Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Rifle for the Mrs....

I think women are more methodical than us guys. They just put the crosshairs on the right spot and squeeze the trigger. Amazing how that can work...

It is said that JOC was good, shooting running game, having a lot of practice on jackrabbits, etc. as a young man.

But, Eleanor was a great shot, maybe better than ole Jack. She seemed to have nailed everything she shot at.

An armed woman can be a dangerous commodity, even to the point of embarrassing her guy...

DF

You say your wife isn't an avid hunter. Maybe she doesn't want to shoot anything at all? Have you asked her? Maybe she just wants to be along for the trip.

If she doesn't want to shoot anything, don't make her. She'll be happier and there will be more for you.

My .257 wby would work very fine for the cause with a 100 TTSX and that is what I would have my wife shoot.

If you go with the 7x57 and later she decides that she wants more gun, her rifle can be rechambered to 280 or 280 Improved. Happy hunting!

7x57 and 6.5x55 owners need to be reloaders, IMHO.

If not, one may be able to buy better factory ammo for 7mm-08 and .308, as those two aren't downloaded.

DF

One doesn't always need to be a reloaded. I reloaded for three of my hunting partners. I would prep the cases a head of their visit, set up the scale and the press and have them load the powder and seat the bullets. They were always enjoyable visits.

I planned my trip to Africa before meeting her. She was an avid photographer, so I thought it would be a great trip for her too. While we were over there, she was converted into shooting an animal with a gun instead of the camera. It was all her choice - maybe a little proding from me. She barrowed the PH's 243, went to the practice range to shoot her first gun ever. And like everyone posted above, crosshairs on the target and squeeze. 3 rounds 1" above the bullseye. We went out later that day and she took an Impala. Towards the end of the trip, she had already stated that she wants to come back with her own rifle.

I know that the fit will be the key for her, I just didn't want to pick a rifle that would limit her choice of game in Africa. She wants to take a Kudu and a Wildebeest (either black or blue). I was leaning towards a 270 knowing that it is a strong caliber for the locals taking deer & elk. However, there are a lot of posts stating that a lot of camps will not allow a 270 for some of the larger plains game animals. Since this thread, I am leaning towards the 308 with a heavier barrel to take up some of the recoil.

As a side note, she was quite pleased that her Impala was bigger than both of mine. So, yes, the tag fees will be doubled for our next trip!

Thanks again for all the input.

Aren't we all?????

Should be...

DF

I have heard of this stuff called "factory ammo"�but it sounds terrible�..

I think men are by nature explorers, while women seem content where they are "at home and secure" (6.5x55, the similar 7 or .308). The "trail" of big game cartridges from, say, 6mm on up, to the gun loony, is like the scent on the ground to a hound. BTDT; time to move up the line.

Mix in varying degrees of perceived machismo and you have some one spend lot of time with the magnums, mediums and bigger mediums for NA game. The caveat is, there really is a reasonable niche for some of these cartridges and they are very capable. They usually are just not necessary.

It seems when this dawns on the older loony he slowly begins backtracking, opting for "lesser" cartridges, less weight, recoil and fuss while really not giving up much in the way of effectiveness.

I have a Brown Precision custom in 7mm-08 that would fit the bill. It is already set up with a matching 3x9 Leupold Compact, and I'd include 6 boxes (5 shown) of ammunition for it. $1,595 for the whole deal...about 1/2 price.

Also have a Steyr SSG 69 in 308 set up with a Kahles 6X scope with German #4 reticle. This one has set triggers for added accuracy. With the extra weight of the SSG, the recoil of a 308 round would be quite minimal. $1,495 for all.

It started dawning on me when my shoulder started complaining and I started flinching. I started practicing with 7mm-08, but hunting with 30-06 (in almost identical rifles). After my last trip to Africa I have a new respect for the .243.

I started using the 7mm-08 when I developed rotator cuff problems. Re-barreled a nice little Rem 600 .243 with a 20" 7mm-08 Rem takeoff barrel that I got for $75.

Shoots great and my shoulder doesn't mind it a bit! I find the 20" barrel adds just a little more weight out front where it's needed and cuts down on muzzle blast compared to the original 18".

Wish I had a full bolt handle instead of the ridiculous dog-leg flattened factory bolt, and I'd prefer a rounded forestock rather than the boxy factory wood, but overall, it's a fine little rifle!

ditto...

My wife laughed out loud and said with that statement

"Ward.......This June Cleaver knows her way around a rifle"

https://s3.amazonaws.com/savagefiles/firearms/models/900/0L2VgAUD6_qOvfrnKji.png

my wife will be carrying this to Africa in a 7-08 on July 18.
It fits her perfectly. She loves it.
Savage 11 Ladyhunter
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11Lady