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My new wife has expressed a desire to learn how to target shoot with the intended end result that she'd like to go hunting, etc. she wants, as she puts it 'a really cool rifle that i can learn on that will give me some room to grow, too!' she's 4'11" and weighs 96 lbs, so, I need something that's not going to knock her into the dirt, but she specifically said she DIDN'T want a .22 (she's been watching the military shows and specials about snipers while I'm at work ) so, does anyone have any good suggestions? I tried to get her to fire the nagant m44 I have, but after seeing the bruising on my shoulder after a day at the range, she was less than sanguine about it.

Any AR variant with an adjustable stock and good iron sights would work. However, you really can't beat a .22 for learning the fundamentals.

Here is my wife's carbine. She is about 5'6" and has a girlish figure:


It is very lightweight, has very little recoil, and is plenty of rifle for most applications from plinking to hunting small to medium thin-skinned game.

She likes it.

My wife is 4'10" and petite. She absolutely loves shooting my CZ527 in .223rem. Its bolt action, accurate, fits her well and very tame recoil. I think they go for around $700.

Remington Model Seven.

For a bolt action the "youth" model of the offerings from any of the major rifle makers in .243 would be an excellent choice for a small woman. Also the suggestion of an AR15 carbine with adjustable stock in .223 or any of the other calibers they are available in.

The advise to start her with a .22 is spot on.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Hey TAM I couldn't help noticing that BIG claw hammer in the pic. Is that for when it doesn't fit?

I know she thinks that a .22 isn't enough gun, but it really is to start out on rifle.

She'll be able to put at least 10x as much ammo downrange for the same cost and that's what its about, correct?

a .22lr rifle at 25 and 50 yards can be quite the challenge with irons if you're a newbie rifle shooter, and will teach you the rifle fundamentals much quicker than a larger gun will (again, due to the ability to send a lot more lead down range for cheap)

Thank y'all - I'm going to show her your responses when she gets home. maybe I can deflect her into a .22 for starters.

RRA 9mm. Im sure some is ginna complain about no rifle should ever shoot a 9mm rnd. Blah blah blah

I would get her a .223 AR plus a .22LR adapter - or dedicated upper
AR with adjustable stock is hard to beat for small people.

Alternately, a Mini-14 plus .22 adapter.

If she expects to hunt deer, you might want to look at a bolt gun in .243 or .270.
You can get a Stevens 200 in .270 at Academy for under $250.

like others have said; 22 to start and then you need to figure out what she wants to hunt and then attempt to buy a caliber that will cover it. From what I have seen, most manufactures sell "youth" sized 243's that will work fine for deer, hogs and varmints. If she wants to go to larger game, I know Weatherby's youth rifles also come in 308 which should cover about anything you would hunt in Texas.

You could also look up how to measure length of pull for a rifle and measure your wife's arms to see what she needs. If her arms are long enough, you may not even need to buy a "youth" sized rifle.

Rex B wrote:I would get her a .223 AR plus a .22LR adapter - or dedicated upper
AR with adjustable stock is hard to beat for small people.

Alternately, a Mini-14 plus .22 adapter.

If she expects to hunt deer, you might want to look at a bolt gun in .243 or .270.
You can get a Stevens 200 in .270 at Academy for under $250.

im with this fella ... an AR with a .22 upper or kit . she can pump out the .22 while learning the rifle and you will both love it . sounds like she dont wanna girlie gun but a good .22 will never go to waste and it will be down right fun . and shooting a 5.56/ .223 isnt a big deal for a woman if she's into .

if your going bolt gun id say .243 /. only hands on i have with a .270 is my buddies rem 700 and i has much more felt recoil than my .308 tactical rem 700
go figure ..

rcasady wrote:

Rex B wrote:I would get her a .223 AR plus a .22LR adapter - or dedicated upper
AR with adjustable stock is hard to beat for small people.

Alternately, a Mini-14 plus .22 adapter.

If she expects to hunt deer, you might want to look at a bolt gun in .243 or .270.
You can get a Stevens 200 in .270 at Academy for under $250.

im with this fella ... an AR with a .22 upper or kit . she can pump out the .22 while learning the rifle and you will both love it . sounds like she dont wanna girlie gun but a good .22 will never go to waste and it will be down right fun . and shooting a 5.56/ .223 isnt a big deal for a woman if she's into .

if your going bolt gun id say .243 /. only hands on i have with a .270 is my buddies rem 700 and i has much more felt recoil than my .308 tactical rem 700
go figure ..

Weight of the firearm has much to do with felt recoil. Heavier guns seem to recoil less.

1 more vote for an AR varient plus a 22lr (I love my CMMG conversion have over 6k rounds through it in 2 months with only 5 feed problems) I suggest Carbine barrel upper and collapsible stock on lower but if she is enamored by the sniper shows get one of the varment/prairie dog shooters with 24in bull barrel and free float handguard or a National Match like they shoot in Hi-power at camp perry.

223 might be a little light for deer but I know several hunters who use it exclusively. Plus you can buy a 300 AAC Blackout upper and have enough gun for any game found in Texas.