smaller than .30 for deer

[Ky Larry]

Hello Mrs.B. Nice to meet you.Without knowing the type of terrain you'll be hunting it's hard to make recommendations for a rifle. If you'll be hiking an area like Hells Canyon, weight will be a major consideration.
Here's an idea you might consider. How about a Savage bolt action rifle and 2 barrels, one in 7mm-08 or .308 and another barrel in .243. The barrels are very easy and quick to change and you would be able to hunt anything from varmints to moose. Good luck.

 

[wyohome]

deleted

 

[firesky101]

Nice choice, wish I had a link for you but I am sure you will get what you want.

 

[Yarddog]

I'm with the fellows that sugested the 25 06 Great cartridge ; ) PS With less recoil
Y/D

 

[68wj]

Ok, shes settled on a model...and of COURSE its hard to find.

She's looking for :

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact 7mm-08 Remington Rifle in Matte Stainless Finish

Ruger model # 17111

Just like the Kimber.... If someone can help me locate one of these "in stock" I'd be happy to provide a box of ammo- your choice and caliber- from Midway once she has the rifle in her hands.

Scouts Honor- I promise.

Sounds nice. Good luck on the hunt (for the gun and the game)!

 

[Mr. T]

I would recommend a Model 700 in .270 Win. For practice I would recommend Remington's Reduced Recoil Ammunition. It has a recoil less than a .243 and the point of impact is the same as standard ammunition out to 200 yards. For hunting you could then switch to the standard ammunition.

 

[Elkins45]

Never mind...I did't read all the way to the bottom of the ad...it's not in stock.

 

[shooter_from_show-me]

Browning X-bolt in .243 for her.

 

[splattergun]

.270 or 7mm-08. Both lighter recoil than standard .30 cal and both effective on mule deer at Western ranges. I give the .270 the nod over 7-08 in the case of elk, however, but barely. My buddy's 12 year old daughter took her 1st buck last fall with 7-08

 

[RPRNY]

I really like the 6.5x55 and the .260. I envy the Ruger RSI in 6.5x55 someone showed earlier. But I do think something bigger like a .270 or .30-o6 might be more suitable for large elk and moose. Just saying.

I think that's a fair statement.

I would prefer to use something like 30-06 or 35 Whelen and think that they would give better margin of error for the average shooter. My 6.5x55 suggestion was based on the OP's criteria of low recoil AND capable of taking elk. I think humane kills on elk with the .243 would require unrealistically close ranges or really first class shot placement. 25-06 and .257 Roberts are marginally better. 6.5x55 and the OP's choice 7mm-08 represent the edge of that envelope between caliber and recoil.

The information in the Ballistics Studies piece that you reference is interesting and has some merit. As I recall, the big game round of choice in Sweden was 160 gr RN bullet. Plus, my understanding is that the Nordic moose is somewhat smaller than its North American cousin. I certainly wouldn't want to go after a New England moose with much less than 180 grs. As to the demographics of the cartridge, I suppose an author could say the same of the 30-30 as a deer round in NA. Lots of older, cheaper rifles around in 30-30 (probably the biggest harvester of deer in NA) and yet nowadays it seems to have been superseded by .308 and .300 WinMag and other more powerful cartridges. I guess only us poor farmers stilll use 30-30.

 

[RPRNY]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=285227222

Buy it now at $669 with rings included! Wood looks nice. The Missus has excellent taste - at least in rifles

 

[blarby]

Har har har.

Almost as funny as the rifle not being findable !

Everyone has made great suggestions....to either out-of-stock items, or da wrong rifle !

I appreciate it though....someone is gonna earn that box of bullets yet !

 

[RPRNY]

PM sent with details on in-stock laminate rifle. Enjoy.

 

[elrowe]

.257 Roberts with 100gr boattails for deer - can go up to 120grain for elk (I know it's common to kill elk with .24 and .25 chamberings, but too small IMHO - and KY law requires .270 or larger for elk anyway). Either M77, Kimber, or Ruger No. 1.

More (maybe MOST) importantly, can you share your secret so that I can get my wife to start hunting too???? Been trying to get her into the woods with me for years!

 

[vaupet]

For my shoulder, recoil of my Carl Gustav in 6,5x55 is A LOT LESS then recoil of my Interarms mark X in 270 win.

Could of course have something to do with the rifle being some 4 lbs lighter

 

[blarby]

Still no dice for the search for the 7-08. This might be a long one !

 

[CountryUgly]

First off Hi to the MRS. hope all is well.

Savage Model: 111 FHNS in 25-06 with a 3-9x40 Nikon pro staff glass and if the recoil is still a tad much you can change the factory recoil pad to a Decelerator® Recoil Pad from Pachmayr. My 2 cents worth.

 

[blarby]

...............

Thanks to everyone for your help, it was greatly appreciated !