Well I have convinced the little lady that taking her 7x57 prairie dog hunting would not be a good Idea. In the past she has used my 22-250 stuck in her stock since she needs a much shorter pull.

Do to the fact I have a large number of both gun repairs as well as Honey does on the new house looking for an accurate factory rifle.
No time for a full build project.

In the past she liked the looks of the Rem VTR. I kind of leaned away from the triangle barrel. She really liked the looks. I doubt she would be shooting much past 300yds. So open to any and all suggestions. I load for pretty much anything so caliber is not an issue.

Purty hard to beat something from Savage....
The Low Profile series not only shoots...
its good looking with the laminated wood & SS...
The 223 gets my nod for caliber choice...9 twist barrel will handle 50-75s all very well..

If she likes the VTR, then I'd get her the VTR. Even if you don't like it much, she will like it.

It's here gun. I'd let her pick anything appropriate to the task, that didn't break the bank, that I could cut down to fit her well.

Paul,

I gotta agree w/armed-in-utah .....

A basic heavy barrel Savage Varminter, Low Profile, etc. w/accu-trigger in .223 Rem. ought to be just the ticket and not slap the Piggie Bank too hard. Tough to beat this option for all-round value.

Wood, laminate or synthetic - I would not hesitate for a second to put any of those stocks on a band or table saw; and make it comfortable for Momma like RIGHT Now! Cap off with a recoil pad, slap a 4-12X40 fine X-hair scope on it and Voilá - she's in business.

The VTR ain't half shabby, either - or a Tikka T3, Howa, Brno Varminter; lots of .223 Remington choices out there that will most probably shoot & function excellently - whatever floats her boat; for Pete's sake, just get on with it!

I bought a Howa .223 with an over molded stock last year.

20" barrel, light weight,.....shoots fairly well...what's not to like?

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for Pete's sake, just get on with it!

Gerry my wife always says I won't b uy ANYTHING without researching the crap out of it and I sure wouldn't want to make a lier out of her.

I think a 223 is a given. You are probably right if she wants the VTR probably should lean that way. Only concern I have is setting it up to shoot is my responsibility. Just don't want to start out with a large hill to climb.

I know Savage has a history of accuracy but she doesn't care for the looks and hates the new triggers.

I had suggerted the CZ but the magazine hanging out the bottom turned her off. Since she is my primary hunting buddy need to keep her happy.

Now to find a dealer to accept delivery in the Parker area.

If your wife is as knowledgable as she seems to be, she will be knowledgable enough to know you're going on the cheap and ugly if you buy a Savage.
Buy her what she wants. Has she actually handled a VTR? I'd take her to a big box store and let her get her hands on one and if that's what she still wants, get it for her.
As far as getting it to shoot, I haven't had any probs getting mine to shoot right out of the box (I don't have the VTR) and a simple post will probably get you about a 1K of recipes for the care and feeding of a .223.
IMO, I wouldn't get into the "twist" thing. get a simple 1/12 or 1/14 for at least one reason, store bought ammo is usually 50 or 55grs.
A model 7 with a "cadet" after market stock would make a light, handy rifle.

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Now to find a dealer to accept delivery in the Parker area.

Go to Google and type in FFL holders in Parker Colorado.....guess what will happen?.....

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I bought a Howa .223 with an over molded stock last year.

20" barrel, light weight,.....shoots fairly well...what's not to like?

Vapo,

There's one sitting in the Heidelberg Rod & Gun Club right now - Hougue green overmold stock & the 20" bull barrel- Cool as all Get-Out IMO.

If I was right-handed it'd be mine already.

Paul,

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I had suggerted the CZ but the magazine hanging out the bottom turned her off. Since she is my primary hunting buddy need to keep her happy.

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If your wife is as knowledgable as she seems to be

Well the wife could care less if the bullet in her 7x57 is a Nosler or Speer. Of if the powder is RL or IMR. But she know how to use a rifle or pistol almost as good as I do. Only issue she needs more work on is drop calculations. Anything within her point blank range is in trouble. She leaves the loads up to me. She knows what she likes to look at as well as what feels comfortable to handle. Due to her smaller size she does often prefer a light synthetic over pretty wood. Says she will let me carry the wood and she can still look at it.

Vapo yep do the search and you get a list of everything from pawn shops to the in the home dealer. Thought I would simply get the name of the guy my new neighbor uses just as soon as he gets back from his 2 week hunt in BC. Only got to talk to him a few minutes before he left but sure seems like a kindred spirit.

Howa have always made good rifles. I don't recall her seeing one. Since she has seen the Rem several times each time asking if I knew how well they shoot we'll probably go that way. If it doesn't shoot it should still buy me some time before I need to build her something.

Either a .223 Ruger varmint or perhaps 12bv SS-single shot in Savage. What's not to like about the triggers? That should do her till you build one.
The single shot in a PD town will help the accuracy and keep the barrel a little cooler. roger

Savage still does offer the 223 in s/shot in the Low Profile series....

Get her what ever she wants. Thats what I would
do, so long as it wasn't a big bore.

Here you take a look an see what the little Misses would like ;

http://www.ableammo.com/catalo...14248&sort=3a&page=1

I liked the Tikka so much I bought another one !. Flawless function accurate solid decent looks

what's not to like ?. Sako ?. I've also got a couple of Savages some people say their ugly ; I say their

ACCURATE and PRACTICAL !. Opinions vary just ask any question on this forum !!!.

I bought my 2nd wife a Remington 223 for our 3rd anniversary in April and was divorced by June. Best rifle I ever bought...and, yes I got it in the divorce.

If she like "purty" rifles then the VLP or a Remington VLS ought to suffice. If she wants a particular rifle (triangle barrel and all or whatever) then get her that one!! Just be glad you got a woman that wants to accompany you and enjoys the hobbies you have!! My "Laurie" took a liking to the Black Laminate BDL 375H&H!! Calls it "HER" rifle!! Now I can't sell the darn thing!! Shoots great and thanks to the "QUE Industries" muzzlebrake, it's almost manageable!! GHD

If she likes pretty rifles, don't get her a Savage.

I would get her a 17HMR or a 223 rem.

I'd get her a Rock River Arms flat top AR-15 with either a 20" or a 24" stainless steel barrel.

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Originally posted by BECoole:
I'd get her a Rock River Arms flat top AR-15 with either a 20" or a 24" stainless steel barrel.

Is she open to an AR15? They are easy to build and can be configured any way you want.
My latest AR has a 16" heavy match barrel that does a fine job on varmints out to 300 yards or so.
I can give a bolt gun a real run for it's money.

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I'd get her a Rock River Arms flat top AR-15 with either a 20" or a 24" stainless steel barrel.

If she wanted to shoot one of these she would shoot mine. . She shoots it but is not a real AR15 lover. Calls it my gun lord rifle.
I think I have a lead on VTR here local. Or at least my realtor thinks that is what the guy has for sale. If not will just go ahead and get one in 223 since that is what she is leaning towards. We have a 22-250, 243 and 6mm as backups and longer ranges.

If she likes pretty and you can drop abit more look around for a Cooper. Every one i have been around shoots lightsout.Love my .223 AI , it shoots .3 in fireforming factory .223. Montana Varmiter stock and stainless barrel.

I have a VTR in .223 and am very happy with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
I bought my 2nd wife a Remington 223 for our 3rd anniversary in April and was divorced by June. Best rifle I ever bought...and, yes I got it in the divorce.

LMAO!!!

Buy her the rifle you like the best first and when she doesn't like it you can buy her another one that maybe she'll like better. It may take three or four to get one she really likes but you'll have some new toys.

God Bless, Louis

youngoutdoors nailed it!!!! way to go Louis!! GHD

Plus one for youngoutdoors suggestion. I Think its a toss up between the Rem and the Howa. I like the Hogue stock though. For those that don't like the closed grip, there is enough rubber there to grind it back almost to a modle 70 looking angle. I just use a dremel with a sanding drum on it. DW

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Buy her the rifle you like the best first and when she doesn't like it you can buy her another one that maybe she'll like better. It may take three or four to get one she really likes but you'll have some new toys.

You guys are confusing my wife with someone that just tags along and shoots my leftovers. She knows the feel she likes. How she wants her trigger, LOP, makes her own choice as to scope etc. Only thing she leaves to me is caliber. She is pretty much my equal shooting buddy. I just happen to get the fringe benefits that go along with a wife that loves to shoot and hunt as much (sometimes I think more) than I do.

She has her set of pistols that she has picked out herself. Most I love as well but her choices.

As I stated earlier she is about 10" shorter than I am so her stocks have to be cut down. So we can not swap rifles or shotguns. I do have a short second stock set up for a MKX that I will stick another barreled action in when needed. Like when she wants to use the 22-250. Her normal rifle is her little 7x57 or her 243.

I appreciate the comments specially the one about being happy with a VTR. As for now the decision has been made. We bought a 223 desert VTR from a friend of our realtors. Matter of fact she ended up working the deal. He quoted his best price which was about $100 less than I could get a new one I was ready to accept she started to walk. She got the price down another $50 plus several hundred new LC cases thrown in.

Now I need to install her scope , cut the stock down and work up a load.

Gidday Paul,

She is your wife for heavens sake. Don't scrimp get her a Sako or Tikka. Buying a Remington,Ruger, Savage or other cheap trash is telling her she isn't worth a decent firearm.

The Howa is a 2 lug Sako made in Japan and would be my choice if you want to be cheap but it is like buying a mexican VW.

Get her something made in Europe and show her she is worth it. It will keep you in the good books and earn a few brownie points.

You wouldn't give her an engagement ring out of a Christmas cracker would you and thats what you are offering with the other junk.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Take a look at the CZ 527 varmint. Very nice gun and lighter weight than the others listed. Has a 1-9 twist so you can shoot up to 77 grain bullets. Mine is very accurate out to 800 yards. Stock is also shorter so would be good for a woman.

Sam

I am going to go against the flow here and suggest .204 Ruger as shown below with recommended accessories. I have several and up to about 400yds, that 32 grain pill at 4000 is incredible.

I have a nice #1 in 204 for sale. See the classifieds.