FOr all of you guys luck enough ....

[clu__82]

Well for all of you hunters luckily enough to have your wife interested in hunting and actually enjoy hunting...I am one of them ..last weekend the wife, pups and I went camping/hunting for the last weekend of the season.....I introduced my wife to the .22 and she loved it ...and I need to mention she is a great shot....anyways ...she doesnt like the huge loud bang ...and kick of big guns ....but I was wondering ....what do most of your wives use for deer hunting?? I guess what is the smallest caliber out there used for deer hunting....I want something that she can feel confident with and enjoy shooting and not be intimidated by the recoil and bang....so if any of you guys or ladies out there have some info for me ...it would be most appreciated...

Thanks Clu

PS We ended up getting 3 grouse....and saw 4 does....could have shot one but she was standing broadside on a FSR ...and I wasnt too keen on shooting down a road ...so I waited until she moved off into the road ...but she dissapeared into the thick bush ....awell...I already got a Mulie buck this year ...so she can live for another year ...

[Wildfoot]

something along the lines of a .243 would be good. Or a compound bow or crossbow would be better ;)

[Iron Glove]

I've been slowly getting my wife into hunting, at her request.
We've started with the 22 and have tried 20 guage (too loud), 410 (that worked) and 45 Colt (that was OK). Just shooting out back.
She did wear ear protection so that helps.
We will, over the winter and spring move up a bit. The biggest problem we have is fitting her to the rifle / shotgun as she is a tad under 5 ft., old (:p) and not too strong in the arms. Found that my H&R Survivor which is 410 / 45 Colt fits well. We will try my Baikal 308 which is relatively small and the recoil is reasonable. Might also look into reduced recoil loads for the 308 and 30-30.
Have been told by a few that .243 is very mild recoil.
Good luck - remember "The marriage that hunts together stays together". :-P

[newhunterette]

I shoot a BSA .270 that my hubby purchased for me and it has been customized for my size (I am vertically challenged) - he also has a .270 and it kicks my butt - mine is much nicer being lady sized for me

our daughter shoots a .308 which was a gift to her from another HBC member and she loves it

Ali

[Mr. Dean]

.308 would be my pick.

Mrs. Dean doesn't hunt but on occasion, will tag along. She has her own 12 ga that she carry's for "just in case" one is needed.

[GoatGuy]

30-06. It's got the short barrel and a $ but pad. She shoots it well.

7-08 would also be a good one, .243, .260, whatever.

[ape]

Mine uses a Marlin 30-30

[rishu_pepper]

bartell shot a doe with a 221 Fireball, so tell the missus you don't need a big magnum to put them down :D

Personally I would go with a 243.

[one-shot-wonder]

Another vote for the .243, mine shoots it great being that she is petite, my rem 660 with 17" barrel gives her no problem with recoil and fits her great!

[Wolfman]

Yet...

.22 LR is a great way for someone new to get into shooting.


Wolfman

[Gun Babe]

And yet another vote for a 243.....And used it for my first deer ever this year....it is also a youth model which is awesome for those with short arms and also having terrible arthritus in my hands is not too heavy.....

[newhunterette]

youth size rifles are also great for us ladies who have another type of rack to worry about :)

I mean we do have a different shape than men do

[oldtimer]

I would vote for a 270 with a light load as this will do anything the ladies want to shoot except a Grizz depending on the load.
And yes Ali we have noticed that about women. Mike

[Seabass]

My buddy wife shoots a .243 and killed deer with it. Mine shoots a 30-30. For practice just let'em shoot .22 to get good, hell its good practice for anyone.

Cheers

Seabass

[hunter1947]

I would get her a 2.43 if it where me buying a gun for my wife.

[sawmill]

BLR .243 for mine.I`ve taken 2 big bucks with mine,one shot each.

[KevinB]

Another vote for a "youth" sized rifle, if your wife/GF is a bit vertically challenged. Go into a gun shop and have her try everything on the rack, without telling her what the difference is (this would go for any new shooter). You will find out pretty quick what size of rifle she prefers, just because she is smaller than you doesn't mean she'll necessarily prefer a small rifle.

As far as caliber goes, probably something in the range of a .243 would be a good minimum and if you load it with good heavy for caliber bullets it should be fine for pretty much anything. Make sure you get a good set of ear muffs, and then add some deci-damps to that, some shooting glasses, and even one of the wearable recoil pads - that will do a lot to reduse the noise and felt recoil while practicing.

My GF has shot 3 deer, with 3 different calibers - .308, 7-08, and .270, and honestly I don't think she could say if there was much of a difference between them. They all go bang and they all have some recoil.

For practice, stick to lots of shooting with a .22, and enough shooting with the centerfire to get her comfortable with it.

[Dad and son]

I also vote .243. I have youth browning .243 that you could borrow and see what her thoughts are on it. I live in Burnaby if you are ever around these areas. You should also have her wear ear muffs when target shooting. That should help.

[MattW]

My wife loves shooting my 22-250 and is a great shot with it. After a lot of practice wth it and the 22LR we got her a Weatherby Vanguard in 25-06 which she also shoots very well. Everyone should wear good hearing protection at the range, it does cut down on the perceived recoil, especially for less experienced shooters. I also get my wife to wear a fairly thick coat for shooting and that seems to help a bunch too.

[bridger]

personally my wife presently shoots a 270 wsm but started with a 270 a good starter in many cases is a 25/06. just a little heavier bullet that a 243 but mild recoil. I would have a 22 inch barrell and a descelator recoil pad as a great combination

[MOWITCH SLAYER]

I have a 243 winchester that my wife shoots, So does my daughter, as well as a lot of my friends, on the range it's the gun that get's reached for the most ! It not only has easy recoil it's light to pack and for deer it is great. 243 model 70 has my vote in this case