A Rifle for Mrs. Dead Dog

self | Dead Dog

[Dead Dog]

The Future Mrs.Deaddog wants a rifle to learn basic marksmanship and to hunt North American game animals up to the size of Elk.

She is 5'7'' and has a light build, so weight is a factor, however she is not extreamly recoil sensitive. Any suggestions? Any women freepers have a favorite rifle?

[PoorMuttly]

With respect, really, as I would never tell an experienced person which firearm to carry or use, velocity breaks up bullets, lower velocities increase penetration, as does bullet weight. Heavy hide, hair, muscle, whatnot and the ponderous girth of elk preclude a wise novice, unless a veterinary anatomist with nerves of steel, from using a high velocity, narrow bullet load. Also, smaller, lighter bullets fly all to hell in winter crosswinds at longer ranges...ask a sniper. Your choice still a reasonable one for the recoil-shy, ballistic rocket scientists like us, and for antelope, deer, etc. Note that an expert can drop an elk with a .32-20, as Elmer Kieth did dozens of times, for a living. Elephants have been professionally culled by hunters with 7x57s, who got up close, put a shot into the brain, then rolled out of the way! Bears have been killed with .22 rifles and even pistols. Recommended procedure? Hardly. Use all the gun you can handle for the job, with the biggest slug that's comfortable. I personally favor bigger, heavier projectiles with less velocity if necessary...within reason. The 30'06 is a proven worker, for almost anything...including World Wars.

[contrarian]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I have a Model 7 Remington 7mm/08 and like it..Last deer (8 pointer eastern count) went down like struck by lightning with the 150 grain pointed soft point.Not much push from the butt end , either

[PoorMuttly]

...but elk can be like 2 or 3 deer at once!

just to be contradictory...

[sawsalimb]

Bumping for 7x57. It's been around for over a century because it's worked for over a century.

[donozark]

.30-06' capable of killing any North American game animal. .308 Win. is close. I have used one for many years, in many states and climes. Never had to track my "kills." I have a pre-64' Model 70 Winchester. Leupold Vari-Xll. Remington 700 is fine also. If looking to save a few $$, Wally World usually has a Savage, bolt action available in either caliber, as well as .270, etc for less than $300. A friend of mine picked one up last year. Furniture not exactly comparable to my Weatherby Athena, but Savage is a well built rifle. And for less than $300, with sling and I believe scope came with it. Check their store or website. Bass-Pro.com also may have some nice ones-but a little more $$.

[Roger_W_Isom]

For a woman that has not fired any bigger caliber than a .22 a Ruger .243 is PERFECT... if you can find a .250... thAts even better... shell'll NOT have to worry about any serious kicking of the rifle....

[white trash redneck]

Congratulations on having found a woman who likes to shoot and hunt. Sounds like a keeper!

You've gotten LOTS of great advice, so what I'd add is that she really needs to TRY these various rifles and cartridges. A 30-06 will take any game in the lower 48 (ignore anybody who tells you that you have to have the latest magnum to take elk), but only she will be able to say whether she finds the recoil just an annoyance or unbearable.

[PoorMuttly]

.35Whelen M70/700, W/ Partition bullets. That is a classic elk rifle. Then '06, .308, the 7mm/.308 class...but from gophers up to elk, .243...but you have to shoot the elk in the ear when they're sleeping, and jump back really fast. A bayonet may be a handy stocking stuffer this year too, while we're at it! (*Please observe local game laws).

[PoorMuttly]

...actually being Muttly...my final, final annoying esoteric detail or two: heavier, longer bullets, even at more moderate hunting pressures, generally hit harder and penetrate straighter, which African game hunters liked a lot. Still works. I am not necessarily suggesting a 400gr. bullet for the .243, but more, especially long stuff hitting is ususlly better than less stuff when hunting.

But what do I know. I'm only a fictional dog.

say goodnight, muttly... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz