Range, Predator, Deer Rifle.... which caliber?

[WapitiTalk1]

Some really GREAT information/discussion folks, thanks so much for chiming in!  I'm certainly not the most techy guy when it comes to weaponry specs/capabilities and appreciate folks who know much more than I do chiming in.  And certainly thank you for the kind offer for the test run of a few of your rifles huntnphool.  The rifle, scope, sling, case, and possibly range/bench saddle (maybe a new Lead Sled) will be a gift of sorts for Mrs. Phantom (although she will in all probability launch a series of eye rolls thinking ulterior motives are at play) so I'm just gonna make the choice and present her with her new range rifle 

[Mark Brenckle]

Some really GREAT information/discussion folks, thanks so much for chiming in!  I'm certainly not the most techy guy when it comes to weaponry specs/capabilities and appreciate folks who know much more than I do chiming in.  And certainly thank you for the kind offer for the test run of a few of your rifles huntnphool.  The rifle, scope, sling, case, and possibly range/bench saddle (maybe a new Lead Sled) will be a gift of sorts for Mrs. Phantom (although she will in all probability launch a series of eye rolls thinking ulterior motives are at play) so I'm just gonna make the choice and present her with her new range rifle 

That's a good plan, until you have to 'ask' to borrow it or you dink it up a little out in the field - then you've ruined her rifle. May as well buy a matching set.

[pd]

C'mon, Phantom, if you are looking for something small for her to use at the range, just let her use your Casull.  Much smaller than the recommended .243 or 6.5 Creedmoors.

And, you can use it whenever you want for coyotes and whatnot.   

[Karl Blanchard]

All the options stated are solid choices.  I'm partial to the .243 myself just because I've seen what that sucker can do on coyotes, deer, and even an elk.  How excited would she be if you gave her a custom chambered in .243 AI 

[hunter399]

I also 1+ the 243 ,that's all my wife shoots,and because of the low recoil she is really good shot with it , maybe better than me

[cooltimber]

I put a limb saver recoil pad on my 7mm max loads for elk,recoil is like a .06 or less. very cushier!
    So with that said, now the options are more lol

[Lefthook]

"She doesn't hunt but I think she'd enjoy having her own rifle to shoot at the range (insert devious devil face here, LOL) while I'm shooting my .308".               

                                                                                      Phantom16

                                                                                         

That finally came around and bit me on the ass, hard. I've bought my (me) wife a couple rifles and a few hand guns over the last year. They really are for her to shoot, but I made the decision what firearms they would be, I seem to like them.

I had taken a couple of "her" guns with me to the range and she saw me cleaning them and putting them in the safe when she got home from work. She asked me what I was doing and I told her I was cleaning "her" guns, etc. She just flat out told me that those were not her guns and that they were mine. She went into detail explaining her position on the weapons and all I could do was agree. I felt like such an ass. I assumed that the guns were right for her and that she would like them.

Anyway, the devious devil face statement in your post reminded me of that so I thought I would share the experience. I don't know exactly what your deal is with your wife obviously, so I would have to say she would love a .243 or 6.5. Any other rifle or rifles you think would be right for her I suggest you pick them up, maybe even a hangun for her to shoot while you're dialing in your .308. 

[Wingin it]

If it were me I'd go with a short action to keep things a bit more compact. 6.5 C or 7mm-08 get my vote. My wife has the 7-08 and loves it!

[demontang]

I'll say the under dog 25-06. Have a 243 for the wife and it does the job but the 25 is a great round

[LEN]

Depends! If you really want her with you shooting then the 243, if you just want a reason to get another gun for you then anything you want. Used to teach some shooting rifle and shotgun and I loved it when man mountain mike would get the wife a heavy cal gun to learn with or a lockedup shotgun, while he shot state of the art low recoil custom, then wonder why he didn't get the wife interested when she went home with an all but bloodied shoulder. "AIN'T THIS FUN"

LEN