Recommend a deer riffle.

[rugersol]

this

Jest sayin'


edit: ... or, if that's too heavy, then this

[rukwikenuf]

i really like the Ruger M77 rifles. a 270 or 30-06 would be awesome, but she may think it has too much recoil (my wife's opinion of the 30-06). i'd say look at a 308 WIN, and that way if she doesn't totally love it, she can probably sell it easier than a 7mm-08. the less common calibers are typically more expensive for ammunition than the popular ones. i agree about trying multiple rifles out, for the manufacturer instead of caliber
also, there's the Ruger M77 Gunsite rifle. great looking gun, but high demand. they retail for $999, but street prices are around $800. its a bolt 308 with a laminated stock and black reciever/bbl. it's a sharp looking gun, too. with the forward mounted 1913 rail, it's ideal for long eye relief scopes (LER), and the 16.5" bbl makes for nice handling. also, it comes with multiple spacers for the recoil pad. i think the adjustment is from 12.5" to 14.5" length of pull (LOP)

[yuppiejr]

Assuming the Western Auto "Revelation" 30-30 is the 60's vintage / bare bones re-badged Marlin 336 lever action (some were Mossberg/Winchester) in 18.5-20" barrel variety it should run about 7 pounds unloaded. Most of the synthetic stock bolt action hunting rifles I've seen are in the 6 - 7 pound range unloaded plus optics should add half to a full pound of additional weight with rings. Fully loaded the weight distribution in the lever action is going to move toward the muzzle as the magazine is filled (particularly with all 6 shots in the tube magazine) while a typical bolt action hunting rifle is going to gain weight closer to the shooter in the magazine stack. On off-hand shots the lever action is going to feel heavier in front and put more strain on the supporting hand while a scoped bolt action is heavier close to the grip/trigger hand.

I'm guessing it's not the weight of the rifle that bothers her, rather it's balance.

Scoped hunting rifles are great but not right for all hunting terrain, a bolt action carbine with iron sights or lever action may actually be a better and lighter choice if she's not making shots over 100 yards (ground vs stand hunting in heavy brush or trees).

[rugersol]

a bolt action carbine with iron sights

A worthy endeavor!

However, it's been my experience that most bolt-actions are stocked fer scopes. At which, any attempt to use irons (even if they came with the gun) may likely result in a sore cheek-bone, at the least.

Whereas, a levergun's almost always stocked fer irons. Moreover, with no scope, the levergun's usually 1+ lbs less than a bolt-action (that often requires a scope).

If I had to guess, I'd say ...

1. yer Western Auto had a scope mounted (which made it an 8+ lbs package)

and/or

2. she didn't (or couldn't) get her weak-hand far 'nuff forward (resulting in a poor "balance" point)

With a peep sight, "managed recoil" loads, a nice squishy Decelerator-type butt-pad, and a bit of proper instruction, I'd guess it wouldn't only be a very comfortable gun fer her to shoot ... it'd be very accurate ... and very effective ... fer her needs.

... that ... or an 11.5in 6.8 AR "pistol" ... either/or.

[yuppiejr]

I read once about someone who was trying to cut recoil and improve balance in a wooden stocked hunting rifle without adding a ton of weight and decided to remove the recoil pad and drill a hole in the base of his wooden stock adequate to fit a spare AR15 buffer (installed backwards, thick end toward the back). He then threw in either a standard pistol or heavier tungsten buffer which in addition to adding weight, provides sort of a 'dead blow' recoil reducing effect because of the 3 internal weights designed to have a similar effect on the buffer in the AR15 when it reciprocates inside of the buffer tube.

Obviously you want to consider the implications to longer term resale value of the rifle in question but if I'm reading right the Western Auto 30-30's aren't worth more than $200 typically (**this should still be verified with your rifle**) and a carefully drilled hole in the base of the stock under the recoil pad to add weight isn't the most uncommon aftermarket modification to hunting/target rifles I've heard of...

[ex-LT]

i really like the Ruger M77 rifles. a 270 or 30-06 would be awesome, but she may think it has too much recoil (my wife's opinion of the 30-06). i'd say look at a 308 WIN, and that way if she doesn't totally love it, she can probably sell it easier than a 7mm-08. the less common calibers are typically more expensive for ammunition than the popular ones. i agree about trying multiple rifles out, for the manufacturer instead of caliber
also, there's the Ruger M77 Gunsite rifle. great looking gun, but high demand. they retail for $999, but street prices are around $800. its a bolt 308 with a laminated stock and black reciever/bbl. it's a sharp looking gun, too. with the forward mounted 1913 rail, it's ideal for long eye relief scopes (LER), and the 16.5" bbl makes for nice handling. also, it comes with multiple spacers for the recoil pad. i think the adjustment is from 12.5" to 14.5" length of pull (LOP)

Don't overlook the Ruger M77 Compact. Available in .243, 7mm08, and .308 (also available in .223 and 7.62x39). LoP 12.5" (the M77 Standard is 13.5). Weighs 6 lbs. Throw on a good 2-7 scope (~ 1/2 lb), and you're right about 7 lbs. Granted, it only has a 16.5" barrel (22" on the standard), so she'll be giving up a little bit of bullet velocity, but it'll still reach out beyond 100 yds.

[rukwikenuf]

i really like the Ruger M77 rifles. a 270 or 30-06 would be awesome, but she may think it has too much recoil (my wife's opinion of the 30-06). i'd say look at a 308 WIN, and that way if she doesn't totally love it, she can probably sell it easier than a 7mm-08. the less common calibers are typically more expensive for ammunition than the popular ones. i agree about trying multiple rifles out, for the manufacturer instead of caliber
also, there's the Ruger M77 Gunsite rifle. great looking gun, but high demand. they retail for $999, but street prices are around $800. its a bolt 308 with a laminated stock and black reciever/bbl. it's a sharp looking gun, too. with the forward mounted 1913 rail, it's ideal for long eye relief scopes (LER), and the 16.5" bbl makes for nice handling. also, it comes with multiple spacers for the recoil pad. i think the adjustment is from 12.5" to 14.5" length of pull (LOP)

Don't overlook the Ruger M77 Compact. Available in .243, 7mm08, and .308 (also available in .223 and 7.62x39). LoP 12.5" (the M77 Standard is 13.5). Weighs 6 lbs. Throw on a good 2-7 scope (~ 1/2 lb), and you're right about 7 lbs. Granted, it only has a 16.5" barrel (22" on the standard), so she'll be giving up a little bit of bullet velocity, but it'll still reach out beyond 100 yds.

oh yeah. i just like the adjustability the Gunsite butt stock and the mini-30 flash suppressor. not sure how readily available they are vs the M77 compact, or the price difference though. i also really like the detachable box magazines. i'm not sure if they are proprietary to Ruger's M77 Gunsite, but they are cooler than a hinged floorplate! you could use the gun as an actual Scout weapon, like it's designed

[Dill]

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .243 that I took my buck with this fall. Much lighter than most other rifle, and more accurate than I am. The trigger and bolt are smooth as glass. Great rifle.

[AFTERMATH]

She should probably try out whatever she likes first.
Sounds like she's lookin' for a lighter rifle, but the lighter the rifle, the greater the perceived recoil.
My suggestion would be to teach her to with a .22lr, untill she's got her position(s) down.
At that point weight/recoil won't be much of an issue. I know plenty of ladies who really enjoy .30-06 in their M1's.
Another point, she may prefer an auto-loader over a bolt, for ease of operation as well as lighter recoil.

[Pinnacle]

260 Rem youth or ultralight model from anyone.

How bout a CZ 550 in 7.62x39mm?

[Jbotto]

If I could chime into this, I have two ideas:

1) Stevens 200 in one of the common .308 family cartridges (.243. 7mm-08, .308) They are a durable little rifle that costs little. It's a fairly light rifle although I do not know exact specs. My .30-06 is light enough to be uncomfortable if firing 180 grs. but my .223 is a nice lightweight rifle that is not bad to carry and and shoot for a day.

2) A bolt action carbine was mentioned for use of iron sights. Look into an older Remington 788. Supposed to be a great rifle and they are in a good price range these days when you can find them. Almost bought one after doing a lot of research on them, but passed and bought the Stevens .30-06 to go with my Stevens .223.

Just a few thoughts.

[JJ]

260 Rem youth or ultralight model from anyone.

How bout a CZ 550 in 7.62x39mm?

Or a CZ527 in 7.63x39

[Pinnacle]

260 Rem youth or ultralight model from anyone.

How bout a CZ 550 in 7.62x39mm?

Or a CZ527 in 7.63x39

That's what I meant.

[yuppiejr]

To change things up a bit... what about a Norinco SKS? Same ballistics as a 30/30 for hunting purposes, gas operated = reduced recoil, designed for smaller shooters including females and dead simple to operate. Certainly not a traditional hunting rifle but one gent in our party picked one up over a 30/30 levergun and hasn't looked back, just runs it without the bayonet and it's a light (7 pounds, 4 oz I believe), nice handling gun in the field. Most manufacturers are producing viable brass cased hunting ammunition in 7.62x39mm in addition to the inexpensive but effective soft point steel cased Silver Bear/etc... Tech sights makes a nice aperture sight set for the rifle at either $45 or $60 : http://www.tech-sights.com/

[dshortone]

Remington 700 Light Tactical 22" bbl 6.8 or Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact 6.8.