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Amen. Too many men impose their ideas of hunting rifles on women, usually by buying a rifle they actually want.

Somebody wise (or maybe a wise-ass) once noted that apparently the only people who have trouble killing big game with the .243 Winchester are gun writers.


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Get a 243 and run the 85TSX. It will work fine.

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know a gal that used to live here that took dang near every species of game with a .243

granted her hubby was backing her up with a larger caliber

but no flies on the lethality of a .243

as far as 7-'08 I shoot that one out of a 5.5 lb. Nula and recoil is negligible.

whether your bride would feel the same way about it is hard to say.

but do think the best advice is to let her try as many makes and calibers as possible and let her decide what's best for her while keeping your input to nil

what you'd like her to have and what she's most comfortable with, may be a ways apart.


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O.K., I'm going to jump in again. As a retired Gunsmith and stock-maker, what ever caliber you decide on the fit of the stock is a deciding factor on accuracy and recoil. The better the stock fit the more of your body will absorb and distribute the recoil. The better the fit the quicker and more accurately a shot can be made. I lean towards the 7-08 as with the new ammo coming on the market I think the selection issue is a mute point. What ever rifle and caliber you choose, make sure she is comfortable handling and shooting it.

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Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Where do you live that has bears that large?

Since your GF shoots a Marlin 336, she might do well with a Marlin 336 SC (Sporting Carbine) in 35 Remington. If you reload, you could use 180 grain Speer FPs for deer and 220 grain FPs for anything needing greater penetration.


Greene county NY. A few years back a bear was taken at around 700lbs. last season a bear was taken the hit the scale at 580lbs. The bear population has gotten so large that the state opened a new early September rifle season last year.

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I know where that is! I've skied at Hunter a few times and used to buy/sell/trade with a guy in Saugerties who collected Standard rifles. Greene County isn't what most people think of when they think of New York.

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If she handles the recoil from a .30/30 carbine, a .308 with a decent pad will likely be okay for her. An 18" barrel, will be loud, so don't let her practice without good protection and consider a Game Ear or other protection in the field. Load some light practice loads with H4895 and consider 130gr X-bullets or 150gr partitions or other premium, lighter weight bullets for hunting. At the first sign of recoil-sensitivity, get her a P.A.S.T. pad. She can do this, just don't try to "make a man out of her".

Another option would be to buy a RAR compact stock and put it on a 22" rifle. I got a Hawkeye synthetic stock direct from Ruger for less than $60.

Lucky you for having a girl that likes to hunt and shoot.

Last edited by Pappy348; 05/26/15.

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Thanks you all the great advice.
Although she wasn't able to shoot the Ruger she really liked the way the compact stock felt. The question is what to get. Would it be ridiculous to get a standard American with a 22" barrel and put a compact stock on it? I'm thinking that especially in .243 the 18" barrel would increase blast and cut performance. What would be better full power .243 loads or reduced 7mm-08 loads?

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4'10"/100#?
I'm going to need pictures to properly evaluate...for uh, length of pull and comb drop...and stuff.


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Originally Posted by 260Remguy
I know where that is! I've skied at Hunter a few times and used to buy/sell/trade with a guy in Saugerties who collected Standard rifles. Greene County isn't what most people think of when they think of New York.


I work at Hunter mountain as a ski patroller. On warm spring days its not unusual to have bears wonder onto the slopes.

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Originally Posted by obie458
Thanks you all the great advice.
Although she wasn't able to shoot the Ruger she really liked the way the compact stock felt. The question is what to get. Would it be ridiculous to get a standard American with a 22" barrel and put a compact stock on it? I'm thinking that especially in .243 the 18" barrel would increase blast and cut performance. What would be better full power .243 loads or reduced 7mm-08 loads?
A Standard American with a Compact stock is what I was planning on getting for my 8yo son, whose not much smaller than your girlfriend. I figured that if after using it awhile and she wanted a shorter barrel that it would be easier to trim the 22" than to have to do a whole rebarrel on the 18".

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Originally Posted by obie458
Thanks you all the great advice.
Although she wasn't able to shoot the Ruger she really liked the way the compact stock felt. The question is what to get. Would it be ridiculous to get a standard American with a 22" barrel and put a compact stock on it? I'm thinking that especially in .243 the 18" barrel would increase blast and cut performance. What would be better full power .243 loads or reduced 7mm-08 loads?



I like my 7-08 and I haven't used any reduced loads in it but the more I shoot my 243 and the more things I shoot with my 243 the more I like it. I have been impressed with the 80 GMX and 80 TTSX loaded to the hilt in both the accuracy and terminal departments. Granted it's only been on whitetails but I've not been left wanting more performance from my 243 Win and mono bullets.


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Originally Posted by ringworm
4'10"/100#?
I'm going to need pictures to properly evaluate...for uh, length of pull and comb drop...and stuff.


Here you go. I'm 5'9" and 165lb and I look like a giant next to her. A compact stock is the only way to go.
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I too would see if I could find a Marlin X7 youth/compact and have her try it out. Nice thing about it is you can cut the barrel to 20" if you want...after letting her try it out. Also the X7 isn't quite as light as the Ruger and a little extra weight will only help in the recoil department. I'd get the 7-08 for her as well. You can load a 7-08 to feel like a 243 or a 30-30. The famous 120bt load would be great one IMO...there literally hundreds on here that swear by that bullet in the 7-08.

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You want to arm a redhead?
I question your judgment.


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My 8 year old grandson used a compact American in 7-08 to take his first deer last fall. 100 yd shot, bang flop. Used the Hornady custom lite load with 120 grain sst. Don't think he even noticed the recoil and he weighs well under 100 pounds.

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Originally Posted by obie458


I've never hunted with a .243 but I know plenty who do and swear by then. My concern with the .243 is with bear hunting. The bears around here can get quite large. Although most bears that are taken go around 200lb or so its not uncommon to see one that is well over 300 and every season someone shoots one close to or even over 500lbs. I know that shot placement is king but will a well placed .234 be reliable on a large bear? Thanks, I appreciate your advice.



Zero issues. 95gr NBT or 80gr TTSX and go kill things.

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Originally Posted by obie458
. What would be better full power .243 loads or reduced 7mm-08 loads?



Would you buy a V8 and then rip out spark plugs?

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No matter what you get her, she may want a Beartooth Comb kit so she can comfortably align with the scope.

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Originally Posted by obie458
Thanks you all the great advice.
Although she wasn't able to shoot the Ruger she really liked the way the compact stock felt. The question is what to get. Would it be ridiculous to get a standard American with a 22" barrel and put a compact stock on it? I'm thinking that especially in .243 the 18" barrel would increase blast and cut performance. What would be better full power .243 loads or reduced 7mm-08 loads?


She is small dude...you look like a pro basketball player standing next to her...:)

There are a lot of good great rifle choices available to you, but again...for what you guys are doing it won't matter.

A 308 or 7-08 down-loaded to 30-30 levels with 4895 or faster powder will have minimal recoil and muzzle blast and will work just as well or better than the 30-30 she is using now...I vote for much better!

As to recoil, the better stock design of the Ruger will minimize recoil as well.

My choice would be a Stainless Ruger Compact in 308, but 7-08 is also a great choice, and either of those two calibers are excellent performers in a shorter barrel.

Unless you are shooting regularly at long range, barrel length is more about how the rifle feels and balances. I don't have any that short, but 16" 308s regularly perform well at the 1000 yard line, and I seem to remember that the 7-08 was originally released in the 18" Rem Model 7...another very good option for a person of small stature.

Anyway, I'd be very confident with either one.


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