collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??  (Read 10835 times)

Offline Raincast

  • Greenhorn
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2020
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Cle Elum
Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« on: March 25, 2021, 08:55:05 PM »
Howdy everyone!

I'll cut right to it. I've been interested in getting into rifle hunting (white/mule deer mostly) but I'm lost in the sea of calibers.

I was set on a classic .243 for my first gun ever but every shop (8!) I've been in has suggested a 6.5 creedmoor without batting an eye so I went back to the drawing board and fell down the caliber rabbit hole.

Interested in hearing any caliber suggestions, I ain't a string bean but  :dunno: what my recoil tolerance is yet. Especially interested in what other ladies or greenhorns are shooting out there. Thanks!
« Last Edit: March 25, 2021, 09:02:29 PM by Raincast »

Offline Westside88

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1175
  • Location: Western Wa
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2021, 09:03:05 PM »
15 year old step-daughter shoots 6.5 Creedmoor well. They’re really popular now, so lots of choices in rifles.

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20872
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2021, 09:05:33 PM »
7mm 08 and 6.5 creed....then i'd suggest maybe a 25 06 but getting a little light imo.

Offline jrebel

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+24)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2008
  • Posts: 11322
  • Location: East Wenatchee
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2021, 09:06:08 PM »
No particular order...

.243 win
6.5 creedmoor
7-08

My wife started with the .243 and now shoots the 7-08.  Everyone in my family shots the 6.5 creed.  I would suggest the 6.5 creed or 7-08 over the .243 purely due to the heavier bullet choices.  Will allow you to hunt bear and elk where the .243 is a little lite in my opinion.

Offline MADMAX

  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 9210
  • Location: Kitsap
  • I like big bucks and I can not lie
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2021, 09:06:28 PM »
My daughter shoots a 270 very well
Small framed little gal
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Mark Twain


I Ain't Captain Walker.
I'm The Guy Who Carries Mr. Dead In His Pocket


What would life be without the thrill of the hunt ?

Offline Dan-o

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 18067
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2021, 09:08:06 PM »
Welcome to the site!

My daughter shoots a 7mm-08 (it's close to a 6.5 Creedmoor.....   someone will disagree.)..   She shot reduced recoil loads for a while when she was younger/smaller.

Personally, I think a 243 is a fine deer rifle......  especially with some of the modern bullets available.

Everybody has a favorite caliber, but 243 will kill any deer out there with a good shot.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a fine round.
There are lots of fine rounds out there.

If you are able to get someone to let you shoot a few rifles in the 243/7mm-08/6.5 Creedmoor range, you could assess your comfort level.   I dont know how to assess tolerance level without actually trying a few.    I'm a big dude, but I now guys a lot smaller than me who can tolerate a lot more recoil than I like.   

Just don't let anyone talk you into a bigger caliber than you want.    :-)

Happy hunting.

P.S.   A 7mm-08 uses the same case as a 243, but the neck is opened up to 7mm (about 28 caliber).   We opted for the 7mm-08 because I believe it's a better choice for elk and bears.
Member:   Yakstrakgutp (or whatever we are)
I love the BFRO!!!
I wonder how many people will touch their nose to their screen trying to read this...

Offline Jolten

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 843
  • Location: Yakima, WA
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2021, 09:18:30 PM »
I've got a .243, .308 and. 26 nosler. If you ever make it to the yakima area you're welcome to message me to try out the .243
The best equipment in the world is useless to the idiot who doesn't understand it.

Offline highside74

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 5159
  • Location: Eatonville wa
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2021, 09:19:32 PM »
I like 7mm08 because you can find 120gr-150gr rounds on the shelf and very low recoil. Put a muzzle break on and a kid could shoot it all day without a problem.

6.5 Creedmoor is very popular. Most off the shelf rounds are 120-143gr. Same recoil as the 7mm08

243 has no real upside to me. Very light bullets basically in the 90-100gr and mainly just a deer rifle. I know they have killed bigger animals but it just isn't recommended..

Offline wadu1

  • Grumpy
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 7246
  • Location: Tacoma
  • RMEF, DU, NRA, PFE, NWTF
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2021, 09:24:57 PM »
First of all "Welcome to the Site" also checkout the women's board here.
Boy do you have gone to the rabbit hole, just remember everyone has an opinion or two. Dan-o is right on find folks who have the calibers you may be interested in and go shoot them.
Best of luck, and ask questions  :tup:
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Offline Chesapeake

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 1045
  • Location: Washougal
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2021, 09:26:54 PM »
7mm-08 is a classic deer cartridge. It works well for elk and black bear as well.

I started both my boys with 7mm-08 and they still use them.
The smaller one started with the Hornady lite loads.
The Vortex 120ttsx rounds are good as well and lighter in recoil.

I prefer the 7mm-08 over the 6.5 creedmoor due to the selection of heavier tough bonded hunting bullets for the 7mm.


Offline Raincast

  • Greenhorn
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2020
  • Posts: 5
  • Location: Cle Elum
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2021, 09:44:10 PM »
Lots of great insight here, thanks for all the replies everyone!  :)

Offline GWP

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+26)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 1746
  • Location: Big Sandy-By Westport
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2021, 09:49:31 PM »
243 if fine. There is no substitute for shot placement no matter what you decide to shoot. Beyond that, 7X57 (or 275 Rigby, if you prefer) has killed everything from elephants to small game. Pretty comparable to a ‘light’ 270, 25.06, 270. Lots of capable enough cartridges out there.
Something you can find ammo for would be good. Hit Farm and Home downtown and see what they have on the shelf, and or what they might suggest.
If you get into hand loading, the next step in the ‘caliber addiction’, there are even more options for that 243 or any of the other ones.
Cuterebra are NOT cute!

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7590
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2021, 10:02:24 PM »
Look at the Savage 110 Storm in 7 mm 08.
You can adjust the gun to fit you comb height and length of pull.
Light recoil and lots of loads.


Good luck.
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Don’t Curse the Darkness.

Offline MountainWalk

  • "Pa Nevermissashot"
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3083
  • Location: Afognak, POW, Kodiak, Quilcene
  • High lead logger/ cutter
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2021, 10:06:05 PM »
30'06. Practice with Remington reduced loads and hunt with the regular stuff.
 An 8 year old boy, an eight year old girl and two non  hunting women all manage it nicely.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2021, 10:23:25 PM by MountainWalk »
The way that you wander, is the way that you choose
The day that you tarry, is the day that you lose

Offline hunter399

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8677
  • Location: In Your Hunting Spot
  • Groups: NRA RMEF
Re: Beginner Lady Hunting Calibers??
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2021, 10:06:28 PM »
My wife uses 243 ,she seems to like it. :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Bow mount trolling motors by CP
[Today at 07:18:04 AM]


KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Today at 06:40:45 AM]


SE raffle tags holder by trophyhunt
[Today at 06:25:08 AM]


Archery Elk Advice by PsoasHunter
[Yesterday at 11:29:00 PM]


Share your out of state experience by dvolmer
[Yesterday at 11:05:49 PM]


Baker Lake Sockeye 2025 by RB
[Yesterday at 09:21:30 PM]


Riffe Lake by TeacherMan
[Yesterday at 08:50:21 PM]


A question for any FFL holders on here by dreadi
[Yesterday at 07:28:54 PM]


Best/Preferred Scouting App by MuleyTracksWA
[Yesterday at 06:59:55 PM]


Wolf documentary PBS by Fidelk
[Yesterday at 06:17:50 PM]


Montana Breaks Elk by Magnum_Willys
[Yesterday at 05:45:34 PM]


MA-10 Coho by metlhead
[Yesterday at 03:32:38 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal