Good 1st gun for wife?

Lighterknot · October 12, 2006, 01:51:08 PM

Well out of the blue my wife jokingly said she could kill a deer before me if she wanted to this year. Next thing I know she is serious about it and registered for the hunter safety course. She wants to get a rifle and I am leaning towards finding an "affordable" bolt-action in .243. I figure with a well placed shot that should be enough for deer and it shouldn't have too much recoil for her. I plan on taking her out to shoot my .22, and then moving her up to a buddies .410, and so on until I am sure she isn't going to develop a flinch from too much recoil.

Any thoughts about the .243 good or bad? Any other suggestions?

Dan Carey · October 12, 2006, 03:49:55 PM

A 243 will kill an Elk, so it has the power to take a deer. I have seen a 95 pound woman shoot a 300 Win Mag and I also seen a 175 pound woman shoot a 223 and complain about the muzzle blast and recoil. It boils down to this, its not the dog in the fight, its the fight in the dog.

slagmaker · October 12, 2006, 07:04:53 PM

Amen on that one Dan!

Lighterknot · October 12, 2006, 07:37:32 PM

true enough for sure...she has shot mu taurus millenium pistol which is a somewhat compact polymer framed .40 S&W and she didn't mind the recoil too much, but didn't really like it too much either.

ROOSTER · October 12, 2006, 08:02:25 PM

Stevens 200 or a Savage with the accutrigger for a bit more money. Burris 3X9 with the Ballistic plex and have her shoot it at 100,200,300 yards so she can get use to the B. Plex.

Lighterknot · October 12, 2006, 08:30:44 PM

yeah i actually saw one of the stevens 200s today...anyone have any first hand experience with them? Not too sure I would put her in a stand where she would shoot over 100 yds until she gets her confidence built up...how are those Burris scopes priced?

ROOSTER · October 12, 2006, 08:55:47 PM

I haven't shot the Stevens 200. I read alot about how good they shoot. They are a Savage without the accutrigger and a uglier stock, the burris 3X9 FFII B-Plex can be bought for $199 with a compact spoting scope or if you buy from ebay they can be had for around 150-160 without the spotting scope. I have the Burris 4.5X14 FFII B-Plex on my AR and love it. It's about another $100 though. You can do some work to the Stevens trigger and sand and paint the stock and have a real nice/affordable deer rifle. If you want to know more about the Stevens try this place. http://www.savageshooters.net/SavageForum/index.php

Lighterknot · October 12, 2006, 10:47:12 PM

thanks for the link, I will check it out

fuzz624 · October 28, 2006, 10:10:14 AM

I think that the 243 would make a fine deer rifle and if she wants to get into shooting varmints later it is good for that to.As far as the Stevens goes I think that they are a great little rifle.I recently bought one of them in 22-250.It really supprised me.It will shoot under MOA with factory winchester ammo.I have owned sevral savage rifles in the past and never had a bad one.Good luck,I hope she gets her deer.