a bear but didn't recoil too bad. My wife shot the 06 ok but the rifle was acting up so I traded it off and got her a Ruger Compact in 308 Win. She really likes it and sometimes shoots it very well. It pushes a 150 gr bullet at 2700 fps and a 180 gr TSX @2450 fps. . She's 5'5" and 115 lbs. I've built a load with the 130 gr Nosler Solid base BT for her to use on caribou. The cart and bullet will work fine and she likes the rifle so that's her hunting rifle. She absolutely will not pack a heavy rifle for her own use. Tho she did pack my 458 when she was my bear watch. I loaded it with 300 gr TSX @2500 fps. But that was for work.
I plan to rebarrel her 308 with an 18 1/2" light weight barrel chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Mainly to avoid having too many different calibers with us when we go hunting. . But with a 6.5 mm 120 gr monometal expanding bullet at 2700 fps. The Creed has proven to be as easy to shoot as a 243 and it kills very well.



Jim ; that's a really awesome cuspuk your wife has!!! Did she make it???
Her success with her rifle has set the bar well above what most of us guys will attain.

260 rem. / 7MM-08 rem.

quote:

Originally posted by vines:
260 rem. / 7MM-08 rem.

Those are both great calibre. A person could take deer from any angle with the right bullets.

The picture in the post two posts above also shows a very happy camper, with a 30-06. Nice.

And just yesterday I read an interesting write-up on the petite daughter of the owners of Barnes bullets. She went buffalo hunting in Mozambique. You can read about her rifle, load, and length-of-pull in the article:
http://www.barnesbullets.com/h...ffalo-in-mozambique/
It's an enjoyable read.

Maybe more thought needs to go into the platform than the caliber.
When my wife was thinking about a deer rifle, we seriously discussed the 7-08 in a Tikka. It has great deer bullets available and is almost as flat as a 270. Then we learned that the Tikka receiver for a 7-08 was the same as for the standard length cartridges, so nothing was really to be gained by a short round with the Tikka. She now has a 270Win, but hasn't decided between the 110gn TTSX, 110gn GSC, 117gn GSC, and the new 129gn LRX.

One choice just seems to lead to more choices.