Which rifle to buy [Archive]

denton

02-18-2005, 03:20 PM

I've just been through a long discussion about using the 243 on deer. If you're going to do that, I suggest that you use a premium bullet, like the Speer Grand Slam or Nosler Partition.

As mentioned, the 7mm08 is a better choice if elk are on the menu. Again, a premium bullet would be a good idea.

Another chambering, less common, that you might like is the 6.5x55. Those of us that have them think they are about the coolest round there is. Case capacity is a bit higher than the 308 based rounds. I have no data to support this, but the round has a reputation of doing a better job that its paper ballistics would indicate. Also, the published reloading data is almost all for older milsurp rifles. You can go up a grain or two on those loads without problem, if you're shooting a modern rifle.

Still less common is the 257 Roberts. Those who have them seem to be extremely happy with them.... almost fanatically so.

Check the offerings from CZ and from Savage. Savage has a reputation for being ugly, but performing well.

smacarac

02-18-2005, 04:12 PM

I WOULD GO WITH A 7X57 A 7MM08 IS ALSO A GOOD CHOICE.:)

M.T. Pockets

02-18-2005, 04:30 PM

Lots of good choices, and it probably wouldn't make a bit of difference which you end up with. But if elk are in your future with this rifle I would like a .308. You can load them down so recoil would be comfortable, and with a 180 grain premium bullet you've got a 200 yard elk rifle.

Evan03

02-18-2005, 08:43 PM

dont forget remingtons new managed recoil ammunition, may be the ticket to tame that 3006

fabsroman

02-19-2005, 02:27 AM

Welcome to the board VickyJo.

If you can leave elk out of the equation for a while, a .25-06 might be the right cartridge for you as a beginner and for killing antelope and deer. It has a little less recoil than the .270 and .30-06, and I would guess the .308 and 7mm. I haven't hunted elk yet, but if I did I would take my .300 Win Mag. That cartridge isn't one that a new shooter should try. I have had a couple of guys shoot my .300 Win Mag, which has a 2 lb trigger on it. Now, I weigh about 150 lbs. and can handle the recoil to a certain degree because I have increased the weight of the rifle and I know when it is going to fire. These guys that were shooting that rifle were in the 200+ lb category and when the trigger caught them by surprise, they ended up taking a step or two backwards.

New shooters should shoot smaller cartridges until they work themselves up to the larger ones. Have you done any shooting before? If so, what rifle cartridges have you shot or what shotgun gauges have you shot?

Best way to figure out how much recoil you are comfortable with is to shoot some of these guns. Borrow them from friends, fire off a round or two, and see if you like the amount of recoil.

By the way, if you are dead set on hunting elk, you can probably still accomplish a clean kill with a .25-06 with a premium bullet like a Barnes X, Barnes XXX, Winchester Failsafe, Nosler Partition, etc. Personally, I believe in bullet placement over the firepower of the gun. You can be shooting a canon, but if you can't hit your target you might as well stay home.

IchWarrior

02-19-2005, 03:13 AM

Dont over look .260 in your searches...

Mine is a real sweet little gun, my mom and most of the aunts that have shot it all love it.

Evan03

02-19-2005, 01:11 PM

2506 recoil in my opion isnt even in the same ballpark as the 270win

the 2506 will feel more like 22/250 after shooting the 270. they realy are a pleasure to shoot. no recoil issues at all.

fabs.
our 300 winnies are already plenty heavy, unscoped they weigh 8.25lbs. this rifle is farily heavy as is. recoil to me feels to be very very similar to a ruger I beamed stocked 3006.

your freinds are shooting your 300win standing up, whoa. did they even hit the paper, maybe with the first shot?

im kidding and throwing alittle rib jabbing in at the same time. dont take me personal.

i also weigh a buck fifty, the 300win recoil is very manageable, but does take alot of getting used to after shooting the 2506 so much. you can be lazy with the 2506. but with the 300 youd better have better handle on things or its gona handle you.

the first shot threw my 300 i must have forgot that i was shooting it and not my 25, dang thing jumped and ever so lightly nudged me in the eye with the scope

anyways headed out yote hunting with the trusty 2506. busted a few rocks earlier this morning just to make sure shes still on and shes is.

ill catch you all later

Evan

fabsroman

02-19-2005, 05:21 PM

My friends were actually standing up with the rifle rested across the hood or the roof of the car. That was a mistake that I will never make again. The muzzle blast took little chips of paint off the car and left dents in the hood and roof. Good thing that car is pretty much my hunting/Nitro car at this point. I just might be able to get a nice car for daily use since I can use the Taurus as a backup.

Dutchboy

02-19-2005, 06:43 PM

For a young lady, the 260, 7-08 and the 308 are all good choices, IMO.

I would lean towards the 308, because of the variety, price and availability of ammo. The difference in recoil with similar weight bullets would be negligible. Lots of cheap practice ammo for the 308. HTH, Dutch.

Evan03

02-19-2005, 07:31 PM

i think id shy away from 308 calibers.

i shot rugers compact in 7mm08 and that little thing will put a thumpn on you.

if i was in your shoes id get a 243 257 6mm 7mm08 260 2506, in rifles weigh bout 7lbs unscoped.

id shy from all 30 cals, 277's 280rem, 3006, and all other magnum calibers out there.

my top choice for the low recoiling do everything rifle would probly be the 257roberts with the 243win following right behind it.

with barrels no less than 22"s

im not sure about the 7mm08, it might recoil a bit more than the others i mentioned but shouldnt be bad in 7lb rifle

Evan

denton

02-19-2005, 09:32 PM

One thought not discussed so far: Muzzle brake.

This is a device that causes much of the compressed gas in the barrel to exit sideways, decreasing its contribution to recoil.

The bad news is that they increase muzzle blast. They're fine on smaller calibers, but will figuratively make your ears bleed on a 30-06.

Anyway, it's something to consider.

Here's another factor: Longer barrels recoil less. If you can stand to carry a 24" barrel, it will work in your favor. (What am I saying? You're young and cute. Young men will be standing in line to carry it for you....)

Strap-on shoulder pads also offer considerable relief, as do shooting jackets with a built-in pad. They will let you be much more comfortable.

You didn't mention your age. If you have a little more growth ahead of you, you might concentrate on a gun strictly for deer, and add a second rifle, for elk a bit later.

There are good reasons for all of the suggestions given. Personally, I'm a little leery of the 25-06, because barrel life isn't so good, but it's a superb performer. The 6.5x55 will match its performance, and give you better barrel life, but you're handloading for sure with that one. In a new gun, CZ550 offers that caliber, or you might even consider a Swedish M38 milsurp. My Swedish Mauser is the longer barreled version, and it is a sweet deer rifle.

If you're handloading, then my opinion is that a 308 is a good choice. You can load it light with 150 grain bullets at 2700 fps for deer, and run it to the max with 165 or 180 grainers for elk. As mentioned, 243, 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, and 7mm08 are all good choices, though the smaller ones are not optimum elk guns.

Added later: Yet another thing to think about... Is your right eye dominant, or your left? Lefties with right-eye dominance have a strong tendency to end up shooting right handed. It is easier to retrain the hands than the eyes.

Whatever you get, I hope you have a wonderful time. Get something that will let you practice without beating you up. Spend lots of time at the range, and really master your firearm, and really enjoy yourself when hunting season comes around.

Jack

02-19-2005, 09:44 PM

Vickyjo, welcome to Huntchat.
You've gotten some good advice so far, and I don't know that mine will be any different.
As to calibers, 25-06 is great for deer and antelope, but not enough for elk, IMO. Maybe the 270 would be better if elk are in the mix.
Now, you mentioned a left hand rifle- you'll find that lefty bolt actions aren't made in as many calibers as righy bolt guns, but, you'll find 270 lefty's.
I will point out a law of physics that may effect you: all things equal (same caliber, bullet weight, etc.) light rifles kick more than standard weight rifles.
Evan pointed this out, and I've noticed it, too...in some of the really lightweight rifles, a relatively light kicking caliber can whack you pretty good.
So, for a lefty, I'll recommend a standard weight bolt gun in 270. Avoid the lightweight rifles, even though they're tempting.
Shoot 130 grain bullets for deer and antelope, and switch to 150 grain bullets for elk.
And don't scimp on a scope, either- a good scope is just as important as a good rifle.

Brithunter

02-20-2005, 05:17 AM

Hi All,

Hmm lot's of advice but not sure if is all not confusing. Part of the trouble is that although you gave soem information to be really accurate and helpful some more would be usful.

Now Vickjo, you mention Antelope and Elk hunting, both these pastimes will require a reasonable level of fitness and may require carrying your rifle quite a distance, no doubt this has crossed your mind. You said possibly you would require a youth model due to being quite petite, good on you:p you have stumbled onto somethig that some more experienced shooters ignore. Rifle fit! the rifle has to fit you for you to be able to shoot it comfortably and quickly should the need arise. The rifles weight can be adjusted more easily tan fit, cheaper too I believe, stocks can be weighted in the butstock and forestock. Balance must be preserved when doing this so as the rifles handling is not upset.

My personel views are that you may be better off choosing a short/medium length action, left handed will limit your choie here. However have you considered a single shot rifle like the Ruger No1 or the Thompson G2 ? thses rifles and other single shots can be operated easily by both right and left handed people just as easily:D The G2 at least comes in Youth stocked models, not sure about the Ruger though:(

As to cartridges........ well as mentioned the Swedish 6.5x55 cartirdge will do it all and takes hundreds of Moose yearly in Scandinavia, the 260 rem is also highly rated. The 257 roberts cannot be overlooked nor can the 7x57 mauser all will serve your pupose well with factory ammunition. i will not suggest reloadign as I ahve no idea if your interests le in that direction;) Some ladies like to get involved others prefer just to purchase factory cartridges and get to the shooting, men seems to be drawn to reloading for some reason, I am guilty of that.

Please let us know how it turns out and what you decide upon and get.......... Oh scopes......... as Jack said... do not scrimp on this item get a vey good quality scope, after all you don;'t want to miss an opertunity of a lifetime though not being able to see your quarry or the reticle in your scope clearly. It happens more than some will admit:rolleyes:

vickyjo

02-20-2005, 06:14 PM

Thanks for all your great suggestions! I'm thinkin I'll go with the 7mm08 because I definately will be hunting elk in the future and it seems more in my price range than some of the others suggested. Checking out the ballistics, it seems like a pretty flat shooting gun that definately packs enough punch to take down an elk. Last winter I borrowed a friends old WW2 30-06 Springfield for elk hunting and it definately kicked like a mule and it was just really too heavy for me, and if that heavy gun kicked so much, the lighter, shorter youth model may not be what I'm looking for. As far as shooting other guns, I've shot 12 and 20 guage shotguns, a friends 45-70 (which really knocked me back), and several handguns (ie. 9mm, 357, 38 special, 22s).

Anyways, I'm doing some comparison shopping and it seems like the Savage brand is a great basic gun that is pretty cheap (considering the cost of other brands). I think the trick now will be to find out who sells a left handed youth gun! But I'm thinking about possibly getting a right handed rifle and shooting it left handed. Or possibly chopping the stock off a left handed adult rifle (Savage also has that new accu-trigger thing that seems pretty awsome, and the youth model doesn't have that option). So many options! You see I'm right handed, but left eye dominant and unfortunately I've never been able to wink my left eye shut! I guess when I was younger I just learned to shoot left handed because it feels more comfortable and I'm more accurate that way.

As far as scopes I'm not even sure where to start there. I have a pair of Nikon Monarch binoculars that I love to death and I hear they have those for scopes too.

Thanks again for all your responses and opinions. I'm really excited about getting my very first rifle and I just want to make a good choice! Everyone has been a great help! I'll keep you posted on what I eventually get!

Dutchboy

02-21-2005, 10:39 AM

Let me chime in one more time.

First thing, Savage has announced that all it's new rifles will have the Accutrigger, including the youth rifle. A good solid choice.

However, I would not buy a right handed rifle. I've been around left handers enough to know they always regret not having the right rifle. It's easy enough to take the stock to a gun smith and have him shorten the stock for you. It's a little more expensive than buying "stock", but a better choice than shooting wrong handed.

Just as important, when you have the stock adjusted to fit you, have the gunsmith put on a top of the line recoil pad, like a Pachmeyer Decelerator, Limbsaver or such. They really DO work, and work well.

Other options include the Browning BLR (a very handy lever gun, my wife keeps trying to steal mine....)

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/034006m.jpg

As far as scopes, Nikon makes some very nice scopes, including their top of the line "monarch" line. The also have two lesser lines, the entry level "prostaff" and the mid-level "buck master". When buying optics, I've never met someone who said he wished he spent less on his optics.

Finally, no one ever mentions recoil when shooting at an elk. When practicing though, I would strongly suggest you buy and use a "Past Recoil Pad". Colloquially known as a "sissy pad", it's a recoil reducer that you wear on your shoulder. It really takes the bite out of the rifle kick-- and I'm a big enough sissy to wear one, even with my small caliber rifles. Why get beat up? HTH, Dutch.

denton

02-21-2005, 11:06 AM

I think Dutchboy has a really good thought here... shoot something that is ambidextrous. In addition to the BLR mentioned, there is the Remington 7600, which is a pump action, and reputed to be very accurate, as is the BLR.

Optics? You'll get lots of opinions there. My current favorite, considering price and quality, and all that, is the Burris Fullfield 2, with ballisticplex reticle.

Dutchboy

02-21-2005, 02:12 PM

The 7600 is fine; I have one in Whelen, but it's about a pound heavier than the BLR.

http://www.remington.com/images/firearms/7600wd.jpg

When I take the BLR and the 7600 hunting, I end up with the 7600 every time, as my wife insists on the BLR. The 7600 is a little heavier, and it doesn't feel as solid. More sheet metal.

I like the old steel BLR's a little better, but for all effects and purposes, the newer ones are probably a better choice here. They are a little lighter.

We also should not rule out self loaders, like the new Bar short-trac. Only available in 308, but the gas operated action is going to soften recoil a good bit.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/031219m.jpg

The only objection would be the cartridges whizzing right in front of your face.

Hope we didn't confuse you too much, Dutch.

PS: I'm seconding Denton's recommendation for the Burris FFII with ballistic plex in 3x9. Best $179 you'll spend.

Jack

02-21-2005, 02:37 PM

Another option would be a single shot, like a Ruger #1. That rifle is easy for a lefty to use, and a good deal more compact than a bolt action, because the action on a single shot is much shorter.

fabsroman

02-21-2005, 03:47 PM

Hey guys, what about a T/C Encore with the interchangeable barrels? She could start out with a small cartridge for antelope and deer and then buy a second barrel for a larger cartridge for elk. It is almost like having two guns for a lot less cost.

Now, I don't know if it is right or left hand specific, but I am thinking that if it isn't, a lefty could still use it pretty well. If the stock is made for a righty (i.e., swells in the right places), maybe a competent gunsmith could make it right for a lefty. Plus, last time I checked an Encore wasn't too heavy.

Edited to add:

I would also vote for the Burris glass. That is all I own. I have three Signature Series scopes for my high power rifles, a Fullfield for my BPS slug gun, and several Fullfield II's on things like my 10/22, .222, .30-06, Benelli Slug Gun, muzzleloader, etc. I really like the Burris products.

Dutchboy

02-21-2005, 04:45 PM

I think the Encore (actually, the new G2) might be a good option, but I have my doubts on the #1. Those guns tend to be fairly wide and round, and I don't think they fit very well in small hands.

The new G2 from Thompson Center Arms
http://www.tcarms.com/contcarbine/g2riflesm.jpg

The Ruger #1
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/21L.gif

FWIW, Dutch.

denton

02-21-2005, 05:14 PM

I'll bet you end up really liking the 7mm08. Anything in that neighborhood should be excellent.

Savage does make them, left-handed, in bolt action.

The BLR is actually a bolt action rifle, with a mechanism to operate the bolt using a lever. They are very accurate. Conventional lever actions generally are not quite as accurate. Automatics are also typically not as accurate as bolts, though they are more ambidextrous.

I didn't know that the 7600 was a pound heavier than the BLR. That will make a difference. Dutch has a side-by-side comparison. If his wife grabs the BLR, then that sort of settles that issue.

My grandson also has crossed dominance, right handed, but left eyed. Couldn't figure out why he was having so much trouble learning to shoot right handed... switched him to left, and he had a better time of it.

wrenchman

02-21-2005, 09:04 PM

one thing to think of also is that were the safty is and savage puts it on the back of the tang
most of the guns you will look at that are left handed freindly still have safty set up for right hand shooter in some cases this is easy to change and in others it just cant be done and in some cases it will be harder for them to get use to that then a right handed action.
my son shoots my 22 mag he is only 10 and left handed he has no problim with the action he dont know there are left handed guns or right handed but the safty is on the tang and he is comfertabel with it

vickyjo

02-23-2005, 09:54 AM

I went to one of the local sportsmans stores yesturday to do some lookin and now feel a little more confused unfortunately! It was super fun trying on various rifles for size though and I really love that Burris scope that everyone seems to mention.

My confusion is this...when checking out the inventory on ammo, it seems that the variety on the 7mm08 is pretty limiting (or at least it was at the store I was at). They had 140 and 150 grain in a few brands and that was it. Would that be too much for antelope and deer? But with the 270 there were lots and lots of options as far as different brands and grains. I was checking out the actual bullets and the 7mm08 is quite a bit shorter, but does that necessarily mean the recoil will be that much less? I know it does when comparing the 357 and 38specials for a handgun!

Oh, and I checked out that G2 and think it's pretty cool that it's so light and has the interchanging barrels and everything, but does it only come in 45/70, 30/30 and 45? I can't even imagine how it would feel shooting 45/70 rounds out of a gun that light!

Thanks again for all the help!

gregarat

02-23-2005, 10:36 AM

However, I would not buy a right handed rifle. I've been around left handers enough to know they always regret not having the right rifle. It's easy enough to take the stock to a gun smith and have him shorten the stock for you. It's a little more expensive than buying "stock", but a better choice than shooting wrong handed.
I myself am a left handed rifle shooter, and I never realy had any problems manipulating a right bolt. I realised when I first found out that my left eye was my dominate eye. That I would not always have the option of having a left bolt. I didnt want to be crippled by this.

Vickyjo,
Next time you hold a right handed boltgun. Use your right hand to hold the forgrip, then rotate the rifle counter clockwise so the bolt is facing up, then brace the butt of the rifle agenst your left sholder. Use your left hand to pull the bolt lever to the left, then use your left hand to pull back the bolt lever. You then use the left hand to close the bolt. Then rotate the rifle back into place.
I hope I described the prosess so its understandable.

Back to rifle choices, I would go with the Encore.:)

denton

02-23-2005, 12:32 PM

As well as I understand 7mm cartridges, I think that a 140 grain cartridge would be fine for deer and antelope. I don't think you will have any problem finding suitable ammunition, but, of course, there will always be more selection for 270 and 30-06 than any other caliber.

The 308/7mm-08/243 cases do hold less powder than the 270/30-06 cases do. As the bore diameter gets smaller, the amount of powder that the cartridge can efficiently use goes down. The 7mm bullet is a very good match to that case size. Recoil will be less than you would experience with the larger cases, though probably not hugely less than the 270.

You might want to compare specs on the muzzle speed of a 7mm-08 with a 140 grain bullet, vs. that of a 270 with a 140 grainer. The bullets are almost the same diameter, and there really isn't a ton of difference between what they deliver.

Spend plenty of time handling different guns at the store. Work the actions. The gun that wants you for an owner will eventually speak to you. (The problem is that more than one may speak at once!)

Heed Dutch's advice on the recoil pad. You, of all people, are not out to prove how manly you are by showing how much recoil you can take. This is supposed to be fun.

Cal Sibley

02-23-2005, 04:46 PM

I took my moose last year with a Remington Classic in 6.5x55 so there's not much doubt about it packing enough oomph. It's a mild recoiling caliber and quite accurate in most rifles. I would however suggest a 1 in 8" twist. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

fabsroman

02-23-2005, 06:36 PM

I have never heard of the T/C G2 until it was mentioned on this thread. Just checked it out on the T/C website and it does only come in 5 calibers, most of which wouldn't do too well on big game.

The Encore is offered in a bunch of cartridges and a lot of them would be good for big game. You should check out the Encore and see how it feels.

Dutchboy

02-23-2005, 06:46 PM

Isn't shopping fun?

Let's go through the issues.

Cartridge selection: there's plenty of bullet choices for what you want. Let's revisit bullet selection a little later, but the 7/08 has plenty of options for what you want to do, in power. My wife shoots just about all here antelope and elk with her 280 -- which is the ballistic twin of the 7/08-- and 140 gr bullets.

All the cartridges mentioned are essentially peas in a pod as far as applications and recoil. If they weren't, we would have these Ford-Chevy debates! In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, it's not the size of the boat, it's the motion of the ocean.... Recoil is primarily a function of rifle weight (heavier is better), bullet weight (lighter is better), and bullet velocity (slower is better).

G2: all Contender barrels fit the G2, so you will have far more selection with the G2 than any other rifle. Period. End of that debate! Anything from 22 Hornet to as big as you dare...... Single shots are sexy, and the G2 is very versatile. Still, I think you should at least hold the BLR. You might be surprised....

But, let's not put the cart before the horse. First, find the rifle you WANT. Then, pick a cartridge. Any of the currently chambered cartridges will have plenty of choices for what you want to do.

Heck, if you can't find the right bullets, we get to just talk to you again on the reloading forum! JMO, Dutch.

gregarat

02-23-2005, 08:08 PM

Fabs, The G2 can use the old Contender barrels, and has the same chamberings still avalible. The G2 cant take theEncore barrels.

I got a G2 lastyear, I love the thing.

Brithunter

02-24-2005, 03:50 PM

Hi All,

Jeez it just goes to show that these folks do not read posts here properly, the last post on page one of this thread I said :-

Quote,
My personel views are that you may be better off choosing a short/medium length action, left handed will limit your choie here. However have you considered a single shot rifle like the Ruger No1 or the Thompson G2 ? thses rifles and other single shots can be operated easily by both right and left handed people just as easily The G2 at least comes in Youth stocked models, not sure about the Ruger though .... "

Then finally some one of the past page mentions single shots:rolleyes:

Vickjo,

I think that store you visited just had a small selection of 7-08 ammo. Remington at least lists a 120 grn Hp bullet in it's factory line up;) Federal load with 140Grn with 4 different types of bullets and the150 grn Speer Hot core bullet. Winchester load the 140 grn bullets with again 4 types to choose from. I just did a quick web search of these big three to find out was was available.

You seem to have it all under control though:p I really hope you find a rifle which you like and suits you and you desired purpose. Good luck.:D

Stoked_C

02-24-2005, 10:16 PM

Being left handed and always loooking at the various options we have I decided to put my two cents in.

First off, I'd say that it is good that you already have a good amount of shooting experience under your belt. I currently shoot a left handed Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker chambered for .270 Win. The rifle+scope+shells is slightly under 8lbs. I tote a 30mm tube scope with target turrets etc so that ups the weight a fair amount, because the rifle itself is listed as 6lbs 11 oz.

Anyway, the A-Bolt is nice because it offers a tang safety and the stock with palm swell is for a left handed shooter. Detachable magazine, low bolt rise, and great accuracy are great too.

With all that said a budget is a good starting place, and you're on the right track with the savages, plus they offer the most left handed options and are accurate to boot!

I think you'd be well off choosing one of the savage stainless models or if you prefer wood/blue go with that. As far as a good all round cartridge. It's going to be hard to beat 7mm-08 or the .270 especially for versatility. I'm going to say that the .270 trumps the 7mm-08 in versatility if we are looking at factory ammunition. You can get Remington 100 gr loads that are definitely easy on the shoulder, and now Remington offers a 115gr load that is "managed recoil" so it is downloaded, but would be plenty effective on deer. The 100 gr come out smoking. Then you have a plethora of 130, 140, and 150 grain offerings from all the varoius companies that will cover deer and up. The more you shoot your gun the more you will get comfortable with it's feel and working up to heavier loads.

I love my Browning, but there's no flies on the Savage and the money you save can go towards your scope. I'd recommend a Leupold VX-II 3 to 9 or a VX-III 3.5 to 10, either with 40 mm obj. lens. Don't skimp on optics. Leupold has a life time warranty and they will fix it no matter what and in quick fashion. Another good thing about buying Leupold is that you might find a good deal on a used one in good shape and with the warranty they carry you can always get it fixed up if need be.

So in conclusion, establish a budget. Decide on a rifle model: Savage and Browning are tend to be the lightest, but a Rem model 7 wouldn't be bad, not easy to find sometimes though. Then I'd say pick between a 7mm-08 and .270...I lean towards the .270 for the large range of ammunition available. Then if it's in your budget get a Leupold, or maybe a 3-9 Zeiss conquest.

Let us know what you decide, we all love shopping for each other!
Conrad

Hi Ball

03-03-2005, 12:56 PM

Vicky, when it comes to being small in stature, I know exactly where your coming from, the last thing your body needs, is to be smacked around by recoil from a rifle. Now that is NO FUN!

A person needs to be able to shoot at least 50 rounds a sitting in order to become reliable with a rifle and attain a certain amount of accuracy down range. If sitting down and shooting that rifle starts to hurt after 10 or 12 rounds, then you have to much gun starting out OK. You will develope what is known as a "flinch" and this is NOT what you want to have, trying to nail a big buck at 200 yards.

However, I believe that your going down the right road if you choose a caliber like the 257 Roberts or the 25-06 for the harvesting of whitetail deer, antelope or mule deer out west. Elk hunting Vicky is another subject all together and it takes more gun (larger caliber and more bullet weight) speaking frankly than a 1/4 bore (25-06) OK. Yes, I did shoot a bull elk this past season with my 25-06, however I did have all the ACES (proper conditions) in my hand before the shot was fired and that doesn't happen very often in the high country going after a bull elk. The perfect broadside presentation and no wind to deal with that day.

My wife target shoots with a model 70 caliber .243 for practice at the bench and field positions. The recoil on a caliber like this is a mere 8 to 10 pounds of recoil. A 270 Winchester will have as much as 16 to 22 pounds of recoil depending on the powder load and weight bullet shot. It has taken her a while but she is now shooting her 7mm magnum with a 160 grain bullet once again after 2 cancer operations. I would advise the 7mm magnum caliber for YOU as your elk hunting rifle. You just purchase a PAST RECOIL pad (wearing it over your shoulder) and it will take 50% of that recoil away, putting you very close to the recoil of the 25-06 at 10 to 12 pounds! Once you have done this and trust me, as both our kids growing up followed this routine and my daughter is not big at 115 pounds. She now shoots a model 70 in a 270 caliber for deer and antelope. She hasn't gone after elk as of yet. If she does, she will be using mother's 7mm mag and mom will by then be back to her .338 mag.

No matter what caliber you finally choose, that PAST RECOIL PAD is the ticket to getting rid of 50% of the recoil at a very cheap price, as it is only around $40 dollars. Stay away from the Muzzle Brakes as these are prone to cause you hearing loss as well as those around you. My wife before her operations, used to shoot a .338 Win mag off the back porch with 210 grain bullets, using the PAST RECOIL PAD......Amen. She is 5' 7" and tips the scales at 140lb her age I better not give........I don't like sleeping with the dogs LOL