I'm going to buying my girlfriend her first deer rifle. I'm looking for something that will smack deer size game pretty good with less recoil, at 200 yards or less. Average range will be 100 yards.
She can handle a decent amount of kick but I think she'd like something that kicks less than a 30-06. I'd prefure not to have a bullet diameter less than .250
She's 25 years old and had a medium build

Question:
which would be the best comprimize of power and recoil for deer size game?

Choices:
25-06
7mm-08
270 win

 

Though I voted for the 7-08, there may be better options if you don't limit yourself to these three with factory ammo. Other good options include the 6.5X55 and .257 Roberts.

My wife doesn't hunt with me much any more but when she does, she uses a syn stocked M700 270 Win with a Sims Recoil pad. It's a real pussy cat from the bench and she doesn't mind shooting it a bit(5'-8" & 150lbs).

The stock and pad make a big difference in the percieved recoil. I have a good friend that owns a M700 270win similar to the one my wife shoots. It has a laminated stock that has no recoil pad and it will definitely get your attention, seems to have as much recoil as the 300WMs I own. He says it kicks like his 270 Weatherby

I think all of the choices you've made are great. Hard to go wrong with any of them.

Good Luck

Reloader

The 25-06, 7mm-08, and 270 Win are all good choices. The 6.5x55 Swedish or .260 Rem would be good too. Hard to beat a 7x57 or 7mm-08 as a general all-around rifle.

My two cents...
-Bob F.


"Brittany Boddington with a zebra stallion taken with a single 150-grain Scirocco from her little Kimber Model 84 in 7mm-08 Remington. This size of game is pushing it for the little 7mm-08, but its attributes of shootability and great bullet performance make it exceptionally deadly."

Sensible Sevens
by Craig Boddington
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/notes/0501/

Voted for the 7mm-08 but my wife has been shooting and killing lots of stuff with her 7x57.

If your willing to put a muzzle brake on the rifle there is no reason she can't use a larger calibre. I have a Ruger MKII in 308 with a vais muzzle brake on it and it recoils less than a 270 in the same rifle.

From your list, I would go 7-08. My choice would be the 6.5x55 (or 260). Recoil is to me less than my .25-06, and loads (reloads) are right at the same velocity with a 120.

3100fps neckdowns are for reaching way out there, at 100 yards you're just ruining more venison.

Any of the .308 based cases would be a good choice. CZ 527 in 7.62 commie wouldn't be bad either.

Always the 7mm08 for me. My wife shoots mine just fine and she is only a 100 lbs. I can shoot a hundred rounds in a match without any discomfort at all. I have killed a lot of deer with it since 1982 and never shot one twice and never lost one either. You can roll them over at 350 yds with no problem at all.

I'd go with the 7-08. Lower recoil and a lot less BLAST. My wife uses a 7x57 with 140s. Took a very nice Oryx last month at around 250yds. Perfect one shot kill.

I'd recommend a 6.5x55 Swede or a .257 Roberts. In my opinion the others ( 25/06, 270 and 7-08 ) have enough recoil to take the fun out of shooting and you need to keep it fun for her sake.
A friend of mines wife had a 270 and she was med girl heighth and about 130 pounds and that rifle hurt her too much, she shot it weell but complained of the lick, if she were not an already experienced shooter with lighter calibers I'm sure she would have given up on the 270.

oh... this is for GAME...

i thought you were having relational issues.

in that case i would say any of the mentioned ones but i think it is a matter of the gun fitting her since the recoil can be tamed by 30% on any of the carts in question. usualy girls want pretty over function...you can tell i am married cant you...

a kimber 260 rem is light to carry, is "pretty" and great for recoil.

gohip2000 ----- None of those mention are bad choices, however in my opinion the .270 WSM beats them all, hands down. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
I'd recommend a 6.5x55 Swede or a .257 Roberts.

and that's a fact!!! roger

I also voted 7-08 but I would go w/ a .260. They are accurate, soft recoiling & w/ 120gr bullets, sure killers on deer size game.

I agree with the rounds already mentioned. I like the Roberts best, its my favorite deer round.
I would not buy a rifle chamberd for a round i thought needed a muzzle break for deer hunting.
i would look for a ruger Hawkeye or MK2 ,standard or ultra light, in the roberts, but the others are fine too.
A 6.5 sweded or a 260 great choice for any deer hunter.
...tj3006

I voted for the 7mm-08; but my personal choice would be the .257 Roberts.

I voted 7m m 08 but like .257 or 6.5x55 even better.

i voted 270 winchester,simply because your gal is not afraid of recoil,and in the end she'll never feel the need to trade up for more power,what hasn''t the GREAT''270'' winchester done? all 3 are steller choices by the way,great question cheers n regards jjmp

I voted 7-08 based on my experience with the round. I bought one for daughter when she was 12. The first year out she shot an elk and a deer. She did the same for the next 3 years. My girl-friend now shoots a Kimber Montana in 7-08. With proper bullets and reasonable shot range it kills elk just fine. With proper bullets and looong shot range it is hell on marmots.

Here's another vote for the 260. It's very accurate and has light recoil, but has no problem with deer sized game. During a 1 1/2 year period I used it on approximately 60 hogs weighing from 30 lbs - 280 lbs and at ranges of 15 yds - 239 yds. Never lost a hog and probably used a second shot maybe 7 or 8 times.

the 260 sounds like a good choice too. Is that based on the .308 case? also, specifically, what diameter bullets does it use?

The other thing I should mention is that the round needs to be availbe in factory rifles around the $500 or under range.

hmm, maybe I should spend a few hundred more and get her a Rem 750 auto loader in 270 win. that would be less recoiling because of the auto action and it comes with a soft recoil pad. she would prefer an auto action so she can make quick follow up shots. (I tell her she needs to get out and practice shooting, but she doesn't like practicing, only hunting)

I heartily reccomend the .257 Roberts. It is a traditional "Woman's Gun" because it will deliver about 12 foot-pounds of recoil and will kill deer/antelope out to 300 yards.
The others mentioned are going to be more recoil and/or more noise which will make it more difficult for a novice.
Ruger makes a very fine rifle in Roberts. The lightweight might appeal to the lady and, even in that package, the recoil would be such that she will like the rifle. The standard weight might well be better, but the question might be whether she wants to carry the extra weight.

I'm thinking the 7mm-08 would be about perfect for her and I think she would enjoy hunting with this round. So far she has only hunted with a 12 gauge loaded with slugs. The 7mm-08 would be a plesant surprize for her. I think she would learn to shoot more accurately with it after moving down in recoil from a 12 gauge, she should feel more confident shooting deer in the farm field knowing that she will be able to pretty much aim straight at the target at 100 yards.

Every year she gets a shot off at a deer(usually 75-100 yards away), misses and then the shotgun jams before she can get a second shot off. It would be really nice for her to have a decent deer hunting rifle.

If she liked shooting a lot, I'd just get her a .308, but she doesn't shoot a lot.

I would get her a 308.
Start her out hunting with Federal's low recoil 170 gr load or Remington's 125gr low recoil load. I have killed game with both of them.

They are very plesant to shoot.

After she shoots for a while she can move up to full power 308's

My wife used full power 308's in Zim for impala, kudu, wildebest and zebra with excellent results.

Heck,

all the good answers have already been given...

but by the answers given, I can see my philosophy on the subject is running in good company here....

to make a true accurate evaluation we will need pictures of said girlfriend.
front and rear.

quote:

Originally posted by gohip2000:
the 260 sounds like a good choice too. Is that based on the .308 case? also, specifically, what diameter bullets does it use? ...

Yes it is. Bullet diameter is .264" (6.5mm). It uses the same bullets as the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser (among others).

Cartridges based on the .308 Win case:

.243 Win .243" bullet diameter
.260 Rem .264" bullet diameter
7mm-08 Rem .284" bullet diameter

As you can see, the .260 fits between the .243 and the 7mm-08.

-Bob F.

If she is just hunting deer in CONUS, I'd vote for the .260 Remington. I think it's the best deer cartridge available today, but, since it's not on the list, my vote has to go to the 7mm-08, another fine deer cartridge, and it doesn't damage the venison like a .270 does.
LLS

I went with the 7mm-08 as well. Bought a Browning A-bolt micro hunter in that caliber a few years ago for my son (and wife) and have not been disappointed. He has even taken Elk with it no problem. Your girlfriend may prefer the shorter action as well; maybe the smaller/shorter rifle too?
I've kind of come to dig using it myself actually...

I voted 7mm-08 but any of the short action cartridges (.308, 7-08, .260, .243) would be great for deer, just make sure you get a rifle that fits her and she's comfortable with.

Learned that lesson when I bought my wife a Walther P-22 cause it fit her hands and not mine. Now I can't keep .22lr ammo in the house.

I also chose 7-08. I would personally choose the 7x57 or .260 Rem or a 6.5x55.

257 Roberts. I have a pair of them and they are a dream to shoot, and shoot accurately. They are perfect for someone not wanting a lot of recoil, and they will slew a Deer..
If the 250 Savage was available in a production rifle, that would be my first pick. The 250 will kill Deer too, and it has less recoil that the 257 Roberts. I have a 250 Savage in a custom rifle that is just the ticket for someone starting out.
The thing you don't want to do is scare her off with a rifle that kicks too much for her at the beginning. Once into the game, she can always move up to a bigger boomer. But, if she is hurt by recoil initially, she will be an unhappy hunting partner for a long time.

Don

Call CDNN and see if they have any of the Steyr Safe Bolts left in 260 Rem. I have one in Synthetic and pull two of the stock spacers and my wife loves it. It's a real tackdriver too.

7 MM Mag !. 100 grain -175 grain projectiles !. For the young Lady just don't load Max levels !. Or 7/08 , .270 .260 .243 .

I prefer Mag though because of it's versatility with Wide range of projectile weights as well as styles. It also is Ideal for Small , Med , Large game . Nice recoil pad ( A real One ! ) is VERY important for Ladies !. Far more than the recoil ever would be .

Unless she is built like Chyna or Zena ?.

Another consideration is Stock Geometry as well as Weight !. How far do you normally hike into Hunt ? Short distances Heavier weapon !. Long distance Lighter Weapon !. Light Synthetic recoil cushion shocks built into the stock along with the recoil pad . That's the real deal !.


Remember Recoil is millisecond ! , weapon purchase is a Life Time !. As well as your Sentence with this Girl might also be Life !!!!!!. ...

6.5 "anything" will get you 100 gr PT's that are faster than a R'bob can throw them...and 2750 in 140PT's for elk sized critters too like a short 7...or sub 100 gr'ers for plinking and 'yotes at +3k speeds...or 160 gr'ers for things that can bite when you run 'em off the bear bait...but I favor the 100+ year old Swede of the two soft kicking 264 choices...or add 2-3?4fps to a 260's best with a 6.5Whizzum. IMO the 26's are the Perfect do all popgun with looong boolitz and + 450/500 BC's for deeep penetration and close to 300 SD's...spoken by a dedicated 40 year 270 shooter who has seen the light.
Ron

quote:

Originally posted by KSTEPHENS:
to make a true accurate evaluation we will need pictures of said girlfriend.
front and rear.

If she looks like and acts like Rosie O'Donnell, no question about it...

get her a 416 Weatherby!

She can move up to the 460 as soon as she can handle the 416....

Lot of good advice here. I wouldn't buy a semi-auto for anyone that doesn't shoot often. Especially in the excitement of the hunt, and for an inexperienced shooter, it's too easy to forget that the rifle is full loaded after the shot has been fired. I don't recommend them for older people either because of memory failures.

Don't discount the "blast" effect. To most shooters, the blast is more unpleasant than the recoil. This is why the 7mm-08 is superior to the 270 or 25-06.

Short action rifles fit women shooters better. This is why a 260 or 7mm-08 would be better than a 6.5X55. Also, another reason not to choose a semi-auto - they are generally too big for a smallish woman.

I think the 7-08 would be a good choice along with a 7x57 that my wife shoots. I also think a 308 would be a good choice as you could use some of the low recoil ammo which is good for deer out to 200yards. Later, if she progress to something larger to hunt like plans game or maybe an Elk she could move up to regular ammo with a premium bullet. I think Unit 5A has a good suggestion with the Browning Micro A-Bolt as it is really trim, light and moderately priced.

I may have missed it but I don't think I saw one vote for a .243. Sure is a long cry from the early "60s". Why??????? roger