I want to buy the wife a .243 for deer hunting, what to get?

Jeeper

Currently leaning towards either a Tikka T3 Lite or a Weatherby Vanguard GH2.

Thoughts? Anything else in this price range (~$600ish) I should be considering?

After reading reviews, it sounds like the Tikka might be more likely to be the more accurate of the two...?

Luis

Zee

Jeeper wrote: »

Currently leaning towards either a Tikka T3 Lite.............

This thread ended right there. Carry on.

Zee

In reality, is she use to shooting? Only reason I say this is that the Tikka will have a slight increase in recoil over the Vanguard due to the lighter weight.

jbp-ohio

If you plan to hunt in a blind or stand, I wouldn't bother with a light weight rifle.

Ohio isn't a rifle hunting state, so there isn't a big selection of rifles in the shops. I've never even seen a Tikka

Durwood

knitepoet wrote: »

Gotta go with Zedrick on this one

I'm with both of you. Tikka all the way.

CHIRO1989

I am not going to talk you out of a Tikka, but, I got son#2 a Mossberg ATR youth via a banquet and shot my best group ever with some 95gr. Federal Fusions, put a Burris E1 3X9X40 on it.

MileHighShooter

Spend an extra 200$ and get a Savage Lady Hunter. Or wait on the new Vanguard GH2 (girls hunt too). Both have stocks that are designed for females , as women rend to have longer necks and their shoudlering positions can be different. Not sure what the gh2 will retail. I figure if rifle makers are going to finally start making stocks just for females, and your wimmins are serious hunters, get em something that fits them. The more they enjoy shooting and hunting, the better off we all are in the long run

Teach

I just bought a NIB Marlin XS-7 in .243 with a no-name scope on it for $375.00 out the door, background check and all. With a midrange handload it shoots sub-MOA groups and is accurate out to 350 yards- - - -as far as my range will let me shoot. It's got a Savage-type barrel nut and Marlin's version of the accutrigger, and the receiver is almost a clone of the Remington 700- - - -the same scope mounts even fit it. You can spend more money for the brag factor, but I'll bet the deer won't get any deader any quicker with a gun that costs three times as much.
Jerry

bullsi1911

I'd go Savage.

Diver43

To me the easy answer is: take her to a few shops, show her what is available and let her shoulder the different makes and models and along with your suggestions on what and why she can make an informed decision on the rifle she will shoot.

bisley

Marlin bolt action is a shooter, for half that money.

41magnut

Jeeper wrote: »

Currently leaning towards either a Tikka T3 Lite or a Weatherby Vanguard GH2.

Thoughts? Anything else in this price range (~$600ish) I should be considering?

After reading reviews, it sounds like the Tikka might be more likely to be the more accurate of the two...?

Luis

No flies on either of these. In the .243W there are enough choices to make for more confusion than necessary.

Gene L

I'd advise taking her along to see what fits her. Depending on how much she is dedicated to hunting, I would start off on the short end, price wise. You can get excellent, Minute of Deer rifles at around $400.

Zee

Teach wrote: »

I just bought a NIB Marlin XS-7 in .243 with a no-name scope on it for $375.00 out the door..................You can spend more money for the brag factor, but I'll bet the deer won't get any deader any quicker with a gun that costs three times as much.
Jerry

If that is your logic, then your ego caused you to waste $100.00 on something that kills no deader than this little gem.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_1098/products_id/80939/H%26R+72635+Handi+Rifle+Break+Open+243+Winchester+22%22+Syntheti

Maybe you can ask for your money back on that ego inflating rifle you bought, Teach.

I'm here to help.

bullsi1911

Zee wrote: »

If that is your logic, then your ego caused you to waste $100.00 on something that kills no deader than this little gem.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_1098/products_id/80939/H%26R+72635+Handi+Rifle+Break+Open+243+Winchester+22%22+Syntheti

:

Hey, I have killed a whole pile of deer with a single shot NEF in .308. From 30 yards out to 230.

They work.

Zee

bullsi1911 wrote: »

Hey, I have killed a whole pile of deer with a single shot NEF in .308. From 30 yards out to 230.

They work.

I didn't say they didn't work at all. In fact, your experience lends credence to the fact that Teach was simply boosting his ego when he spent $100 more than was necessary to actually kill a deer.

Thanks!

Jeeper

She is currently using one of my two .44 carbines (Marlin 1894P, or Ruger Deerslayer circa '82). She is easily a 2 moa shot with the 1894p, but I can see that it's awkward for her since the LOP is too long, and although she likes the pistol grip on the Deerslayer, it doesn't fit her any better, and is even less accurate.

My thinking is that a .243 would easily extend her range from the 125 yds or so that the .44's limit her to, to an easy 200 yds or so (she's a good enough shot to pull off anything up to at least that range with the right caliber). Going to a better stock (for her) would make it much easier for her. She likes light weight rifles (ie, she won't drag around anything much heavier than the two she's been using so far), and I don't want anything that is going to recoil much worse than the .44's she's been using so far. She has shot my .308, but doesn't care for the recoil.... mostly because the stock doesn't fit her right, and she cannot shoulder it properly.

The Tikka T3 lite comes in a youth model that I suspect would fit her like a glove, but the barrel is kinda short (not more than 20" if I recall correctly) for a .243 IMO. She has shouldered the Tikka T3 lite full size and liked the weight and pistol grip, but the stock was still too long. That was my main reason for considering theWeatherby Vanguard GH2... it would have a better stock for her without sacrificing another 2-4" of barrel.

Maybe I should buy the Tikka T3 Lite and get the stock cut to fit her.

Then again, if I'm going to have to get the stock cut to fit, the Marlin is a fine shooter, at half the cost..... hmmm.... decisions, decisions.....

Luis

Zee

I have a .243 Winchester with an 18" barrel that has killed deer sized game and hogs out to 300 yards. No issues with the shorter barrel.

You are on the right track though, searching for a rifle that fits her properly.

Just don't be concerned with the barrel on that .243 if that is the rifle she likes. A 20" barrel is plenty for what it sounds like you are needing it to do.

Zee

If you handload, reduced loads for the .243 Winchester are very effective in killing and recoil less too.

Jeeper

In that case, I think you have sold me on the Tikka T3 Lite in the youth model. That should fit her like a glove. I was just concerned about the short barrel.

Trust me.... recoil is not going to be a factor for anything in .243 for her. She's 5'6", 150 lbs, and NOT afraid of recoil. :-)

Luis

Teach

My Marlin has a 22" barrel and a 12 1/2" LOP. I believe it's a "youth" model.


Jerry

bellcat

I'm with Teach...drop a $100 or so less and get the XS7 Mine is topped with a Weaver 4X and shoots like a dream!

JMHO

Hondo

Find a used Ruger M77 MkII Stainless with synthetic stock. I know you have a friend that will work that trigger over for you. Just sayin' ;-)

Bigslug

700 SPS stainless.

But let her shoot some bigger stuff with decent stocks. The .260, 7-08, and .308 - non of 'em bad with the right furniture.

5280 shooter II

MileHighShooter wrote: »

Spend an extra 200$ and get a Savage Lady Hunter. Or wait on the new Vanguard GH2 (girls hunt too). Both have stocks that are designed for females , as women rend to have longer necks and their shoudlering positions can be different. Not sure what the gh2 will retail. I figure if rifle makers are going to finally start making stocks just for females, and your wimmins are serious hunters, get em something that fits them. The more they enjoy shooting and hunting, the better off we all are in the long run

:agree: You guys don't read your NRA publications anymore, do ya. I read about this in American Rifleman and it makes sense.

road_warri0r

Hondo wrote: »

Find a used Ruger M77 MkII Stainless with synthetic stock. I know you have a friend that will work that trigger over for you. Just sayin' ;-)

I just traded for a Ruger 77 243 stainless with brown laminate stock, it is a thing of beauty, any woman would appreciate it.

BigDanS

road_warri0r wrote: »

I just traded for a Ruger 77 243 stainless with brown laminate stock, it is a thing of beauty, any woman would appreciate it.

Enjoy shooting it!

D

Freezer

+1 with 5280. These rifles are designed for a female shooter. The LOP is shorter, the distance from pistol grip to trigger is shorter and there are some other design features that help women. I've been an advocate of this idea for years. The concept is simple. Women are anatomically different. Besides the obvious differences (Viva the deference), their center of gravity is also different. When men and children run, we run chest down and forward. That's because our center of gravity is in our chest. As a female matures their hips roll forward to aid carrying a child. This shifts their center of gravity to their hips and causes them to run more upright. Women tend to be more comfortable shooting from a more erect position (British style) and will rock more from recoil. It only make sense that a rifle designed for a women will fit better and be more comfortable to shoot. We should also be considerate of how they will shoot it. An erect shooter will have the scope set ferther back on the receiver than a forward leaning shooter.

wildgene

...if you really love her, you'ld get her one of these...:tooth::troll::jester::devil:

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails.asp?item=035248211&cid=035&tid=248

Durwood

Get the Tikka. It'll shoot so good you'll have to have one too.

stepmac

Don't forget the first rule of buying a rifle or any gun for your wife. The secret is to buy one that you like and then "give" it to her. She might ooh and ahh when you give it to her, but she'll really not be too blown away. Put it in your gun safe and shoot it and let her too. That way you both win. When you buy a new car let her choose the color. She'll like that.

Every now and then a girl comes along who really enjoys guns, but they are a rare beast and to be appreciated when found.

Oh, concerning your original question, search out an old Savage 99 in .243. Great small accurate rifle and a good size for a women.