Rifle for wife/daughters

2 mph with the VTS?
Thx.

Right at 600 rpm we were sitting at 1.8-1.9

I am going to buy a rifle for my wife/daughters. I already have selected the manufacturer so it will not be a ford/Chevy debate. This will be a 100 yd or less rifle for white tail deer, nothing more,nothing less. I just want thoughts on what your caliber choice would be for this application, with recoil being the factor. I’m not looking to buy a larger caliber and make recoil modifications out of box.
Thoughts?

Not asking for brand, ballistics or anything else, just caliber

Thanks

7MM-08. Great balistics, mild recoil, and easy-to-find ammo.

You can also get this caliber in managed-recoil loads. Good stuff.

Are they recoil sensitive, if not, 308 Winchester. Otherwise 243 Winchester.

All good choices. Any chance you can get them to a range that offers the ability to shoot the calibers mentioned above? Got any buddies with those calibers?

I’m getting a 243 in a youth model for my kids. Actually Dad and I are going to split it so my mom can use it until my girls are big enough.

The .243 is a very low recoil round. I bought one for my son who was really on the small side when he was 10. He could of handled something a little bigger. I wish I would have gotten him a 7mm-08. They also make recoil reducing rounds for some of the bigger calibres. What make and model are you going with?

DT

What area are you in? I would be willing to meet anyone and let them shoot my youth .243 to see how it feels.
DT

I think anything between a .243 and .270 is perfect. My experience with kids has been the fear installed by adults.

.243 & 7mm-08 are good choices also 25-06, but as Randy has stated anything in the .243 to .270 range would be fine. If they are recoil sensitive look at taking to gun shop and having a pacmeyer decelarator pad put on, they help great on felt recoil.

100yds, no more…. no less? If you’re not brush bustin’ with a .30-30 already, I’m guessing you’re not looking that way. However, owning 2 of them myself……….. I wouldn’t hesitate to go that way. Plenty of punch, cheaper ammo prices, lower recoil, and all the “good” you’re ever going to need for that distance. If your mind is made up against that choice, I’d go .243 for the fact that it’s such a soft recoil, especially when fitted with a Limbsaver Recoil Pad. Mine is truly laughable when thinking about the recoil. Plenty of ammo selections, readily available, and cheaper than 7mm-08 or .260 selections.

.243 Win. Honestly, if you want to stay within the realm of practical choices, there is only one.

There is no way to get around the fact that in terms of recoil, the next step up is a significant step up. 7-08, 270, 308, 25-06, they all buck like a mule compared to the soft-shooting .243. Assuming you’re not in the mood for exotic chamberings like the Creedmore, 6MM Remington, 6 MM BR, etc, then you’re right back at the .243.

The .243 will completely ruin the day for any whitetail deer that comes within the stated distance. In fact, the combination of a good bullet driven at high speed from today’s .243 loadings will devistate a deer at double the the stated range. This velocity effect is often lost on the casual hunter, but velocity has everything to do with the transfer of energy downrange.

Over the past 10 years, in the minds of many hunters, the whitetail deer has become akin to a rhino or cape buffalo when it comes to the knockdown power required to dispatch them.

Don’t buy the hype. The .243 is perfect because it fits the “low recoil” criteria AND it’s still really in excess of what’s required for the range you stated. A lot of deer and antelope have found out the hard way that they aren’t safe from the .243 at 300 yards, much less 100.

Grouse