Best hunting rifle for women?

[foxdropper]

All the advice in the world means nothing if you havnt tried it ma’am .I suggest you get to a decent gun shop and put a few to your shoulder .Everyone’s opinion will be based on what they use personally or aspire to but definitely not what will most suit you .Most ,not all factory models will shoot just fine out the box so it really is just personal choice .

 

[Fair Hill]

there better things to write than just buy something that'll kill with one well placed shot.

Which by the way, nobody wrote.

 

[old keeper]

I second an earlier post suggesting a trip from Wilts to Somerset to visit Steve Beaty at Ivythiorn on the Somerset levels. You'll get honest sound advice with no sales pressure. There's a wide range of rifles and a range to try them on.
If you google Ivythorn Guns for sale, you could see what he has.

 

[User00033]

@Mrs Dama dama…

My wife regularly shoots deer and vermin with her various different rifles, mostly .308 Win. She is 5’4” short, fairly stocky and strong.

She’s sat next to me now and says she doesn’t notice the recoil at all and that all this talk of women being recoil sensitive by default is bollocks. Just get a rifle with a nice straight buttstock and make sure it fits. And ignore old men that assume a woman needs a “youth” rifle.

Comb height, length of pull and grip type will determine what fits you best and getting it right will make all the difference. Try fitting your rifle in all positions - prone, sitting, standing with sticks and offhand. You need a good compromise.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Substitute Blaser for Milk Tray and mission accomplished!

K

 

[Morkai]

Which by the way, nobody wrote.

Sorry "one that is more than capable of killing the quarry with one well placed shot"

 

[dropmdead]

When the other half was wanting to experience and make a decision, we went to our rfd who has a range out to over 200 yards.
She got to try everything from 22lr up to 300wm.
She settled on a 6.5x55 as a good all round feeling, and knowing that it would cover up to reds in Scotland

If you have the opportunity to try different rifles of a cartridge that suits your expected shooting situation (be it mainly lowland reds, or roe etc), and make a decision.
Try them in different positions (off sticks, bipod, freehand etc).
It's not a cheap experience to get wrong, so try to gain as much hands on experience as possible.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I see the mention of hot-footing it to a good gun shop which although commendable is unlikely to equal the experience to be had if joining a good and friendly rifle club where the membership are certain to encourage having a go with a variety in a fowling pieces of a variety of chamberings.

K

 

[Mrs Dama dama]

Thank you all for the advice, based on that I will get on with my research/more practice and let you know my final decision soon (hopefully)

 

[willie_gunn]

Over the years we have had several women clients come out, some with their own rifles and others making use of the "estate rifle" clause. They all shot exceptionally well, regardless of rifle or calibre used.

So I would tend to side with those who say find a rifle that fits you, that appeals to you, and that is in a calibre you are comfortable shooting. A .243 is certainly very sweet to shoot, but perhaps a 6.5x55 or .308 might prove more versatile in the long run, particularly given the debate around the need to use non-toxic.

Personally I wouldn't get too hung up on the decision of wood vs synthetic, stainless vs blued steel, etc unless rifle aesthetics are particularly important to you. A lot of rifles seem to be designed to appeal more to the person looking at them than the person shooting them!

The advice from @Alantoo is spot on - go to a gun shop (or two) that specialises in rifles and have play with a few. You will likely find one that ticks most of the boxes. Remember, also, that your scope is likely to take up a large part of your budget, so factor that in when it comes to what you are prepared to spend on the rifle.

 

[nick.308]

my mum had a tikka t3. Its a great ladies gun because the bolt action is so light and easy.

 

[MarinePMI]

Well, this thread certainly took off in a hurry.

To the OP (@Mrs Dama dama ), I think you are on the right path. Many here have given opinions and advice, some helpful, some...trying to be helpful.

First the rifle:

Without naming any particular brand, this will depend on your stature. If you're of the petite build, than a youth model would probably be best. If you're of the more sturdy or taller build, than many more options in standard LOP (length of pull) stocks will be available to you. Since you said you were intending to stalk deer with this rifle, you'd be wise to think about how heavy the rifle will be, understanding that the lighter it gets, the more recoil you will feel. It's always a trade off. But you also need to decide how you're going to stalk. Are you expecting to make a lot of offhand shots, or are you planning to use shooting sticks or bipod? If both, which will the terrain/area you hunt, favor? These things will drive you towards your answer.

As to the caliber:

It's a bottomless pit of arguments about shot placement, retained energy, recoil, flat trajectories and other needlessly argued, phallic compared, bulls**t. IMHO, just pick one you can manage well, one you can get factory ammunition (if you don't reload yet) and is suitable for the game you intend to stalk. If you plan to also hunt/stalk other quarry (like fox and whatnot), that is a consideration as well, though as always it'll be a compromise of sorts. You decide where you may or may not compromise.

Here in the US we have a plethora of female hunters/shooters, which has grown in excess of all other hunting/shooting demographics the last decade or so. So much so, that I believe there are several forums dedicated just for that (female only hunting forums/sub-forums). You may want to consider searching some of those out as well (not to dissuade you from frequenting this site in any way). Sometimes, IME, guys see a female asking for help and end up clobbering her with "help". A female forum allows the male ego to be left out, and women can speak openly and honestly about what does, and does not work, for the female hunters/shooters (guns, clothing, etc.). I have been an instructor, both in the military as a job, and as a civilian within our local club, for the past 25+ years, and it pains me when I see all the "help" being offered when a new female shooter shows up, leaving them even more confused or overwhelmed with decisions than when they originally asked the question. You have it right. Do your research, and make your decision.

As mentioned above, find a reputable and knowledgeable vendor (or two) that you can trust and who can give you good advice. Ask to test fire examples of the recommendations if possible. Weigh your options, but also understand, that in many cases the differences can be minute. Don't waste your time on those type of things and focus on the aforementioned things (does it fit you? Does the cartridge do the intended job well? Is it something I can easily afford to feed? Is it something I can easily manage, both on the shoulder, as well as slung across the back?).

JMTCW from an older guy that has seen many of young (and older) lady take that first step into this world.


For the Forum Mods: It may very well be worth setting up a private, female only, sub-forum that can only be viewed and accessed by those members. A comfortable, non-intimidating place for women to share thoughts and experiences in hunting, without the help from everyone else (unless they ask in the other open forums). On "that other site" that I mod on, we have the same thing for LE/military members; and it works well. Just a thought...

 

[alberta boy]

Both of my daughters use 30/06s . The rifles fit them however , so they have no problem with recoil . I've never really differentiated between rifles for men and women . We should all use a rifle that fits and that's chambered in a cartridge capable of taking the game in question cleanly . That pretty much covers it . Good luck to the OP , let us know what you decide on ............. and then we can all argue about it ...... just kidding .

AB

 

[Foxyboy43]

Same as a rifle for a man, the one that fits your statue best and you can use comfortably

Gosh - Mrs DD (!) has a “statue”, poor Mr DD!!

 

[25 Sharps]

I see the mention of hot-footing it to a good gun shop which although commendable is unlikely to equal the experience to be had if joining a good and friendly rifle club where the membership are certain to encourage having a go with a variety in a fowling pieces of a variety of chamberings.

K

This is good advice, I joined a club just before I got my first CFs, one of the best things I’ve done!

Our club meets up at Bisley once a month, we have guest days but at the moment (as of last time I was there) the NRA were only allowing club members due to COVID.

 

[25 Sharps]

I think there's still too much uncertainty regarding the legality of the .243, when lead free ammunition becomes obligatory, so unless someone only intends to use it for foxing, or muntjac, & Chinese Water Deer, I'd be suggesting something that won't be effected by any new ruling.

Outside of that, pick from any of the established brands, in a rifle that feels comfortable to shoulder, and isn't too heavy.

And for calibre, something you're comfortable to shoot should do what you need it to, so easy availability, of sensibly priced ammunition, may be a consideration.

Only if you shoot in Scotland And even then fitted with a fast twist to shoot 100 gr lead free bullets it will still be perfectly legal
!

 

[gonzo]

My own 2p worth....
Best rifle for a woman, exactly the same as for a man.

Go for a very common calibre. As few of us are fortunate to have a gunshop locally with large selections of calibres/bullets/makes of ammo. So stick to the most common.
If recoil is a concern, use a moderator. That will soften it considerably, especially for a lighter build of rifle. 308win with a light sporting rifle can be vicious. Add a moderator, it's a pussy cat.
Other than that, something that is comforable, fits you and you can carry for an extended period.
Including balance, when on a sling. As it is tiring constantly trying to keep a rig on your shoulder and not slip backwards and point at some bugger behind you. (Something which both my deer rifles fail on.)

A friend recently got her first deer gun, a Tikka T3. And it ticks the above boxes for her.

 

[Lateral]

Only if you shoot in Scotland And even then fitted with a fast twist to shoot 100 gr lead free bullets it will still be perfectly legal
!

Given that a very high % of "off the shelf" .243's will be 1:10, the chances of them stabilising a 100gr lead free, is pretty remote, and I doubt the viability for most owners to re-barrel to a faster twist !

I can't see rifle manufacturers switching to a faster twist, for what is, in the great scheme of things, a very small market.

I think a 6.5, or bigger, far more sensible, but that's just my opinion, to prevent any hassles in the future !

 

[308tikka]

I think there's still too much uncertainty regarding the legality of the .243, when lead free ammunition becomes obligatory, so unless someone only intends to use it for foxing, or muntjac, & Chinese Water Deer, I'd be suggesting something that won't be effected by any new ruling.

Outside of that, pick from any of the established brands, in a rifle that feels comfortable to shoulder, and isn't too heavy.

And for calibre, something you're comfortable to shoot should do what you need it to, so easy availability, of sensibly priced ammunition, may be a consideration.

Do you repeat what others state without thinking? 243 or any normal twist 6mm will be perfectly fine in the entirety of the UK for deer, except Scotland IF there is a legal requirement to shoot lead free. At present this is a game dealer association issue only.

The use of 80/85/90/95 gn lead free projectiles in 243 or 6mm will be more than adequate in Eng/Wal/NI.

That it should also be legal in Sco may well be addressed for the benefit of effective deer management.

 

[Ttocs]

I was very relieved, after having read the thread title, to discover you’re not looking for a hunting rifle for women but a woman’s hunting rifle - phew!