Caliber for the Wife

[DwarvenChef]

Ugh it never ends...

My wife "mentioned" she would like to go out pig hunting with me and asked what Cal would suit her best... I hate questions like this as I tend to put to much thinking into it...

I like big slow pushers more than hard slappers when it comes to recoil, So most of what I have she would not even want to shoot, her words.

Any ladies out there have advice on roulds and rifle styles that worked for you when you started out? She has long arms and is rail thin, 11 years in the Army didn't have any luck stacking on any pounds ether She's just a slight framed lady. For that reason I'm worryed about getting her something that would bite her to much and she wouldn't want to go hunting any more

At the moment and for many more years... I'll be stuck in central CA so I'm looking for Pig and Deer ability. Not to heavy, but she doesn't back away from a weight issue. She's not into hunting with a handgun so I'm safe from her taking any (more) of my guns

Any help PLEASE!!!

 

[Old Judge Creek]

Along with several friends I hunted Hunter Ligget with 30-30s for years. It'll get the job done.

 

[c.r.]

Absolutely nothing wrong wih Creek's suggestion of the 30-30.

I am going to mention the 7mm-08. You can find it in Remington's model 700, SPS for a reasonable amount. stainless and matte black. very easy on the shoulder. this cartridge has really caught on in the last few years and i've had no difficulties finding ammo for it.

just something to consider.

~c.r.

 

[Canazes9]

My wife is 5'2", 110, she shoots my Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 well. The 6.8 spc in a compact would seem to be a good choice is she's very recoil sensitive. I have no personal exp w/ the 6.8 spc, but it has a lot of fans for the kind of work your suggesting.

David

 

[Bigboreshooter]

Another vote for the 7mm-08. It kicks like a 243 (in a standard weight rifle) and has the range and energy of a 270.

I bought one for my wife years ago and she shoots it just fine.

 

[Old Judge Creek]

My local SASS club used to have a l'il ol eleven yeard old girl (Sedona Sue) that brung her daddy's big ol 45-70 buffalo gun to the long range line and proceded to set grown men to blushing from embarrassment.

Daddy simply taught her how to properly handle recoil. I think most women can handle the recoil of most common caibers used in North America.

I agree that the 7mm-08 would be an excellent choice.

 

[mr surveyor]

I wouldn't hesitate to suggest a .243, but I'm sure there are a lot of non-believers. In the last couple of years I've seen no less than a dozen pigs dropped dead in their tracks, anywhere between 75 and 325 yards, and only 2-3 either missed or non-kill hits escape. An M77 MkII in .243 will definately take pigs.

surv

 

[Old Judge Creek]

I wouldn't hesitate to suggest a .243, but I'm sure there are a lot of non-believers. In the last couple of years I've seen no less than a dozen pigs dropped dead in their tracks, anywhere between 75 and 325 yards, and only 2-3 either missed or non-kill hits escape. An M77 MkII in .243 will definately take pigs.

surv

Mr Surveyor, I've lived in / hunted hogs in Eastern Tennessee/Georgia, Texas and Central California. Those wild pigs are an entirely different breed. These are mixed descendants of the with Russian brought here during the 18th and 19th Century by :roll: Russians. Typically they're more than twice the size (and twice as mean) as anything I've ever seen east of the great divide.

I watched a friend of mine shoot a medium sized pig with a 243 loaded with a 100 (or 110?) grain bullet. Big mistake!

The pig came after him, he jumped into the of his truck and put 3 more into the hog as it proceeded to destroy his new Chevy.

One of the guys with us in another truck, finally stopped the rage with his rifle - a 280 Remington.

I'm a huge 243 fan, but NOT on California hogs.

And FWIW, after seeing that, I shelved that 30-30 and went to a 270 (a superb wild pig caliber out here) and then to a 47-70 (more "stomp'em" but a lot less range - and more fun IMO).

 

[mr surveyor]

just stating facts from personal experience...your's is obviously different

surv

 

[DwarvenChef]

Thanks for all the posts so far

My wife is 120(soaking wet) and 5'10.

A 270, older winchester, is available and we are going to do a test run. I think it's a bit big for her I think but we shall see.

She's used to the M-16A2 so I have been looking for compact rifle based on the 308 case, I thik it would be a good match. I've also mentioned posable lever actions... see what happens...

 

[Jeff Quinn]

Just about any caliber will do, if the shot is placed correctly. Wives are really hard to shut up, but not particularly hard to kill. However, check the legalities of doing so. Some jurisdictions prohibit, or at least discourage wife killing.

 

[wwb]

My recommendation (as posted by others) would be either a .30-30 lever gun or an AR in 6.8 SPC. Short, light, and with adequate punch.

The .30-30 recoil is manageable, even by very small people, and the AR in 6.8 has even less recoil.

 

[Silent Sam]

How big are the pigs and how are you hunting them?

 

[DwarvenChef]

How big are the pigs and how are you hunting them?

avg seems to be 150 to 250 where I hunt. I use a 375jdj Contender or a 6.5tcu... However I have been out of the hunting action long enough to find that I'm in a Lead Free zone... So I have to reavaluate my hunting loads to all copper bullets. Being a handgun hunter puts a cripm in velocity at target, Barnes TSX's tend to want to be pushed a bit faster than my handguns can afely push...

This is not as much a problem for my wife as she wants a rifle. I can't even come close to affording any of the AR's out there. Looking for a sporterised battle rifle or other used system in good shape.

 

[gig]

We have taken several hogs with the 6.8 using the mini 14 version. Its light and has mild recoil.
Most all the hogs have been 200lbs or smaller, don't know what it would do to that one unexpected big-daddy.
A hunting buddy uses the 243 which has been very effective.

One might consider the auto's to help control recoil. I would suggest either the mini 6.8 as mentioned above or a Browning BAR which can be had in many calibers.

A very nice gun for hog hunting is the new FNAR in 308. It has the same BAR action with mild recoil; but a removalable mag which can be replaced in the rifle much faster than reloading the standard BAR.

We have taken several hogs with the 223, so if you are going to be around with a larger cal, then that might be a good place to start.
(Kind of depends on if you want to keep her goin' or scare her off.)

 

[308dave]

6.8 SPC. The recoil on my mini 6.8 is next to nothing, and it's a light, compact rifle that's easy to carry. Have no experience with hogs, though, they don't like the weather this far north apparently.

 

[Silent Sam]

Having to be lead free kind of complicates things, at least cost wise.

 

[huntme]

my wife has used a 30-06 for about 10 years,she loves it,my suggestion is to make sure a gun smith shortens the stock,and put on a good kickpad on it.we elk hunt,deer hunt every year,she has a bushnel elite 3-9-40 scope on it,she loves this rifle.just a suggestion. :mrgreen:

 

[DwarvenChef]

Cost is a huge factor in what we get. As well as keeping to a factory round. Lead free bullets have to be pushed a bit faster than lead to work well. Not a problem with my Bisley but Barnes and other Copper bullet makers are not making many low velocity bullets.

 

[6mmsl]

If you are going the direction of .270 why not .308?

good shooting-Steve