Picking out my first rifle

[GBoyd]

Well, you've got me seriously considering the .308 instead. Really, I can't think of when I would hunt modern season for elk anyway because I enjoy the archery season so much. It's more about having the option without having to own a whole pile of different weapons. There's too many toys kicking around my place as is!

[Special T]

I was originally torn between an 06 and 300 win mag. Not much comparison i know. The ammo options is what made me pick the 06. I would imagine there are just as many, if not more, options for the 308 as there are the 06... plus the ability to buy bulk brass and reload or buy bulk ammo is a big plus. I still have some CMP 06 i bought several years back and only upset i cant get more Greek ball ammo... Don they need the green back more now than ever?

[bobcat]

You can't go wrong with the 308. Or the 270. In reality, there's not really much of a difference between them.

[huntnphool]

Ruger American in 7mm-08

[bobcat]

7/08 is good too. They're all the same! (But different) 

[elkaholic123]

Another vote for the 30-06, it is the most versatile of all choices mentioned 

[kukusya]

RAR in 308.

[andy*]

I know you said  that the rifle is for you, but you also want your GF to shoot it as well.
Has she seen or handled any of your choices? Do those choices fit her at all?
No matter the caliber choice, if a rifle doesn't fit your body frame or how you shoot, the felt recoil can be bad.
Andy

[GBoyd]

I know you said  that the rifle is for you, but you also want your GF to shoot it as well.
Has she seen or handled any of your choices? Do those choices fit her at all?
No matter the caliber choice, if a rifle doesn't fit your body frame or how you shoot, the felt recoil can be bad.
Andy

I hadn't thought of that. I'll take her along to the store later to play with a few of the different choices. Right now I'm leaning towards the Ruger American in .308, but if she hates it she might convince me to go for a  Savage or Remington.

Thanks for all the discussion guys.

[PiNkPaNtHeR]

Both Remington and Hornady have loads advertised as 'reduced recoil' & are available in a variety of calibers.
Also - I didn't see any mention of a Weatherby. I have two and they're awesome.
I also agree with the fit for the GF. I bought my wife a youth model & even that is a bit heavy for her to shoot offhand.
As others have pointed out - the .30-06 is probably the most versatile with the .308 being right there with it. I like 7mm personally, but hope to own a .308 soon.

[Firedogg]

  If I were looking for a first rifle to also share with the gf, I would go with the .30-06. Plenty of power to take down any animal you will hunt anf you can get over the counter reduced recoil loads for the gf to shoot. Get one with a good recoil pad, don't go with a light weight mountan type rifle, that little bit of weight you keep really helps with recoil and holding a steady point of aim.

[RadSav]

This article was interesting.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/myth_busting_calibers.htm

I'm not sure how much validity I give to an article that claims the 308 Win it the Optimum Cartridge for Brown Bear. 

You can never rely on the word of a girl friend.  They aim to please and often say recoil is ok when really it is not.  Might shoot it well for a year, maybe even two, but then flinching starts to get the best of them.  When I was dating my wife she would shoot darn near everything and say, "It's OK".  Once that ring went on her finger and our bank accounts were in both names...things were no longer "OK".  I ended up finding out that "OK" really means "I hate it with a passion!!" Meanwhile, "I love this gun" means "This is no longer yours.  Go get your own!"

[RadSav]

Unless your lady is one who loves punishment and relishes in being one of the guys I would not look much bigger for WA hunting than the 270/308 recoil level.  And even then I wouldn't have her shoot it until it had a dang good pad.  Most ladies will love the 243 and 257 Bob, are alright with the 260 and 7-08, and will be slightly challenged with the 270 and 308.

My wife is tough as nails, had her own gang while in school and takes a punch like Sugar Ray.  She shoots everything I have except the 375 and the 325 WSM.  She shoots the 270WSM better than I do.  And challenges me with the 338 WM.  She will pound patterning boards with just about any shotgun she can get to fit her small frame.  But, given a choice in rifles that maximize her enjoyment while hunting?  It's the little Bob.  No ifs, ands or buts!!  And most importantly, in her hands, that little .25 puts the hammer down hard on critters big and small.

Warning:  When the lady is going to shoot any big game rifle it's best not to skimp on the scope.  Try to get the most eye relief as possible.  Nothing ruins a ladies enjoyment of hunting more than marring up her beautiful face with a bloody scope kiss.  Hard to beat Leupold for the price.

[magnumb]

[quote But, given a choice in rifles that maximize her enjoyment while hunting?  It's the little Bob.  No ifs, ands or buts!!  And most importantly, in her hands, that little .25 puts the hammer down hard on critters big and small.

Warning:  When the lady is going to shoot any big game rifle it's best not to skimp on the scope.  Try to get the most eye relief as possible.  Nothing ruins a ladies enjoyment of hunting more than marring up her beautiful face with a bloody scope kiss.  Hard to beat Leupold for the price.
[/quote]


My thinking, as well.  Given that, I'm thinking that a 25-06 would fit the bill, quite well.  My ex and both kids started out shooting their first and many subsequent animals with what could justifiably be called, the '25 Mag'......... .  It remains a favorite choice to this day for me as well, given all of the aforementioned comfortable shooting qualities/attributes that are desired. 

IMHO.......it would be tough to find a 25-06 in most any configuration shooting most any load that would be considered 'uncomfortable' and/or not 'up to the job', sans commonly accepted, dangerous game.

As far as eye relief.......not something to overlook, be it for a pretty lady or us ole' grizzled types...... .  But even a scope with ample eye relief will not be universally 'safe', as we all shoulder long, scoped guns differently.  And as we all know, we all 'climb' up them differently too when really bearing down, be it at the range or when afield.............said the recipient of 2 such enthusiastic moves during my earlier years....... .

A properly adjusted/mounted scope for one person, then handed over to the next, can and often does bring about a much different result.  In that it's tough or unreasonable to buy individual scoped rifles for each member of a family, a scope which traditionally offers a good deal of eye relief is certainly a prudent way to go, but actively seeking one out that also sports a rubberized or otherwise, padded eyepiece, can also help to reduce the dreaded, 'scoped', result.

Such precautions and preventative and thoughtful considerations with your significant other's well being in mind, could also save you from hearing the much dreaded, "no means no, not maybe!" response later when you are hoping and expecting to have your own enjoyable and successful 'outing'............ .

 

[buglebrush]

.270 is perfect.  I have killed multiple elk, deer, and bear with mine.  150 grain nosler partition.  My wife loves it. Get the Browning A Bolt in stainless.