I gave my future DIL a Ruger Compact Laminate in 260 for her graduation from Law School this year. She is 5 nuthin, 100 nuthin and is impervious to recoil; however, the Compact fits her perfectly. As previously mentioned, the Savage Lady Hunter is very nice in 708 or 308. I would recommend the 308 for Elk, particularly if you don't reload. Ammo will be much easier to find.
Choosing new rifle for teen girl for hunting
- Thread starter Nim Rod
- Start date
allaroundhunter
New member
..... .308 ammo is nowhere to be found everywhere that I have looked, even online. I can find 7mm-08 pretty much anywhere, however.
Geo_Erudite
New member
6.5 Creedmoor ammo isn't usually stocked on the shelves of your local gun shop, but it can be found on the internet or ordered through your local gun shop (I would say it is more available than 308 ir 223 ammo currently). In the summer of 2013 Nosler will be coming out with ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor; it will be loaded with 140 grain Accubonds.
saltydog452
New member
Girls aren't as fragile as they'd have us believe.
They are sneaky, devious, and we love every cantakerious unpredictable bone in their body.
Most likely they can, and will, run longer, swim further, dive deeper, come up dryer, and look better afterward than us Neanderthals.
salty
They are sneaky, devious, and we love every cantakerious unpredictable bone in their body.
Most likely they can, and will, run longer, swim further, dive deeper, come up dryer, and look better afterward than us Neanderthals.
salty
UniversalFrost
New member
i switched to the barnes x bullets years ago for .243 and can attest to them working well on larger whitetails in the midwest (southdakota) and to large muleys out to 200+ yards...
the nosler partitions i have used on elk and moose with great success in 300 win mag and 30/06 ....
also to note, i would only hunt elk with larger than .243... i would be thinking 7mm-08 at a minimum or maybe even 280 rem...
i love the .243 and shoot them all them time and raised my two oldest daughters to shoot them as first deer rifles, but like i said before i would switch to at least a 308 for an elk rifle... . my first 2 elk were shot with an old sporterized enfiled no4 mk1 in 303 british and using generic remington round nose soft points and the elk (both spikes) fell in their tracks... i was 17 and 18 yrs old for each of the kills and was glad just to draw a tag and was hunting for meat.... hit em in the boiler with a big slow moving round like the 303 brit or 35rem and they will fall... even 30/30 will take em' down...
the nosler partitions i have used on elk and moose with great success in 300 win mag and 30/06 ....
also to note, i would only hunt elk with larger than .243... i would be thinking 7mm-08 at a minimum or maybe even 280 rem...
i love the .243 and shoot them all them time and raised my two oldest daughters to shoot them as first deer rifles, but like i said before i would switch to at least a 308 for an elk rifle... . my first 2 elk were shot with an old sporterized enfiled no4 mk1 in 303 british and using generic remington round nose soft points and the elk (both spikes) fell in their tracks... i was 17 and 18 yrs old for each of the kills and was glad just to draw a tag and was hunting for meat.... hit em in the boiler with a big slow moving round like the 303 brit or 35rem and they will fall... even 30/30 will take em' down...
steveNChunter
New member
The .303 reference got me thinking about military calibers... What would be wrong with using a good old fashioned 8mm Mauser for elk? Similar ballistics to a 30-06 with a larger bullet diameter and slightly less recoil (depending on the stock, weight of the rifle). Hornady makes a great 195 gr hunting load for it.
It may still be more recoil than she would like though. Just a thought
It may still be more recoil than she would like though. Just a thought
7mm-08
Anything you can't do with a 7mm-08; you should not try doing with a .308. With the better bullets available (even in factory) it is a great round. The .308 would be my second choice (a distant second).
With three hunters/shooters in the family you simply must get into reloading. C hck out the advice here and at other sites for beginners... It isn't all that tough or expensive "to start". Once you do, you will never ever stop because of what you can do.
Anything you can't do with a 7mm-08; you should not try doing with a .308. With the better bullets available (even in factory) it is a great round. The .308 would be my second choice (a distant second).
With three hunters/shooters in the family you simply must get into reloading. C hck out the advice here and at other sites for beginners... It isn't all that tough or expensive "to start". Once you do, you will never ever stop because of what you can do.
I agree about using a premium grade bullet in the 243, it should help on odd angle shots and where you may need some extra penetration. Not all shots are simple side into the ribs shots. A friends wife uses a 243 with Nosler Partitions for elk, has for 20-some years I believe, without a lost critter.
I also agree with the general sentiment that IF the bullet goes right where you want it, it isnt generally a bullet failure, however, if a 243 was all that anyone really needed for elk, people wouldn't use larger calibers, they wouldnt have gained the reputaion they have for heavier animals, and the premium bullet makers would have never got off the ground. Heavier calibers can help, as can better grade bullets. I believe there is such a thing as bullet failure, for certain shots, and heavier animals in particular. Smaller caliber, relatively light weight, standard cup and core bullets can break up and/or fail to penetrate as well as desired when they hit heavy bones.
Another thought, IF you have a truly good gunsmith available, is rebarrel the 243 to 7-08 or 308. Factory take-off barrels can often be had for $50-$75. It would need to be fitted and headspaced, it may need to be set back a turn and rechambered, or perhaps not. She could then keep the stock she likes, and the gun would be familiar in al other respects. You could then sell the 243 barrel to recoup some of the expense.
I also agree with the general sentiment that IF the bullet goes right where you want it, it isnt generally a bullet failure, however, if a 243 was all that anyone really needed for elk, people wouldn't use larger calibers, they wouldnt have gained the reputaion they have for heavier animals, and the premium bullet makers would have never got off the ground. Heavier calibers can help, as can better grade bullets. I believe there is such a thing as bullet failure, for certain shots, and heavier animals in particular. Smaller caliber, relatively light weight, standard cup and core bullets can break up and/or fail to penetrate as well as desired when they hit heavy bones.
Another thought, IF you have a truly good gunsmith available, is rebarrel the 243 to 7-08 or 308. Factory take-off barrels can often be had for $50-$75. It would need to be fitted and headspaced, it may need to be set back a turn and rechambered, or perhaps not. She could then keep the stock she likes, and the gun would be familiar in al other respects. You could then sell the 243 barrel to recoup some of the expense.
kilimanjaro
New member
Might try a Limbsaver slip-on recoil pad on that .270 or 30.06.
.243 Winchester
My daughter shot this buck at 75 yds dead on frontal shot, he ran just over a little rise in the pasture whre we couldn't see him but at the shot I knew she hit him good, and she practices as much as her work will allow. She finally stepped up to .270 win and loves it, and more importantly she shoots it well and loves to shoot it.
My daughter shot this buck at 75 yds dead on frontal shot, he ran just over a little rise in the pasture whre we couldn't see him but at the shot I knew she hit him good, and she practices as much as her work will allow. She finally stepped up to .270 win and loves it, and more importantly she shoots it well and loves to shoot it.
Attachments
I'll chime in for the 7/08 too. That and a .243 should serve her very well. I have shot three elk with the 7/08 and I have never had one need two shots and never had one go over 30 yards. As others have pointed out ammo is probably more available for the 7/08 now than the .308. But if you want to take full advantage of what the 7/08 has to offer you might want to get into reloading. There are bullets available from 100 to 175 grains and lots of good choices in the 120 to 140 range for deer and antelope and then you can use the 150 on up for elk.
ammo.crafter
New member
elk
Check out the performance and felt recoil of either: 7 x 57 or 6.5 x 55 calibers.
Check out the performance and felt recoil of either: 7 x 57 or 6.5 x 55 calibers.
Savage Lady Hunter
If you are not on a budget check this out
Savage 11/111 Lady Hunter
30-06 SPFLD
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11Lady
If you are not on a budget check this out
Savage 11/111 Lady Hunter
30-06 SPFLD
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11Lady
