My brother promised my daughter a new rifle sitting around the camp fire last year. She has a .243 that she is deadly with, but she needs a bigger caliber for larger game (Elk, Moose, bear etc.) and with extended range. Also want something that has ammo available under normal circumstances. I was thinking a 300 Win mag, possibly with a muzzle break. Any thoughts.
Opinions needed for Daughter's new rifle
- Thread starter sleepingbear
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JimP
Administrator
Personally I would stay away from a muzzle brake, they are just plain and simple not fun to be around unless you have hearing protection on.
If you have a 300 Win mag has she shot it?
Instead of a 300 magnum how about a good old 30-06 or a 270 or even a 7mm Rem mag? As long as the range is kept within reason they all kill elk with the 7mm Rem mag for a little bit of extra range.
If you have a 300 Win mag has she shot it?
Instead of a 300 magnum how about a good old 30-06 or a 270 or even a 7mm Rem mag? As long as the range is kept within reason they all kill elk with the 7mm Rem mag for a little bit of extra range.
mallardsx2
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X-Bolt Micro Composite - Bolt-Action Rifle - Browning
My friends wife has the .308...loves it. Hardly any recoil at all.
She shoots 180 grain federal bullets out of hers. Its deatly accurate too.
Browning rifles sure have jumped in price a LOT.
My friends wife has the .308...loves it. Hardly any recoil at all.
She shoots 180 grain federal bullets out of hers. Its deatly accurate too.
Browning rifles sure have jumped in price a LOT.
mallardsx2
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X-Bolt Micro Midas - Bolt-Action Rifle - Browning
I got one of these in 300 WSM for my wife for our Alaska bear trip several years back. That was a BIG mistake... It kicks so hard that she was terrified of it and can't hit anything with it. Being scared of that gun cost her a bear in Alaska. She could have easily killed that bear with her 308 that she hunts deer with. Going with a bigger magnum caliber was a huge waste of money and set her back a lot in her rifle shooting abilities.
Ended up getting her the same rifle in 6.5 CM. Not a fan of the CM round, at all, but that little sucker is LASER BEAM accurate at 100 yards. Literally .5" groups.
The 270 WSM would/might be a good caliber for her, but I have never shot one so I don't know how much recoil they have.
I got one of these in 300 WSM for my wife for our Alaska bear trip several years back. That was a BIG mistake... It kicks so hard that she was terrified of it and can't hit anything with it. Being scared of that gun cost her a bear in Alaska. She could have easily killed that bear with her 308 that she hunts deer with. Going with a bigger magnum caliber was a huge waste of money and set her back a lot in her rifle shooting abilities.
Ended up getting her the same rifle in 6.5 CM. Not a fan of the CM round, at all, but that little sucker is LASER BEAM accurate at 100 yards. Literally .5" groups.
The 270 WSM would/might be a good caliber for her, but I have never shot one so I don't know how much recoil they have.
I own , 2x.270, 30-06 and a 338 win mag. i did think about a 7mm rem mag though, wasn't solid on a muzzle break, don't own one myself
Yeah i had her shoot my SBE 2 with 3" supersonics this last year and she was over it in three shots. So good point
Did some reading on caliber comparisons and i think will go with the 7mm rem mag.
like the 7 mag option (i am a 280AI fan, but not lots of good factory options) but maybe check on the 7mm08 also? i imagine the 7PRC will have a strong front upcoming that may be an option too depending on each rifle available for purchase.
dan maule
Veteran member
I purchased the Weatherby vangaurd Camilla for my wife and daughter a couple years ago. I got it in 7mm-08 but it also comes in 308. It is designed for women with a shorter length of pull and more drop to the stock to fit a typical women's longer neck making it much more comfortable for a lady to shoot. They are able to shoulder it more properly so the recoil is not directed to the top of the shoulder. They both absolutely love the gun and have killed lots of stuff with it already. Weatherby also makes the camilla in the Mark V action with larger caliber options.
buckbull
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- Jun 20, 2011
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When my sister asked me about a rifle I recommended 7mm-08(first) and 308.
Hilltop
Veteran member
Several good options out there but it would be easier to make a recommendation if we knew a little more about her. For smaller framed shooters, I like the 7mm-08, the .308, and the new 6.5 cartridges. Ammo availability has changed a bit over the last few years. Hornady's current top produced caliber is 6.5 CM. Of course, .308 is readily available as well. With that in mind, I would either go with .308 or 6.5CM. If 7mm-08 ammo was more readily available, I would steer you that direction as it hits the sweet spot for power vs recoil imo. That is what my wife shoots and has taken elk, deer, antelope, etc with no problems out to 300 yards.
Any of the 3, with quality bullets, are enough for elk, moose or bear at reasonable ranges. Since moose is on the menu, the .308 probably wins for me since it has such a wide range of factory projectiles. It's pretty easy to find 178 or 180 grain loads that would be more than suitable for elk and moose but it could be loaded down (for lighter recoil) for deer and antelope, if you choose to.
Now if your daughter is tough as nails and recoil doesn't bother her, by all means go bigger if that's what you and her want. Insurance never hurts as long as she can shoot it well.
Well she is a high school softball player (pitcher) and rides horses and cleans stalls. She's not a sissy lala by no means.
So, first of all thank you all for your input it's greatly appreciated, But after reading and getting feed back from everybody we are going with a 7mm rem mag, my stepson has a FFL, and he will order the gun and cerakote it then send it to me.
I have two girls myself that are now in their twenties. I bought my oldest daughter a 270 WBY MAG Ultra Lightweight with an accubrake when she was 12 years old. She shot a cow elk, a 7x8 bull elk and an antelope her first year and never complained about recoil then or since (she's now 27). She has always disliked the noise from all guns, braked or not. I feel the 270 WBY MAG is the smallest caliber one should use on elk.
I bought my second daughter a 270 WIN with a Vias muzzle brake and it has no recoil at all. She has shot 3 six point bulls with it so far. The first 2 were one shot kills as well as a bull my wife killed with one shot. But the 3rd bull my daughter shot was a disaster. the first 2 bullets were perfect in the shoulder but had no penetration into the vitals. Third shot was a panic shot which hit the bull in the ass. The 4th shot was in the pocket and killed the bull. We will never hunt elk with a 270 WIN again. We're lucky we didn't lose that bull. For Christmas last year I bought her a gun identical to her sister's.
I would consider adding a silencer but I have no experience with them so I'm a little hesitant on spending $1200 for one.
If you're leaning towards one of those little calibers, take a look at the Camillas by Weatherby. I think the Camilla is an absolutely awesome ladies gun but they don't make them in what I consider a proper elk caliber. Just my opinion. They come in both Mark V and Vanguard actions so they can fit anybody's price point.
I bought my second daughter a 270 WIN with a Vias muzzle brake and it has no recoil at all. She has shot 3 six point bulls with it so far. The first 2 were one shot kills as well as a bull my wife killed with one shot. But the 3rd bull my daughter shot was a disaster. the first 2 bullets were perfect in the shoulder but had no penetration into the vitals. Third shot was a panic shot which hit the bull in the ass. The 4th shot was in the pocket and killed the bull. We will never hunt elk with a 270 WIN again. We're lucky we didn't lose that bull. For Christmas last year I bought her a gun identical to her sister's.
I would consider adding a silencer but I have no experience with them so I'm a little hesitant on spending $1200 for one.
If you're leaning towards one of those little calibers, take a look at the Camillas by Weatherby. I think the Camilla is an absolutely awesome ladies gun but they don't make them in what I consider a proper elk caliber. Just my opinion. They come in both Mark V and Vanguard actions so they can fit anybody's price point.
sneakypete
Veteran member
I’d recommend a 6.5 creedmore, this one is a Howa Superlite. It weighs 4.7 bare gun and it’s probably right close to 6 1/2 lbs now with scope and brake. Shoots great. I have 2 7mm’s & 06.
The way you become a better shot is by doing more shooting.
Rifles that are fun to shoot get shot more. I don't care to shoot a box through my .338, at all.
I don't even like shooting a box through my 7RM that much either.
But, I have no problem shooting 20-roinds at steel with my 7-08, 243/6mm, 22-250.
The three most important things when killing game are: shot placement, shot placement, and shot placement...roughly in that order. A good bullet matters too.
I think most hunters do themselves a huge disservice by purchasing and owning firearms that they shoot rarely, mainly because they just aren't fun to shoot.
If it were me, I'd go 7-08 and never look back. I have a lot of rifles, and the ones I shoot the best are the ones I shoot the most.
Rifles that are fun to shoot get shot more. I don't care to shoot a box through my .338, at all.
I don't even like shooting a box through my 7RM that much either.
But, I have no problem shooting 20-roinds at steel with my 7-08, 243/6mm, 22-250.
The three most important things when killing game are: shot placement, shot placement, and shot placement...roughly in that order. A good bullet matters too.
I think most hunters do themselves a huge disservice by purchasing and owning firearms that they shoot rarely, mainly because they just aren't fun to shoot.
If it were me, I'd go 7-08 and never look back. I have a lot of rifles, and the ones I shoot the best are the ones I shoot the most.
I was a little worried about a suppressor also. I finally bit the bullet and got one. When the guy was threading my barrel he said - now that youre getting started you “will” eventually buy more. I thought to myself - Naaaaahhhh, one is enough. I now own 3.
. My granddaughter was a little gun shy because of the noise and recoil. The suppressor takes care of both of those problems. Now she doesn’t think twice about shooting my 270 WSM. Best shooting toy I ever purchased.
RICMIC
Veteran member
BUZZ nailed it ref. shooting often and becoming very familiar with your rifle. I owned 3 Remington M700 rifles, all the mountain rifle version;
.308, 7mm-08, and 243. My grandson is only 140 lbs, and has shot all of them, and I eventually gave him the 7mm-08 as that is the one that he eventually bonded with. That rifle has taken quite a few deer, some antelope, and several critters of neferious nature. I would have no hesitation to use it for elk. I also have a 7mm Rem. Mag., and that rifle weighs more and kicks harder on both ends. The lad shot it a couple times and will likely never shoot it again.
.308, 7mm-08, and 243. My grandson is only 140 lbs, and has shot all of them, and I eventually gave him the 7mm-08 as that is the one that he eventually bonded with. That rifle has taken quite a few deer, some antelope, and several critters of neferious nature. I would have no hesitation to use it for elk. I also have a 7mm Rem. Mag., and that rifle weighs more and kicks harder on both ends. The lad shot it a couple times and will likely never shoot it again.
D_Dubya
Active Member
7mm-08 is hard to beat, a little less recoil than a .308 win but definitely gets the job done. Like Buzz said, shot placement trumps all, and the best way to achieve perfect shot placement is practice. FWIW, my daughter killed a bull two days before her 16th birthday last year with a 7mm-08 and it wouldn’t have been any deader than if I’d have shot it with my 30 Nosler. But she did put several hundred rounds through it and her .243 in the months prior to her hunt and had no problem setting up rock solid over her pack for the shot - because she had practiced a great deal without worrying about recoil.