The Wifle: The Wife-Rifle

D

Darker Loaf

New member
So, I have a wife who is a beginning shooter and enthusiast. She is fairly small and weighs about 110, and has broken her wrist/hand numerous times. It took us a while to find a centerfire pistol she was comfortable racking the slide on, but a PPQ fit the bill for her well, and she now eats up the boxes of 9mm in any given shooting session.

I've had her handle many rifles (including airsoft guns), and she has always complained about the weight. I've had her handle 20 gauges, and she doesn't like the form-factor (size and weight) and the aggressive "pump" that you have to do to operate the action. She is left handed, so that could present a problem with bolt guns. She is recoil and blast adverse, so larger calibers are out. Mid-sized calibers are probably fine, pistol caliber is likely ideal. Another feature that would be nice would be a cheap caliber, so plinking. It will never be used for hunting, but could flex into home-defense. Ideally, it would weigh 6 pounds or less (hopefully, closer to 4 lbs).

I've got a .22 LR 10-22 that's mine that she can shoot .22 LR with, but I'd like to find a centerfire gun that would work well for her so it can flex into that home-defense role, if needed.
 
You'll love this: find out how she'd feel about an AR-15 with a short, adjustable stock.

Lightweight gun with little recoil, no real blast (plenty of noise), enough of a punch, inexpensive plinking caliber.

If it looks "too scary" for her at first, look into colored furniture.

pax
 
Tikka T3 light in .223 would be one I would check out, very light for a centerfire, not outrageous on price, and a very quality gun as well
 
Pax is right, hard to beat an AR-15 here. You could get one in a pistol caliber as well. Get a dedicated upper for .22 LR to add to the flexibility.

Gregg
 
For a second there, I thought the OP was Elmer Fudd. ;)

Since the wife is a lefty, I would not recommend an AR15 in 223/5.56. Hot brass down the shirt front will likely discourage her. I would recommend an AR57 in 5.7, it ejects out the bottom. Or a bolt gun in 223, if she is so inclined.
 
If the AR-15 seems like a good idea, Stag makes left-handed models for the exact same price as their normal/right-handed models.
 
Somehow the 10% of the Army personnel that are left-handed manage to train and qualify with the M16. The modern versions with the integral brass deflector make it easier. When I went through Basic Training the lefties were issued these plastic things that snapped on the side of the rifle. But that's pre-M16A2.

Gregg
 
The AR-15 is not a bad suggestion at all. With a Cavalry arms lower, you can get these down to 5 pounds.

Other options to consider that are a little more unique are the Excel Arms rifles. They make .22 Mag, 5.7x28 and .30 Carbine in a light handy carbine. The X-Series are the 5.7x28 and .30 Carbine. .30 Carbine ammo is inexpensive and the mags are plentiful. The new Speer Gold Dot round is a very nicely updated round.

http://www.excelarms.com/rifles/xseriesrifle.html

Kahr/Auto Ordinance is also making an updated .30 Carbine.
 
My GF loved my HiPoint 9mm carbine. Absurdly light and very manageable. Unfortunately it broke four times.

If you happen to have a 1911 or Glock, look at a MechTech upper.

The AR suggestion is good too, provided it isn't all tactical'ed up.
 
I vote AR-15 also: from the perspective of a newcomer to them. I tried a good friend of mine's a couple months ago for the first time.

Until that point I'd shot the following long guns: 410 guage, 12 guage (target loads, buckshot, turkey loads, slugs), .50 cal muzzle loader, Ruger 10-22, CZ452.

I couldn't believe how light the recoil was. There is really no need for a rubber butt-pad. Felt like I was cheating since it didn't hurt. And I thought all those commandos on TV were macho :)
 
What about an SKS in a polymer stock? I've never fired one before, so I can't say much about recoil. If it's anything like an AK, then the recoil isn't terrible compared to an AR. Maybe an Mini 14? Just tossing some ideas out there.

Good luck.
 
The Kel-Tec Sub 2000 have been hard to find lately and I'd love to get a 9mm for my wife as well. When I find the Sub 2000's they have been going for far more money than I'm willng to pay for a plinking carbine for my wife. I don't know how the brass ejects on the Kel-Tec SU16 but they can be had for less than $400 still, and it looks like a handy little rifle.

I'd buy one for myself as my wife doesn't need it. She keeps her GP100 .357 in the nighstand, and her Colt AR15 in the closet, and she packs a PX4 SC 9mm for her CCW.
 
Get an AR-15 with a New Frontier Armory lower (with six position stock) and a lightweight (pencil barrel?) upper. If recoil is too bad (it shouldn't be) get a Ranier Arms RMC compensator.
 
The NRA commerative mini 14 I have has the overmolded Hogue stock.
You can save about 300 bucks by just getting a stock 581 and put the stock on yourself. Light and smooth with decent accuracy, this little guy is like a grown up 10-22. I like it!
 
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