Looking for a rifle for my wife that is capable of taking down elk and black bear.
Keeping in mind recoil and weight, what y’all think for caliber?
My thoughts either 308 or 6.5prc.
Input appreciated!
Having got a lot of girls shooting, it really depends on her. How does she take recoil, her build had a great deal to do with this. If she is 5' nothing and 100lbs soaking wet with rocks in her pockets handing her something like a 3006 or even 308 is likely to have it be a one shot and done type deal.
We have a lunch deal almost monthly where the inlaws, and kids come out, kids being my boy and his wife to be. My boy is short, roughly 5'3" but built like a fire plug, he is thick and all muscle. His wife to be (October) is 5' nothing and that 100lbs, she is an itty bitty thing. We shoot clays in the back yard when they are out. I have several 20's, a pump, a gas gun, and an Auto 5, She hates the pump, is OK with the Auto 5 and can shoot the 1100 all day, I have a Tri-Star that is my loner shotgun, there is very different recoil between each. She likes the 1100 but it does not fit her like the youth Tristar I have, the Auto 5 is a bit harsh, and she hates the pump, too much kick.
This tells us that it is not only what it is shooting, but what it is that comes into play. Shooting an auto 5 set for heavy loads is super easy, there is so little recoil, the gun will not cycle, but a 12 or 16 set that way is a great way for recoil sensitive people to ease into this sport.
Bear and Elk, for an ethical hunt you are going to need something more meaty over the 243, generally one of the suggested youth cartridges.
IMHO you need to get her some trigger time behind the rifles and see what she likes.
I have one more story, a shot gun story again.
My wife and I shoot sporting clays a bit....at least before covid.
She wanted a "good" shotgun, and one that fit her. She was shooting an 1100 and it was just too long and I did not want to cut down something vintage. She bought the "top of the line" automatic, a benelli....and she hated everything about it. The magazine spring was too stiff for her to get the shells in, the lifter would bite her thumb, she hated the "feel" of the inertia system. She sold it before the season was over. It went back to Benelli twice and nothing worked. She bought a weatherby, and tristar with some money left over with the sale, both turk guns and she loves that SA08.
Guess what I am saying you can't pick for her, you need to let her pick, offer suggestions but only she can make that choice.