Hello all, new here; Rifle/scope question.

[ajd3530]

Hello all, first time poster, long time lurker.

Long story short, I was at Cabela's today "trying on" rifles. I was about to walk to the door when I noticed a wood stocked Savage sitting lonely on the rack. I asked the gentleman behind the counter about it, and he quickly grabbed it off the rack and handed it to me. It felt amazing in my hands. It was light and short, but very balanced and still felt sturdy in my hands. I asked him what it was, and he cracked a grin and said "it's a model 111... Lady Hunter." I couldn't believe it. This felt nothing like all of the youth rifles I had handled before. He said that it wasn't just a shortened stock, but it was actually designed for the smaller frame of a woman. And to beat all, it was nearly HALF MSRP. Apparently they have a hard time moving a rifle designed for women in .30-06. Who knew?

While I have a 5'10 frame, I do have rather proportionately short arms, so the shorter rifle felt very comfortable. I also hunt in the generally thick woods and steep ridges and mountains of Northeast Tennessee, so a shorter, lighter, quick handling rifle has always appealed to me. That is probably why I have always loved Marlin 336s; I own one in both 30-30 and .35 Remington. I have also always preferred the .30-06 over the 30-30 (no particular reason) so that is another plus for the rifle. The furniture, while surely not walnut, was still handsome. And of course it had the silky smooth action I have come to expect from a Savage rifle.

I guess what it all boils down to is:

A) would it be silly of me to buy a rifle designed for a woman's frame, and use it as a carbine type brush gun?

B) I don't intend on having to make many shots at all past 125-150 yards, so would a 2-7 x 32 be more than enough glass? Or even a 1.5-4.5 x 32?

Thanks guys!

 

[witchhunter]

You said it all. If it fits and you like it, buy it. Being in 30/06 and that light, it may bruise you up a bit, but it's your choice. it's either that or a custom stock for a full sized rifle. Glass is a personal preference. I would like a 3-9 x 40 if it were me. The 40 will gather more light, allowing you to see better at dawn and dusk. 3x works fine for short range, but you can crank it up to 9 for a longer shot and to work up accurate loads.

 

[adcoch1]

BUY IT! i have looked at a few of those, and that is what savage should be selling as there standard line. I have an old 110 30-06with a 20" lightweight barrel and a slightly shortened stock, and it is amazing in thick brush.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

 

[Jackal]

I'm a "manly man" and I have no problem carrying a S&W Ladysmith... Its a gun, not a purse. You wont lose your man card.

 

[BigBore44]

Ahhh, but Jackal, if you carry it in a purse.... Or as they say in the commercial "a European shoulder bag" you might lose it. Thing is, the animals don't care what it says on your rifle. If it fits you and will perform the job you need it to, go get it. I'm also a fan of the 3x9 or 4x12. It's better have and not need than need and not have.

 

[Actionjrs]

I would totally buy that. It really doesn't matter if it's a women's model as long as it fits you. And savage are accurate quality rifles. The scope powers you mentioned would be fine

 

[ajd3530]

**double post**

 

[ajd3530]

Thanks for all the helpful input guys. I was almost sold on the rifle before this, but now I am completely sold... Although I don't know if I'll tell people it's a 111 "Lady Hunter" haha.. maybe like Savage 111 carbine. Sounds legit enough.

As far as the scope, I have been doing Alot of researching tonight and I believe I have it narrowed down to a Nikon Prostaff 2-7x32, and a Burris Fullfield II 2-7x35. Going price for the Nikon seems to be around $120ish, and the Burris is closer to $150. Will take a look at both when I go back to Cabela's tomorrow and put the rifle on layaway.

 

[stringnut]

If it fits well then felt recoil will be more tolerable and you likely will shoot better with it. Both scopes you mention are fine for deer. 3 or 4x is all that is really needed to at least a couple of hundred yards. If you have time to turn it up fine, but, if not you can still get the job done. If it lands in the heart lung area it is still a ten ring shot unlike targets!

 

[Bearhands]

Just name it "The Old Lady".... good to go.

 

[Axis II]

if its not the pink savage than buy it. I have a buddy who buys nothing but youth guns and we make fun of him for it but once I shot a few of his shotguns and rifles being 6f6 280lbs I said man I like this.

for recoil get online and find a limb saver REPLACEMENT not slip on recoil pad.

 

[Kingcreek]

Be comfortable with your masculinity and buy it but consider a lower power variable scope. It will be lower and lighter and just fine to 200 yards. I would go 1.5-6x, 2-7x, or maybe even a fixed 4x depending on terrain.

 

[Axis II]

for deer hunting I like a 3-9-40. they weigh the same if not just a few OZ and the 40mm lets way more light in for those early morning, late evening shots.

I switched from a 2-7-32 to a 3-9-40. just keep it on 3x. and you have 9x for those farther shots if you want.

 

[BigBore44]

I do like Nikon. I have 3. But you might check out the Vortex line of optics. I'm not going to replace my other Nikons with Vortex. But all my future optics will be Vortex. They give all active and retired military, LE, fire, and EMS a discount on purchases. And it's not 10%.

 

[Llama Bob]

I guess what it all boils down to is:

A) would it be silly of me to buy a rifle designed for a woman's frame, and use it as a carbine type brush gun?

Not silly at all. Many if not most shooters are running around with rifles with too long a length of pull - something they don't realize until they get a chance to shoot them in the field. If it fits, it fits.

B) I don't intend on having to make many shots at all past 125-150 yards, so would a 2-7 x 32 be more than enough glass? Or even a 1.5-4.5 x 32?

More than enough. As a rule of thumb I'd say for non-precision shooting it's nice to have magnification equal to the distance in 100s of yards. So 2 power will be comfortable out to 200y. For precision shooting I'd prefer twice that up to 25 power at ~1250 yards or so. So for a hunting gun that scope will more than cover any shot the .30-06 is capable of.

 

[ajd3530]

Went to put the rifle in layaway today, and a surprise was waiting in me. At the gun counter the tag said $384. Take the paperwork to the the gun checkout counter, and the lady working it asks if that was really the price listed. I told her yes, and figured that I was in for disappointment and that the tag had been wrong and a slick deal was about to disappear. She then informed me that it WAS the wrong price, and shows me the correct price on her monitor: $319.88. This thing retails at almost $800 at Cheaperthandirt, Gander Man, etc. I can't believe my luck.

This means one thing: more money for glass!

 

[ajd3530]

I do like Nikon. I have 3. But you might check out the Vortex line of optics. I'm not going to replace my other Nikons with Vortex. But all my future optics will be Vortex. They give all active and retired military, LE, fire, and EMS a discount on purchases. And it's not 10%.

That's what the the gentleman at Cabelas told me today. Suggested Vortex to me OVER the higher priced Burris and Nikons. Shocked to hear that from a salesman.

 

[Axis II]

ive been a bushnell than Nikon guy for 10years and last year went vortex and its 10x the scope Nikon and bushnell are. DO NOT get the crossfire for that 30-06 though because its the low line go the next line up.

 

[ajd3530]

ive been a bushnell than Nikon guy for 10years and last year went vortex and its 10x the scope Nikon and bushnell are. DO NOT get the crossfire for that 30-06 though because its the low line go the next line up.

Yeah I have pretty much narrowed it down to a Burris Fullfield or a Vortex Diamondback I believe. Hopefully can run by the outfitter shop in Johnson City this weekend and check them both out.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

Most self respecting animals, (I assume you intend to hunt Whitetail deer bucks) will most likely only be sighted during dawn and dusk hours. That said my 700 rem in .270 sports a Kahles 1x6 by 44 with a 30mm tube, this used to be my go to deer rifle. it gathers an awesome amount of light. My now go to deer rifle is a buffalo classic in 45/70 is topped with a Nikon Omega BDC, it too gathers a good amount of light. my other hunting scopes include a Leupold 3.5X10X40, and a recent purchase really shocked by how much light it gathers, not as good as the Kahles, but better than the Nikon or the Leupold. I bought it as a more inexpensive alternative for my Ruger .204 priced at roughly $170 is the Redfield Revenge 3X9X40 with 4-plex reticule. You may want to try a comparison in a dark area of the store against those you are considering.
By the way, nice score, and who cares what Savage calls it?!
STW

 

[BigBore44]

ajd3530,
I'm not going to say Vortex is the greatest optic ever made. And honestly they may be giving special offers to Cabelas for pushing their product line. But they ARE fantastic scopes. Very clear. Great light transmission. And very sturdy. My Diamondback is on my T/C Venture .223. It's my coyote rifle. It's been dropped when I stepped in a hidden coyote den, slid off the side of the truck it was leaning against, and a friend of mine threw it once (Not on purpose either. Long story but it was hilarious) scope never lost zero. Their warranty also cannot be beaten. Take it back where you got it, get a new one. No box, no paperwork. They warranty the scope for life. I've only had 2 scopes fail. First was an old Simmons. The second was a Leupold VXII 6x18x40 on my M1A. The Simmons went in the trash. The Leupold had to be mailed back to Leupold. But they replaced it for free. None of that with Vortex.

 

[Skeet 25]

By all means purchase the gun, your wife just might like it too.

 

[Art Eatman]

I have a 2-7x32 on my .243. 2X for walking hunting. 7X is plenty good for prairie dogs to 300 yards.

But a fixed 4X is plenty good for 90% of all Bambi-chasing.

 

[ajd3530]

I have a 2-7x32 on my .243. 2X for walking hunting. 7X is plenty good for prairie dogs to 300 yards.

But a fixed 4X is plenty good for 90% of all Bambi-chasing.

Now a question about parallax. If I'm not planning on taking any shots over 150-175 yards, does a 50 yard parallax vs 100 yards really matter that much?

 

[Haxby]

A Leupold with a 75 yard parallax works fine to at least 150 yards.
The Burris FFII and Vortex Diamondback 2-7 centerfire models have parallax set to 100 yards or more and will work a lot farther out than that.
In the pictures, the Savage Lady Hunter looks like it has kind of a fat butt.