Best rifle for non-gun person?

D

Dave3006

New member
If you had to teach a female non-gun ethusiast how to shoot a rifle in a hurry, which gun would you choose? I live in occupied California. So, my choices are limited. The primary consideration to me would be ease of use and relatively small size. Here are my choices:

SKS
Mini-14
PC9/PC4
Marlin 1894P

Any thoughts?
 
I would much prefer a .22 rimfire, but you don't list that as an option.

Given the choice among the ones you list, I would go for the one with least recoil and muzzle blast. Probably the PC9.
 
I would go with a lightweight bolt action like on of the CZ models in .223. Then I'd top it off with a nice 2x-7x scope. When I first taught my fiancee how to operate a lever she was slightly confused (because of the push button safety). She completely understood the bolt actions within about a minute of handling them. Using this rifle, you get a low recoiling rifle that would be ideal to teach the basics of riflecraft on. If you go with an semi, the newbie "shoot a lot until you hit it finally bug" might take over. With a bolt she will learn to make confident hits. But out of your choices I'd use the Marlin to teach the basics with.
 
Always a risk of stereotyping the lady - apologies in advance.

However, with any learner, low recoil, low muzzle blast, ease of use and fit are the keys.

Low weight and low recoil can be mutually exclusive.

Do not recognise everything on your list, but if a simple .22 RF is not available, a .223 - The Ruger Mini14 would appear to be the choice. From memory these are quite short in the stock?

Care needs to be taken to handle the action/ mechanism side of things until the novice gains confidence. Definately don't start with a full mag!

Sounds daft, but always remember ladies are different. Sometimes things ( hint - chest level ) can get in the way of shouldering a rifle. Small details count - certain ear-rings can be uncomfortable under ear defenders and may be driven into the face/ ear under recoil.

I have been advised several times that bar strap buckles are very painful if they trap skin on recoil etc.

For a novice, electronic ear defenders are great ( and the instructor ) it escapes the closed in feeling, allows you to instruct calmly - no need to shout etc and keeps everything much closer to 'normal'.

Try to go somewhere quiet - a lady on the range often attracts the worse kind of ninja warrior wannabe. Machismo shouldn't be any part of the process.

Hopefully I have offended no ladies - certainly not intended.Finally, other than unavoidable physiology, treat as a novice first - irrespective of gender.
 
I agree on a bolt action .22 rimfire. I don't like semi-autos for beginners since there is a tendency to "do like they do in the movies" and spray the landscape. (Voice of experience here; I was not the "instructor" or I would never have loaded the magazine.) A bolt action is simple, easy to check to see if it is loaded, and easy to handle.

Jim
 
I should have been a little more clear about the reason. The rifle would be used for self defense purposes. Therefore, my thinking was to rule out bolt actions and .22 caliber rifles.
 
.What ever firearm you pick., please do not over do it first time on the range. After going over safe handing of firearms, let her have some fun. If you overload her with too much information, too fast, she will not come back to the range the 2nd time
 
for HD I would suggest a nice 20ga pump or M1 carbine...
you can get a short stocked 870 inexpensivly the fits a woman and the 20 can be had in some nice loads
 
>>Best rifle for non-gun person?
for what purpose?
if it's just for fun and for male, SKS is good, since male likes big noise,
if it's just for fun and for female, .22 rifle is good, since female likes small noise,
:D
recoil matter is usually different for each person, YMMV of course,
 
The Mini-14 and SKS are both reliable autoloaders, simple to operate, have little recoil, and fire either the 7.62x39 or .223 cartridges, both of which are nice and cheap, so practice won't cost an arm and a leg.

Of the two, the edge goes to the Mini-14, since I like detachable magazines. A couple of 20 or 30 rounders (which you bought LONG before Kali's ban, right? ;) ) full of softpoints will do very nicely for self defense.

The only thing going for the Ruger PC carbines is - maybe - a slightly quieter report from the pistol cartridge fired out of a long barrel. As for the Marlin, well, the manual of arms is more complex for a beginner, especially in a stressful situation.
 
I'd start them out with a single shot H&R rifle. Inherently safe as the hammer has to be cocked manually before firing. And, it's small stature is perfect for ladies and kids. I'd recommend the .243 for it. Plus, you can get one, scoped, for less than 250.00 total.


"edit": Oops, sorry, just saw the purpose. I'd shy away from a rifle for self defense for her. A good 20 gauge pump or semi-auto would be best. She wouldn't have to aim. Just point it and pull the trigger.
 
Of the 4 mentioned, I'd go with the PC-9 or PC-40. Easy to change magazines unlike the Mini-14 which requires a rocking action (don't expect a person who practices very little to do it under stress). The lever action is easy to load, but again trying to load it under stress isn't easy either. The SKS has a stripper clip, but the loading issue arises again.

The PC-9 has a detachable box magazine. Just insert magazine, rack action back and she's ready.
 
For the intended purpose would select the PC9. No recoil, easy to operate, not loud, and cheap to feed. Track down a couple of Ruger or Mec-Gar non-neutered mags and your in business.
Most important is practice. Don't know if there is an indoor range near you but most allow pistol caliber carbines.
Take Care
 
I would recomend the either the Ruger PC9/4 or mini14. But any will work with training. The cost of ammo will dictate how much it can be practiced with. The autoloaders will be easier to load and manipulate. I personally find that aperture sights are easier to use than open sights.
 
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theres a great thread over in the shotgun forum about why
the 410 shotgun may be an ideal home defense arm for some folks
 
Of the guns mentioned, the SKS has the best stock dimensions for a female, as the length of pull is shorter than the other rifles.

Pat Brophy
 
You really need two rifles

Start her out with a .22lr for the basics. Next move on to a "serious" defense rifle. Once she has some confidence built up with the rimfire it will be far easier to move on to the centerfire defense rifle.

I have more than a little experience with teaching shooting to "non-shooting" females and have had no problem with this approach. Well, that's not quite true...they are eating me out of house and home shooting up my practice .223 ammo.

As far as rifle makes and models, it does not make as much difference as you might think. there are a lot of great choices out there. Personal biases keep the gunzines in business and make for some really entertaining threads on TFL.
jack
 
I would take her to a well equipped range and have her try out several action types, autoloading, single shot, bolt, although a lever or pump action also sounds viable for a beginner, and see how she does and what her preferences are after some actual trigger time. My wife was anti gun, or at least anti her-owning-a-gun, until I put a 1911 in her hand, and did I create a monster! She has her officers model now, slightly modified to suit her, and absolutely has a ball with it! I would highly recommend you NOT make the choice for her. It will be easier for her to justify it in her own mind if she is the decision maker.
 
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