rifle for wife?

[backlash 1]

Looking for advice on a new rifle for the little woman

(5'-2") Right now she has a Rem 742 in 270, but it is almost as tall as she is. All our shooting is close range(under 75 yds), I was thinking maybe a Ruger 44 mag carbine for her. Anyone have any experience with this rifle? or coments?, she likes semi-autos. Thanks.

[BandB]

Take a look at the browing short track they where new last year and the come with a shortend stock this is the one I am going to get for my wife.They come in a few good cals. go to the browing web site and check them out. But if you are not willing to part with that much money the ruger is a good choice. My mother inlaw shoots a ruger 44 and likes it but you are limited to the range you can shoot this gun so it only good for a few situations, but on the other hand if you get the Browning in .308 or .243ssm you can use it in a lot more places. just my .02

[magnumthunder]

I'd take what ever you culd get for her!!! just kidding. cant help her. What type of shooting will you be doing with it?

[tealitup]

Just thinking... How about a 12ga shotgun if you are deer hunting with it and under 100 yards. Also, I have never shot one, but how about a 7mm-.08? Gander has alot of them and they are pretty resonable in price. I have no idea on recoil, but when looking at them I thought it would be a good youth gun.

[lawdog]

I was going to say the same thing Teal. For my money out to 75 yards a shotgun slug is the best killing machine out there, bar none. They hit like a ton of bricks and with today's modern rifled barrels and sabot slugs they are deadly accurate. I shot a buck at 73 yards last year and it destroyed both lungs and tore the heart in half. He didn't even know what hit him...

[tealitup]

Well if they go with a shotgun they could buy another barrel if she wanted to try upland or waterfowl. She would then be used to one kind of gun for all around hunting/shooting.

[Guest]

I agree with lawdog,for anything under 100-125 yards,you cant beat a slug gun and then when she wants to go upland or waterfowl hunting ,only need another barrell.Only problem with this advise is I always tell my wife that I need a different gun for every type of hunting that I do.Sure would hamper my gun purchases with this advise.

[lawdog]

Don't worry LeeHarvey, none of us fellow FM'ers will tell her

[BigDaddy]

I think that the shotgun suggestion is a good one. I'd take one step further and get her a 20 ga. 20's make a very good slug gun for deer. Plus, they are light handling and light kicking especially if you go with an auto.

[mechanictim]

backlash 1

You might want to check out the Benelli R1. Available in a carbine model with optional, different thickness recoil pads on the stock, should be able to get a good fit. The R1 also has interchangeable barrels if you want the option of different calibers. It is available in a couple of the new short mag calibers.

Another less expensive option would be a Ruger Mini 30. It is a pretty good compact rifle with a lot of after market accesories available. The 7.62x39 cartridge with soft point ammo is about the same as the proven 30.30Win.

If you can talk her into a bolt action, a Remington Model 7 Youth in .260Rem would be a good choice. The .260 is a good cartridge that does its work with out a lot of recoil or noise. I have a good friend who has shot several deer with it and swears it drops deer just as well as the 12 guage he used to use. One nice thing about a bolt action rifle is you usually get a much nicer trigger. Most semi auto rifles and shotguns have pretty heavy triggers.

[backlash 1]

Thanks for the replys. She would'nt budge on anything but a semi-auto. Is the Benelli an auto also? will check out the Browning site as well. Have never even considered a slug gun before, does someone make an auto in a cut down version for a shorter person? She has taken 9 deer already with her 270 including a 10 pt buck, so she handles it very well, but I thought for an aniv present i'd get her something that fit her size better.

[mechanictim]

backlash 1

Yes the Benelli R1 is a semi auto, gas operated. Kind of spendy at $850 on up, but has one of the nicest triggers available on a semi auto rifle.

[BandB]

the r1 and the Browning short/log tracks look a lot alike just an fyi. The r1 is a verry nice gun, I think the only down side to a slug gun is the recoil for a Guy its not bad but can be a bit much for the Wife

[WAG416]

.35 Remington............................

WAG

[riverrat56]

If you were asking for a shortend slug gun, I know remington makes an 870 (pump) in a youth model, Also the 1100-LT (what i shoot) is a shortened gun and it doesn't kick that bad with 2 3/4 inch slugs. No im not a small guy by any means, but i like the 1100 for the brush that i hunt in, doesnt get hung up and is quick. It would be a good gun especailly if she hunts timber land for deer and if she wants to do some wingshooting.

[uffdapete]

I'll also recommend the 20 ga. slug gun. I've shot a youth model Mossberg with a rifled barrel/cantilever scope mount for the last 10 years and wouldn't trade it for any other. I've had one shot kills on 16 deer at ranges from 30-120 yds. A couple years ago it took 3 to put one down due to operator error-

If she wants an auto I'd second the Remington Light 20.

[irvingdog]

No doubt about it. What you are looking for is an 11/87 slug gun in a 20 gauge. Deer flop over on thier side at over 100 yards. The ballistics on 20g. slugs is more impressive than 12. Cheap, and wildly effective.

[jlm]

I would recommend going with another rifle. Reason being, in the future, you may not always hunt game in areas where short shots are the only shots. Its always good to have the gun that can get it done rather than using a friends or buying a new one (although, its a great reason to buy a new one if you are looking for a reason). I would take a look at the BAR's. They are a little shorter but they are kind of heavy. A featherweight model 70 Winchester might be another good option. In either case, I would take a look at the reduced recoil loads out there, they are great for those who do not like recoil. I am not sure if you can use these loads in a semi-auto, I would ask the guys at the gun shop. Anyway, good luck and let us know what you went with!

[lawdog]

My understanding is that most semi auto's won't properly handle the reduced recoil loads. This may not be the case with new ones, but as for those over a couple years old, this is my understanding...

[big drift]

If as you say she already taken deer with her .270 and it is just an issue of fit. Take it into a gunsmith and have the customized to her needs. This would make it hers and something she is still comfortable with. Going from a rifle to slugs may be a bit of a transition for her. Just my opinion.

big drift

[irvingdog]

Quote:

---

I would ask the guys at the gun shop.

---

Reduced-recoil loads don't work real well in autoloaders.

The idea of fitting the .270 (provided she is o.k. with recoil) is also on the money.

[Tripleplay]

I've seen the 44 mag in action with a young gal about the same heighth as your wife. Great gun for her stand in the woods and she had two bucks to show for it her first morning ever hunting. Another year she had to move out to an edge/field stand and lacked the ability to hit a deer at anything much greater than 150yds and was one frustrated hunter after watching deer out of range all evening/weekend. I like the idea of getting something a bit more flexible as your/her hunting situation may change in the years to follow.

I've got two new deer hunters starting next fall and went with the youth, Remington Model 7 in the 7mm-08 caliber to give them something small enough that they can handle for accuracy and kick as well as alot of range (they haven't shot them yet so the comment about kick is based on the sales people). (we hunt a large hay field and 300 yards is pretty common, but if everything works out 100 yards or less is also common)

I like the flexibility of a rifle, but have shot more than a couple of deer with slugs and you can't argue with that option for close in shooting.

[get-the-net]

I'm not a big guy and I really like my 7mm-08 model 7 Remington. I bought it for hunting in the mountains due to its light weight and compact size, and have used it on whitetails, muledeer and elk. (Yes, you can kill an elk with something other than a belted magnum). Because the cartridge is effecient, it doesn't require as much powder and therefore doesn't kick as much as you would think. In addition, its light weight doesn't wear you out from carrying it all day. I know she prefers semi-autos, but I think she would appreciate the qualities of a compact, light rifle. My .02

[Ely Lake Expert]

I will second the remington 7mm-08. It was my first gun when deer hunting an it had no trouble taking a deer down. Now my sister uses it. It would probably be the perfect rifle for your wife.

[Muddog]

Try an SKS. The 7.62x39 will take a deer as fast as any 30-30 ever did. The stock will fit a small person very well. Hey did I mention very little recoil.

Plus cheep ammo.