Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Well I have a real problem...

DD: What kind of ranges are you thinking she'll be shooting?

actually the Dad to my surrogate daughters has a problem.

His oldest one is 13 and this is her second year of hunting with Dad. He bought her a good used Ruger with a Nikon scope in 7X57. Number one daughter is a good size girl, not fat, and the 7X57 makes her a good elk and deer rifle.

Number two daughter is a eleven. Next year when she turns twelve she wants to take hunter safety and go hunting with Dad and number one daughter.

Number two daughter is a little bit of a thing. She's almost 5' and weights 85 pounds. It will probably take her two years to hit a 100 pounds. She can lift a .22lr rifle but that's about it. Montana allows a .22 center fire rifle for elk and deer hunting and that's probably the caliber she will have to use for the foreseeable future. I'm thinking a bolt or single shot in .223 will probably have to do and weigh no more than 5 to 6 pounds.

Any of you guys with very petite daughters have any suggestions?

In my opinion the Kimber is more expensive than I would put in the hands of an 11 year old. Most 11 year old kids can not appreciated a fine firearm and would be better served with a less expensive starter rifle. But that is just my opinion.

8mmwapiti

My opinion also. But it also too expensive for my hands also. If I took something that expensive to the woods I would worry so much about scratching the rifle I would not be able to have any fun. An 11 year old should not have to worry about the care a rifle. They should just be thinking about safety.

Also, an 11 year old may not want to hunt more than once.
Remember to make it fun.

My $.02, buy 243, buy used, used low recoil loads, and get a limbsaver pad. Teach her to shoot by supporting the rifle on something to help her control the rifle. I use this method still.

After raising children hunting, my honest opinion is that they are not old enough to shoot animals, until they are old enough to use proper equipment. There are too many disappointments along the way if not.

.260 Rem would get my vote, and I agree with Itppowell - if the girl can't handle anything bigger than a .22 centerfire she probably isn't ready to hunt.

In my experience, since I started elk hunting in 1982, I've seen .243's wound and lose more game than probably all other cartridges combined. Those .243's were often in the hands of young hunters.