low recoil rifle for wife to hunt with?

[keith780]

any ideas maybe 243 or 25-06?

[rottie]

Having used both I prefer the 25-06,it can be loaded down till she is used to it,the heavyier slug used

[7mm08]

.257 Roberts

[gtr]

7-08 or 308 are good as well.

[north american hunter]

7mm-08, 25-06, 243, 250-300, 260

[lone wolf]

7-08 all the way

[Flieguy]

SKS

no, seriously. you can find some pretty ones, and they have little recoil with sufficient killing power for most game.

[Smokinyotes]

Welcome. If your wife is small I would buy her a browning micro Midas in a 7-08. If she is 5-6" plus I would buy a tikka t3 in a 7-08.

[Fordman]

Mine loves her 6.5X55. Great little gun

[C & C]

If you can let her try out a couple at the range. If you know anyone with some small cals it will let her feel the recoil. My wife hates recoil and I ended up getting her a 243. She shot a 308, 7-08, 270 and a 30-06 all once and that was it. The lighter rifles that she found fit well really stepped up the recoil for her.

She also wears a recoil pad when shooting for longer periods of time at the range.

[Hat in the Cat]

The world's greatest rifle, the ol' thuddy-thuddy.

Plus your wife will like the wood.

[OpenRange]

I also use a 6.5x55 swede. My wife has shot it lots and really enjoys it. Definately worth a look.

[eric2381]

I agree with a few others here. The 6.5x55 is a great round for everybody.

[Dean2]

7x57 Zastava. Comes in left or right, big enough to shoot Deer to moose, already a very mild recoiling round that is easy to further download with 4895,wide selection of bullets from 110 grains to 175, heavy enough gun to absorb recoil, stock can be cut to any length needed and a Limbsaver can be easily added. Has open sights and set up for scope mounting.

[1899b]

I have taught my other half to shoot. Her kills have been documented on here with stories and pics. I taught her with my .300 win mag and her kills have been with her own .30-06 I find men that are recoil shy pass this on to the ladies they want to outfit. Right off the bat they are worried about finding a "low recoil" caliber. I find being apprehensive about recoil kind of funny. They are guns. They might push back a bit. The first vid is the .300 Win mag. The second is her .30-06. Not much for recoil in both videos IMHO.... I think guys getting the ladies involved is awesome. Kudos to you all!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXkbSulxhzk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_XVOots-E

[Dean2]

1899, I agree partially with your points.

That said, ALL new shooters benefit from learning to shoot with low or no recoil, low muzzle blast guns like the 22 RF. ALL shooters shoot low recoil rounds better than heavy recoil rounds, particularly off a bench. With enough practice a certain percentage of the population can learn to shoot heavy recoiling rounds very, very well.

It does not matter, woman, man boy or girl, the same dynamics apply. I have seen many small stature men and women who can shoot a 338 Win Mag very well. I have seen 250, 6' 4" men who could not hit the broadside of a barn with any gun.

Muzzle blast and noise are as likely or more so to induce a flinch than recoil. Good hearing and eye protection is every bit as important as a recoil pad. The less of both, the easier the gun is to learn to shoot and to shoot well.

With practice it is easy to move to a larger gun. Once you develop a flinch it takes a LOT of work to get rid of it.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Dean2

1899, I agree partially with your points.

That said, ALL new shooters benefit from learning to shoot with low or no recoil, low muzzle blast guns like the 22 RF. ALL shooters shoot low recoil rounds better than heavy recoil rounds, particularly off a bench. With enough practice a certain percentage of the population can learn to shoot heavy recoiling rounds very, very well.

It does not matter, woman, man boy or girl, the same dynamics apply. I have seen many small stature men and women who can shoot a 338 Win Mag very well. I have seen 250, 6' 4" men who could not hit the broadside of a barn with any gun.

Muzzle blast and noise are as likely or more so to induce a flinch than recoil. Good hearing and eye protection is every bit as important as a recoil pad. The less of both, the easier the gun is to learn to shoot and to shoot well.

With practice it is easy to move to a larger gun. Once you develop a flinch it takes a LOT of work to get rid of it.

My best friend growing up was a buck 20 and his go to rifle was a Ruger All Weather in 7mm Rem Mag with the old canoe paddle stock which he handled with no probs. That buttstock was like a hockey puck. I agree that everyone handles recoil differently but i cringe when right off the bat people think of a small big game round. Maybe the person can handle a larger cartridge?

[sns2]

Originally Posted by 1899b

My best friend growing up was a buck 20 and his go to rifle was a Ruger All Weather in 7mm Rem Mag with the old canoe paddle stock which he handled with no probs. That buttstock was like a hockey puck.

When I was young and foolish, I had that same rifle. I used to go to the range with three boxes of 175 grain ammo and my t-shirt. I used to leave the range with a shoulder that resembled blue hamburger.

We all have different opinions, and they are just that, but I would never give that gun (or round) to a new shooter, much less a lady shooter.

There are always exceptions to every rule, but 7-08 and below would be my baseline. I bought my kids a 7-08 and loaded them up with recoil reduced loads. My son was in grade 2 at the time and was able to manage it fine.

Whoever said the Browning Micro Midas in 7-08 has a good idea.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by sns2

When I was young and foolish, I had that same rifle. I used to go to the range with three boxes of 175 grain ammo and my t-shirt. I used to leave the range with a shoulder that resembled blue hamburger.

We all have different opinions, and they are just that, but I would never give that gun (or round) to a new shooter, much less a lady shooter.

There are always exceptions to every rule, but 7-08 and below would be my baseline. I bought my kids a 7-08 and loaded them up with recoil reduced loads. My son was in grade 2 at the time and was able to manage it fine.

Whoever said the Browning Micro Midas in 7-08 has a good idea.

My opinion when it comes to adult shooters is not setting up a limitation or baseline before trying. Nobody ever got killed on the buttstock end of a rifle... The OP was asking about an adult beginning shooter btw....

[sns2]

Originally Posted by 1899b

My opinion when it comes to adult shooters is not setting up a limitation or baseline before trying. Nobody ever got killed on the buttstock end of a rifle... The OP was asking about an adult beginning shooter btw....

His wife

[waterhaulerhunter]

My better half just got a winchester M70 featherweight stainless in .243 win. She won't be shooting past 200 yds anyways so the 243 will be perfect. It likes federal premium 85gr trophy copper and 100gr game kings. We went to the stores and she held dozens of rifles and she kept going back to that one. Doesn't hurt that its a super sharp looking rifle!

[CFO]

I've hunted with my 7mm-08 for years, I've carried that rifle through the bush and over fields for miles without the strain of the weight. It is an awesome light in weight rifle that my kids use as well. (I've upgraded myself to a 7mm mag now,,,, can't wait to see what it does to my moose this year! Loved it for my Elk last year, but of course its heavy to haul around.

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by 7mm08

.257 Roberts

Now how does a guy with the handle of 7mm08 chime in with the .257 Bob? (a great calibre no doubt, but still!).....

Kidding. I'd go with the 7mm08 myself, but I have one and the kids like to shoot it. They'd probably love a Bob as well, and may yet have to get a quarter bore to add to the collection.....

[AIGJ]

my browning .270 has a built in rubber butt that works great at limiting recoil. so my suggestion would be to look into something like that for your wife. the 270 also shoots really flat FYI

[7mm08]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

Now how does a guy with the handle of 7mm08 chime in with the .257 Bob? (a great calibre no doubt, but still!).....

Dont get me wrong...the 7mm-08 is a great cartridge. My wife has shot one for years. But, both my kids started shooting the Roberts when they were 12. And they had no issues whatsoever, where the 7mm-08 was a bit more of a handful. I like to deviate...keeps people on their toes. I dont want to become predictable

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by 7mm08

Dont get me wrong...the 7mm-08 is a great cartridge. My wife has shot one for years. But, both my kids started shooting the Roberts when they were 12. And they had no issues whatsoever, where the 7mm-08 was a bit more of a handful. I like to deviate...keeps people on their toes. I dont want to become predictable

Fair enough, and I agree that full load 7mm08 may be a bit much for the learning phase of shooting. Reduced recoil with 140gr helps. But the Bob is still a fine cartridge for sure, and you put the itch in my finger for one again just thinking about it....dang you! ahaha

[nelsonob1]

7mm08. Browning Micro. I got one for the wife and it is now my goto hunting rifle,

[foxhunter540]

my wife loves her 6.5 creedmoor in a savage light weight hunter... fits her like glove.....

[haffordite]

Just a thought. How about buying a rifle equipped witha muzzle break in any of the above mentioned calibers. I own a Mossberg 4x4 in a 7 Rem mag. There is less felt recoil than my 7/08 - honestly. I would suggest 270 or 308. Rifle is reasonably priced, acceptably accurate, and has moderate recoil.

[Mateo]

Some great suggestions. 7mm-08 gets my vote. Although the 6mm-08 (.243) has plenty-o-killing power for deer. 7.62mm-08 (.308) is nothing to pass up on either if going for elk is in the books.
A nice recoil pad like a limbsaver or remington's supercell will do wonders for reducing felt recoil. I would suggest this as a must if you are dealing with someone who might be a bit sensitive to recoil.
A gun with some weight to it, either in the stock or a heavy barrel, will turn a sharp recoil into more of a push.