A rifle for my girlfriend

I use the 10/22 lefty no issues.

How about you buy the gun for yourself and let her use it? Your not really married yet. And that gives her a good way to just try it.

But what about a lever gun? It can use 22 short.
 
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The Sportster Youth rifle sound ideal for her. Break open single shot. No worry about where the ejected case goes or how to open the chamber. Short LOP for pettite. If a little too short, a recoil pad can be put on to increase the LOP.
 
I'm embarrassed,,,

The Sportster Youth rifle sound ideal for her.
Click to expand...

I own one of these rifles,,,
Why didn't I think to recommend it.

Break open single shot. No worry about where the ejected case goes.
Click to expand...

With a tiny amount of practice you can eject them back over your shoulder,,,
Right into the face of people who like to stand too close behind you. :D

Aarond

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My wife shoots lefty with my Marlin 795. She says that took a few shots to get used to the idea of casings flying out right in front of her face, but it hasn't caused any real problems for her. If that bugs your GF, though, and a lefty bolt is out of the price range, then a lever might be a good option. At least that way she could move her face away before ejecting.

As far as size of the weapon, there is always the option of finding an inexpensive used .22 and cutting down the stock to give her a proper fit.
 
I bought a henry youth lever .22 or my son. A bit too short for me. I got it because he's a lefty and the idea of a cowboy gun still appeals to him. I also didn't trust him with a semi-auto yet. lol

If she doesn't mind cases passing close to her face, I'd say go for it. But because you said she's unsure of guns it might make it worse for her.
 
Since she has a PYSCH problem. Get her to a class designed for women. Let the instructor work with her without your "assistance"

The Henry seems like a good idea. They are simple and after all every little girl has a cowgirl hero. They are not intimidating and more politically correct.
 
My son's wife is also tiny, 4'8" and about 100 lbs. Little-bitty girl. She has been shooting pistols, but decided that she wanted to try long guns, so we went out to the range with an assortment of rifles. A couple of .22s, a .223 single shot, and my youth-stocked Savage 10 in .243. She settled down on the bench and shot the .22s. Okay, but not her cup of tea. Then we gave her the .223. That was okay, but not much better. Then I asked her if she'd like to try the .243. First shot, she looked at me "Oooh! I like that!" Twenty shots later "That's fun! Anymore ammo?"

It's a good thing I reload. The point is, give her plenty of options, and let her pick her rifle.
 
For a small-framed southpaw I'd recommend a Henry H001Y; quick-handling, loads of fun, shoots .22 shorts, longs, and LR. Or a Savage Mark II GL.
 
I'd start her out with an air rifle. This way no hearing protection is needed, there's no recoil. All in all a pellet gun is less intimidating. Also if she dumps you, you still have it to shoot critters in the back yard.

Tony
 
This may have been mentioned already and I missed it, but make sure you check her eye dominance before you commit to a lefty firearm. If she's right-eye dominant, she would probably shoot a right-handed rifle more accurately, and she'd quickly get used to a right-handed action, especially since she has little experience anyway.
 
ltc444 beat me to this idea.
The general setting and her first impressions with a .22 might be much more of an asset or liability, than which specific rifle she first operates.

Even trying to avoid the hotter days is a factor, along with avoiding shooting near other people with loud guns.
 
Henry still builds 'em right!

Jack

Henry22.jpg
 
my wife started to like rifles when she tried a Ruger 10/22 mounted with a Bushnell TRS 25 :D She could hit tennis ball with it at 30 meters very fast.
 
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