My vote is for the 270W. Hard to beat it. Right stock and recoil pad is all you need.

I know one here that's left eye dominant, but is right handed. Only matters when shooting with both eyes open.

I'm left handed & left eye dominant & though I can shoot right handed bolt actions left handed, I'm much better with everything in the correct position.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
I am left eye dominant and shoot right handed. Don't think I could ever shoot left handed. You have the money to hunt calif and tanzan--buy all three it's just pocket change.

OK, it sounds like a RH rifle might work.

quote:

I'm left handed & left eye dominant & though I can shoot right handed bolt actions left handed, I'm much better with everything in the correct position.

So I hear two votes for buying Right Hand and shoot right eye with a scope,
and between the lines I hear that it might be difficult to shoot with both eyes open, which is the best way to shoot in my opinion.

The problem with buying three rifles is redtape and carrying ammo on airlines, and COST. My son and fiancee will live in Tanzania.

shooting with both eyes open aint gravy even if you are RH/RE (or LH/LE).

I am right eye dominant, and shoot left or right interchangeably--esp with single-shots as they make no difference.

If she doesn't know how to shoot-it is just about as easy to learn either way.

SSR

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
308 .. then 708, 7x57, 6rem, 243 win .. all kick about the same.. 270w is a step up in recoil

Yup. 270 is sharp kicking and noxious to the ears.

I would go 308 Win. Then you can go elk or moose if she wants.

A 270 is good up to and including grizzly bear if you can shoot. A 270 doesn't kick, if you don't believe me I'll let you shoot my 500 Jeffery.

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
Yup. 270 is sharp kicking and noxious to the ears.

I would go 308 Win. Then you can go elk or moose if she wants.

Well, we could substitute eland, but my son would probably step in and pop one with a 416.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
A 270 is good up to and including grizzly bear if you can shoot. A 270 doesn't kick, if you don't believe me I'll let you shoot my 500 Jeffery.

We might let her shoot one of the 416 Rigbys loaded down to 2675fps 350-grain (5500 ftlb).

But back to practicalities, a lot will depend on what is available.

Some good options have been mentioned and I appreciate hearing about left-eyed people shooting RH rifles with scopes. It might be a good thing for her to learn to shoot right-eyed from the beginning, at least until she joins a skeet shooting club in Arusha. (joke)

Follow up on 'what's available':
the 260 Rem is also attractive but I don't see many offerings in short length of pull or compact rifles.

It seems that rifle manufacturers put out a rifle one year, and then drop it from their websites. Are there 260 Rem in Winchester M70 Compact featherweight lurking somewhere?
Looks like Tikka has them available in lightweight, somewhere, but with a 13.5"(?) pull.

A too long stock isn't all tht much of problem. A competent gunsmith can whittle it down to any length you want.
Paul B.

My son is voting for the 243 but a new problem surfaces. We can't locate a 243 M70 Compact.
(One guy had a new one listed but he withdrew the auction alltogether.)

I'll say it again, 270:

Those are inspiring groups, Doc.

And we love the 270 in our family, currently my wife has a 1/2"-grouper Tikka, 3400FPS 110gn TTSX in 270.

But our daughter-in-law needs a shorter LOP, hence the search for a nicely balanced M70 Featherweight Compact and their 13" LOP. And since she is new to shooting, we have settled on a 243 until and when she will step up to something more African. (For her stature, if she learns to handle recoil well, a 338 RCM might fit nicely. But first she needs to get some shooting and hunting experience.)

But where does one pick one up in the US these days?

Tanz

Lipseys lists them-you would have to call to see if they are in stock

http://www.lipseys.com/itemdet...20Action&finish=Blue

SSR

with what you mentioned, the 7MM-08.. I have a .260 and a 7-08 and the quote about a 7-08 running out at 300 yrds. WRONG

270 win. 130 grain 500 yards, 1243 ft. lbs energy with muzzle at 3060 fps

7MM-08 rem. 140 grain 500 yards, 1225 ft. lbs energy with muzzle at 2900 fps

both bullets are rem. AccuTip

I found this discussion very interesting. Good luck to the OP on his choice. I too am looking for a light recoiling rifle for shooting practice and to take into the mountins. I like sako rifles and their finnlight comes in 7-08 and 270W. The tikka superlight I believe is not chambered in 7-08, but is chambered in 270W. based on this discussion i am leaning toward 7-08 which sako has w/ 20" barrel. would this be suitable for AK mountain goat or dall sheep?

Take a look at the new ladies Savage. Built for a women. Take my word for it. It is not just the length of pull or the size of the pistol grip. Women are built different and most need a higher comb. I had a custom stock made for my 5'1" wifes Ruger #1. The new women's Savage pictured on their web site has very nice wood. You can buy light loads in 308 Win and 7-08 from several companies (LIKE HORNADY LITES if you do not reload).

I'll also vote for the 7mm-08

And now I'll get honest about some other suggestions

6.5x55 I own two and firmly believe that outside of Sweden, Norway & Finland only a complete idiot recommends it.

a 6.5x55 is a chambering you either buy in a surplus rifle
OR you buy after you've already got most of the others on
the list of posts above.

7x57? real popular overseas, never terribly popular HERE
nor at this point will it ever be.

when recommending a rifle for the relative of an enthusiast we should as a group eschew the "enthusiast" cartridges and get something that the person hunting with the rifle can buy ammo for at any Walmart.

I have never bought into the "243Win for beginners" fantasy.

For every gun/hunting enthusiast on these forums I believe there is atleast one possibly TWO would-be enthusiast that was horribly disillusioned hunter that gave up after having a deer escape becuae the 243 didn't get the job done

Yes I know it's all about shotplacement and you can theoretically wound a squirrel with a 460WBY, but a
harder hitting chambering than a 243 tends to be a bit more forgiving.

And Sorry I don't recommend orphan chamberings like the 260rem either.

And if recoil IS an issue you can always load the 7mm-08 with 120gr bullets...

The 7mm-08 is a versatile cartridge and there is a wide choice of good bullets for it. It is easy to load for.