rifle for my girlfriend

3939 Views 26 Replies 22 Participants Last post by TX Hunter, Jul 9, 2013

swag32

Discussion Starter · Jun 20, 2013

My girlfriend has been getting into hunting lately and has gone out with me numerous times last season and she's starting to get serious about it, buying new boots and camo etc, I want to buy her a rifle for her birthday in November. I decided to go with a 7mm-08 in either the T/C venture compact or ruger American rifle compact. She's about 5'5" so that's why I want the compact model. Any advice on which rifle to go with or personal experience with either one?

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shane256

· #2 · Jun 20, 2013

This is one of those things where it might be best not to surprise her with... women hold rifles differently than guys. You may want to take her shopping and find one that she things fits her comfortably.

Reactions: 3

Crusty Ol'Coot

· #3 · Jun 20, 2013

Yep to what Shane says!!!!!!

However, it if fits her I wouldn't shy away from the RUGER American.

It feels very good in my hands. Easy to hang on to with the stock shape.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

Roadking Rider

· #4 · Jun 20, 2013

I totally agree with Shane. Just because we might think a certain rifle/pistol would be good for another person doesn't mean it is. It has to feel right to the person who is actually the one who is going to be carrying and shooting the rifle/pistol, which has nothing to do with the person buying the rifle/pistol. I might give the GF a gift certificate to the gun shop to buy the rifle, but when it comes down to which rifle that should be, that should be her decision. That is providing you want to live in peace.
Only thing you should have control over is the amount of money your willing to spend.

MikeG

· #5 · Jun 20, 2013

Generally the youth models are a good place to start. Make sure it has a good recoil pad.

7mm-08 is not a bad choice. Avoid getting a gun that's too light; it will kick excessively hard.

You probably don't want to hear this, but you really need to start her out on a .22 (that fits). So that may be a better "first choice" if you don't have one that works well for her already.

If you do... then you'll have to get another one for yourself, she will claim it... ask me how I know!

Good luck.

BKeith

· #6 · Jun 21, 2013

I would shy away from the TC because of it's light weight and her being a new shooter. The last thing you want is for it to kick her a couple of times right off the bat and make her start wanting to jerk the trigger, and tightning for the recoil. The 243, 260, 7-08 all would be good choices, and I would go with a little heaver bolt gun over the TC. I was just watching a young kid this morning, 11 - 12 shooting his new, small break open single shot 243 today. He was so scared of it, his whole body moved to brace just before he shot, and then after three shots telling his dad his shoulder was too sore.

I'm also a firm believer in LimbSaver recoil pads on any rifle a new shooter is going to be using.

Hummer

· #7 · Jun 21, 2013

If the Ruger American is available in 260 you might consider that as you can get bullets from 90 to 142 grains for it.

Crusty Ol'Coot

· #8 · Jun 21, 2013

Swag32, Short on a bit info here, such as do you reload?

I have loaded "reduced loads" for use of female family members and friends, and have almost a hundred sitting on the loading bench for use with a young hunter/shooter that I have been mentoring.

Use a light for caliber bullet and the proper powder for a reduced load, and then do the practice shooting at close ranges at SMALL targets and the new or young or small shooter will get proficient with the firearm and sight picture.

Then just before hunting, an experienced shooter adjusts the scope for hunting situations and the shooter won't be bothered by the shot of two taken at game, PROVIDING the scope is properly set for eye relief so there is no possibility of the young shooter joining the cut eye brow/half moon club.

The Reduced loads allow for lots of trigger time with no possibility of the shoot becoming gun shy.

With the reduced load program, you can begin with a bit bigger firearm then might otherwise be good for a starter. Family and friends were using a .270 and my young shooter will be using an 30/06 with the reduced loads.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

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MontyF

· #9 · Jun 21, 2013

A rifle for your girlfriend.... I'd say that's a good trade...

Seriously the 7mm/08 or 260 Rem are both good choices in my opinion.

Picking something as expensive as a rifle, I'd get her involved in the selection.

Reactions: 3

fred243

· #10 · Jun 21, 2013 (Edited)

Swag32,

What caliber rifle has she been using since she started going out on hunts with you ? I would also take a look at the youth/compact Weatherby S2, they have a adjustable length of pull, adjustable trigger, 20 inch barrel, and the new S2 line is sub-moa guaranteed. The MSRP is just a little more than the T/C. I have a standard S2 in 25-06 and it has the best trigger on any out of the box rifle I've ever shot and they have a great finish on the metal as well. The Marlin X7S is another one to look at, they have a compact version in 7mm-08 and the length of pull is only 1/2 an inch longer than the Ruger, but you get a standard length barrel of 22 inches with the Marlin. I personally would opt for one of the longer barrels, there would be a velocity loss for sure with the 18 inch barrel and the muzzle blast would be pretty loud with the short barrel. That doesn't mean an 18 inch barrel won't knock a deer over, it will, but overall IMHO one of the longer barrels would be best. Best to ya !

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/...l&type=All&cal=7MM-08&fin=&sit=&zipcode=75150

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mirage243

· #11 · Jun 21, 2013

Buy her a 243 or 7mm-08 for now and then after the romance wears off, trade it for a 338 Ultra Mag.

Zapzoo

· #12 · Jun 21, 2013

A couple of suggestions, take her to look at rifles let her handle them. Caliber whatever works. However I would not just surprise her with a rifle. What I would do is tell her on her birthday that one of her presents is a new rifle. Then I would take her to pick one out. Give her the money and have her do the paperwork. That way she can see how it works to purchase a firearm. It’s what I did with my wife. Lastly if she turns out to hate the rifle you can just tell her you purchased it.

swag32

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 21, 2013

Thanks for all the sugestions, she does have her own 22 and she used my 243 last year but she wants something a little bigger. I like the idea of takeing her to handle some rifles to see what fits her. Thanks again for the help everyone theyre all good ideas especially the one about the 338 lol!

TMan

· #14 · Jun 21, 2013

Lots of good advice.

My own daughter is 5'4", and on the light side. She found my M70 Compact in 7-08 to be a bit much for recoil with full power loads. The M70 was heavier than the Ruger.

The .243 might be less intimidating, but the silly millimeter from 6mm to 7mm makes a big difference on game. If you handload, you can reduce recoil a lot with various lighter bullets and smaller charges of 4895 and similar in the 7-08, and there are managed recoil loads that would help.

I've been a fan of the 7-08 since it became available in the early 80's, and my current/last version is a very accurate and very light M700 Mountain Rifle. But shooting it along side a M700/.30-06, recoil is pretty similar.

M1894

· #15 · Jun 21, 2013

MikeG said:
Generally the youth models are a good place to start. Make sure it has a good recoil pad.

7mm-08 is not a bad choice. Avoid getting a gun that's too light; it will kick excessively hard.

You probably don't want to hear this, but you really need to start her out on a .22 (that fits). So that may be a better "first choice" if you don't have one that works well for her already.

If you do... then you'll have to get another one for yourself, she will claim it... ask me how I know!

Good luck.

Mike, Grand daughters are worse than wives or girl friends, they know how to con old grandfathers out of anything.

Lee

swag32

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 21, 2013

I havent hand loaded in couple years, i tried messing around with loads for my 300 weatherby mag but stopped because i was spendind more money on reloading supplies than factory shells. I thougtht about reloading for her 7-08 when i get it but i was also plsnning on getting a limb saver recoil pad for it as well.

fred243

· #17 · Jun 21, 2013

Savage has the Model 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP package and it comes with a Nikon 3-9x40 scope with the BDC Reticle. It's chambered in the 260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, and the 7mm-08. The Creedmoor and 260 both have factory ammo with 120gr bullets and that would reduce recoil a little bit over the 7-08, most of the factory ammo for the 7-08 will be 139gr-140grs and up. It wouldn't be a huge difference but a little bit and the .264 cal bullets are as good as it gets where ballistics are concerned, very accurate rounds they both are. MSRP is about $675 and real world prices are usually 75-100 less than that. With a Nikon scope already on it, it would be a great choice and Savage has some of the most accurate out of the box rifles you can get.

222 mag

· #18 · Jun 25, 2013

7mm08 is an excelent choice. If you reload, a good 120 grain bullet is all you need, its my favorite cartridge for wis whitetail. As for which make-model, i agree with previous posts. Let her pick which one...and you get what you pay for

kludge

· #19 · Jun 26, 2013

I'd go with the Savage Lady Hunter. The Ruger Compact barrel is just too short for my tastes, nice tho. I've handled the T/C Venture, and I'm not a fan.

7mm-08 is a great cartridge. Better than the .308 IMHO. The only others I might consider are the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .260 Remington, especially if recoil sensitive.

attaloss

· #20 · Jul 3, 2013

Let her pick the rifle she likes of them all. Than take it to a good gunsmith and for a small fee he, or she, can turn it into a great rifle. The 7mm-08 is a good choice.

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