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.308 for female shooters

wvhuntwvhunt Member Posts: 822 ✭✭✭✭
edited December 2013 in General Discussion
Looking at getting my lady a deer rifle and to be honest as we all do ( dont lie) I kinda want what I get her to fit what I like. Ive been wanting a ruger american in .308 and I figured hey why not. Is the .308 a manageable round for a female shooter or should i stick with the ole .243?

Comments

  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 50,947 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Selfish aren't you? Best answer is to borrow a .308 and see how she likes it.

    Or just man up and by yourself the .308 and buy her something she wants.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,183 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It has too much punch for the average female. Let her try one first, or else, go with the compromise, the elegant Swedish Mauser. It is .263 caliber, so it is inbetween the .243 and the .270.
    Swede boys kill polar bears with it every year so it will handle North American game.
  • TooBigTooBig Member Posts: 28,560 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Put a kickez on the rifle and she will be good to go and some are made to fit each rifle. http://www.kickeezproducts.com/
  • NOAHNOAH Member Posts: 9,690
    edited November -1
  • RustyBonesRustyBones Member Posts: 4,956
    edited November -1
    My wife's favorite rifle is the PTR in .308. She will shoot it all day if I let her. That is a heavy semi-auto though and it has pretty light recoil. She can handle my 1903 just fine but would rather not shoot it.

    Let her try one if you can before you write it off. .308 in a light hunting rifle may be a bit much for the average woman. As much as they hate to admit it, apparently for the average man too since I always find local deals on half boxes of .308 and 30-06. [:D]
  • gesshotsgesshots Member Posts: 15,679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    It has too much punch for the average female. Let her try one first, or else, go with the compromise, the elegant Swedish Mauser. It is .263 caliber, so it is inbetween the .243 and the .270.
    Swede boys kill polar bears with it every year so it will handle North American game.


    +1
    6.5 Swede is a very accurate round and in riles of equal quality will out shoot the .308 all day long. Factory loads are easy on the shoulder, but handloads can be warmed up, quite a bit !!!

    [^][^][8D]
    It's being willing. I found out early that most men, regardless of cause or need, aren't willing. They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull the trigger. I won't. ~ J.B. Books
  • kumatekumate Member Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    a model 100 308 would fit the koozie, if the 6.5x55 was an answer then the 270 would be the novel
  • RobOzRobOz Member Posts: 9,523 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would buy the 308 Win and get her a couple boxes of reduced recoil ammo. That way she has a gun if she decides to stick with it and you have a gun if she don't.
  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by TooBig
    Put a kickez on the rifle and she will be good to go and some are made to fit each rifle. http://www.kickeezproducts.com/

    Great advice here but,U may have to cut the stock down.The slip-on or even a screw attached pad will lengthen the LOP.
  • William81William81 Member Posts: 24,585 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would never buy my wife a gun that she did not have a chance to shoot first. Lessons learnd over 32 + years of marriage [:D]
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,187 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    It has too much punch for the average female. Let her try one first, or else, go with the compromise, the elegant Swedish Mauser. It is .263 caliber, so it is inbetween the .243 and the .270.
    Swede boys kill polar bears with it every year so it will handle North American game.


    You, Sir, are a wise man!

    140gr bullet at 2500-2600fps is a killing machine.
  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 308 is hardly a hard kicking round, but still packs adequate punch.

    My wife is 5'4" about 120 lbs and handles my 30-06 without a problem. Women are more often tougher than we think.

    If you're a handloader, you always have the option of reducing the loads to a more comfortable level with the option of bumping it up if necessary.

    If you really think she's recoil shy, there are plenty of other options: 6.5X55, 260 Remington, 7mm Mauser, 7mm 08, even the 243 Winchester.
  • Jim RauJim Rau Member Posts: 3,550
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wvhunt
    Looking at getting my lady a deer rifle and to be honest as we all do ( dont lie) I kinda want what I get her to fit what I like. Ive been wanting a ruger american in .308 and I figured hey why not. Is the .308 a manageable round for a female shooter or should i stick with the ole .243?


    I highly recommend you consider a 7mm-08. It will take any game the 308 can. It shoots almost as flat a 270, hits A LOT harder than a 243, and has very little more recoil than the 243, AND it comes in several youth models (for those of small stature).
    Hope this helped,
    Jim
  • gesshotsgesshots Member Posts: 15,679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My 2nd choice for an easy on the sholder caliber - .257 Roberts.

    Much better choice than a .243. >>> IMHO

    [^][;)][^]
    It's being willing. I found out early that most men, regardless of cause or need, aren't willing. They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull the trigger. I won't. ~ J.B. Books
  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,278 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Jim Rau
    quote:Originally posted by wvhunt
    Looking at getting my lady a deer rifle and to be honest as we all do ( dont lie) I kinda want what I get her to fit what I like. Ive been wanting a ruger american in .308 and I figured hey why not. Is the .308 a manageable round for a female shooter or should i stick with the ole .243?


    I highly recommend you consider a 7mm-08. It will take any game the 308 can. It shoots almost as flat a 270, hits A LOT harder than a 243, and has very little more recoil than the 243, AND it comes in several youth models (for those of small stature).
    Hope this helped,
    Jim


    +1
    All thou I do not have a 7mm-08 I have shot several the recoil is bliss! and have seen many Elk taken with it. Great choice Jim Rau![^][^][^]
  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    My first high power rifle was a rem 700 308 with a cut down stock and a 20" barrel. I was 14 at the time and weighed all of about 92 pounds. It worked out fine. I strongly recommend the 308 over any of its sister cartridges. If recoil is wanted to be reduced there are several 125 grain bullets that are designed for big game.
  • SCOUT5SCOUT5 Member Posts: 16,182 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As already posted you can get reduced recoil rounds for the .308 and still hunt with it, plus you have the option to use step up. IMO the 7mm-08 is a good round for most anyone and would make a good rifle for a lady also.

    If your lady is really wanting to hunt I would let her be part of the decision. If you are going to buy a rifle she can hunt with in case she decides to accompany you then buy the .308 you want and use the rediced loads if she needs them.
  • swearengineswearengine Member Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would recommend the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. With Norma or Lapua ammunition it is 200-300 fps faster than the popgun loads put out by Remington, Federal and Winchester. Next choice would be the venerable 7x57 Mauser.

    Do not be deceived into thinking a woman can not handle a magnum cartridge. My mother-in-law; 5'1", 130lbs? or less; and my wife; 5'2" 130lbs? or less; both shoot 7x61 Sharpe and Hart. That cartridge pushes a 154 grain bullet just shy of 3100fps. The 7mm Remington magnum is a close second to the 7x61.
  • llamallama Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Several 14 year old MFPs (members of the female persuasion) have shot my FAL with no issues, one even got a little perturbed I didn't have more ammo. But, the gas system there (and weight!) really help wtih the recoil management.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Get her anything she wants. If it kicks too hard install a muzzle brake
  • Sig220_Ruger77Sig220_Ruger77 Member Posts: 12,748 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are a lot of factors in this decision, but my wife hunts, and shoots with me a few times a year and she wants no part of a .308. This coming from a women who will fire any gun I bring out at least once. Well, she would not fire my 1895 .450 Marlin after watching me shoot that. [:D]

    FWIW, I have a Ruger M77 Ultralight .308 and I don't care to shoot too many rounds through it at the bench in the summer. Of course that is a light gun, short barrel, terrible recoil pad, and it shoots 180's the best.

    Jon
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    This why I chose a .243 Win. The last number tells you the story on recoil. It will take any deer, predator, and varmint in the US.

    Cartridge (Wb@MV)
    Rifle Weight---Recoil energy

    .243 Win. (100@2960)
    7.5
    8.8

    6.5x55 Swede (129@2700)
    8.0
    12.5

    .260 Rem. (120@2860)
    7.5
    13.0

    7mm-08 Rem. (120@3000)
    7.5
    12.1

    .308 Win. (165@2700)
    7.5
    18.1

    .308 Win. (150@2800)
    7.5
    15.8
  • Sig220_Ruger77Sig220_Ruger77 Member Posts: 12,748 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Boomerang
    This why I chose a .243 Win. The last number tells you the story on recoil. It will take any deer, predator, and varmint in the US.

    Cartridge (Wb@MV)
    Rifle Weight---Recoil energy

    .243 Win. (100@2960)
    7.5
    8.8

    6.5x55 Swede (129@2700)
    8.0
    12.5

    .260 Rem. (120@2860)
    7.5
    13.0

    7mm-08 Rem. (120@3000)
    7.5
    12.1

    .308 Win. (165@2700)
    7.5
    18.1



    In all fairness to that chart, I would use a 150 grain in the .308 for a small shooter or even a 125 grain "low recoil" load.

    That being said, my wife shoots a Remington 7600 .243 and it works great for her. She has no problem with the recoil, ammo is cheap, and it has plenty of smack to drop deer-sized game. It also is a great small game round with the lighter bullets. [8D]

    Jon
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,254 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Boomerang
    This why I chose a .243 Win. The last number tells you the story on recoil. It will take any deer, predator, and varmint in the US.

    Cartridge (Wb@MV)
    Rifle Weight---Recoil energy

    .243 Win. (100@2960)
    7.5
    8.8

    6.5x55 Swede (129@2700)
    8.0
    12.5

    .260 Rem. (120@2860)
    7.5
    13.0

    7mm-08 Rem. (120@3000)
    7.5
    12.1

    .308 Win. (165@2700)
    7.5
    18.1

    .308 Win. (150@2800)
    7.5
    15.8



    That chart defies newtons law.
    RLTW

  • mondmond Member Posts: 6,458
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by NOAH
    6.5x55[;)]


    Although a great bloke rig,& I use myself.. its nice on the shoulder for half doz plus rounds in the hunt & open too ;)
  • MrGunz22MrGunz22 Member Posts: 2,086 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Jim Rau
    quote:Originally posted by wvhunt
    Looking at getting my lady a deer rifle and to be honest as we all do ( dont lie) I kinda want what I get her to fit what I like. Ive been wanting a ruger american in .308 and I figured hey why not. Is the .308 a manageable round for a female shooter or should i stick with the ole .243?


    I highly recommend you consider a 7mm-08. It will take any game the 308 can. It shoots almost as flat a 270, hits A LOT harder than a 243, and has very little more recoil than the 243, AND it comes in several youth models (for those of small stature).
    Hope this helped,
    Jim




    I would go with the 7mm-08 as well. Plenty of power. Very low recoil.
  • Jim RauJim Rau Member Posts: 3,550
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Ray B
    My first high power rifle was a rem 700 308 with a cut down stock and a 20" barrel. I was 14 at the time and weighed all of about 92 pounds. It worked out fine. I strongly recommend the 308 over any of its sister cartridges. If recoil is wanted to be reduced there are several 125 grain bullets that are designed for big game.

    308 caliber 125 gr bullets (SD .188) ARE NOT BIG GAME BULLETS![:(!]
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,254 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    7mm 08 or a 260 Remington.

    Both are short actions and at least the 260 Remington ammo is not all that hard to find. Both are inherently accurate cartridges and really shine if you reload.

    The 257 Rbts and some 6.5mm Swedes will come in either a long action(30-06 size) or a Medium action in a Ruger, where the 7mm08 and the 260 come in a true short action. They are harder to find in the store than the 260 and the 260 will do anything they can do and do it better with factory ammo. If you handload they are all comparable but the 7mm08 and 260 will be more accurate due their better designed cases.

    Look at the Remington Model 7 also. The Model 7 is a little smaller and lighter than the 700 and if your wife is small you can check out the youth model 7 or Rem SPS 700. If you get a youth model and its just a tad small add a thinker recoil pad and you will not have to cut the stock down, which does not decrease resale value.
    RLTW

  • KEVD18KEVD18 Member Posts: 15,037
    edited November -1
    ive never understood the logic in buying somone else something because its what i like. how about that get what they want instead of forcing your choices on them?

    if she enjoys shooting the 308, get her one. if she doesnt, get her somethign else. i dont know why in the world you'd want to get her a rifle she isnt going to shoot, unless what you're really trying to do is buy yourself a new rifle and if thats the case then i feel sorry for you that you have to play games to do it...
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