women/youth gun suggestion

[muley]

My sister's ex-husband took her .243 with him. I loaned her one to antelope hunt with because I didn't realize she didn't have a rifle anymore. I am thinking of getting her a good, but affordable rifle for Christmas. She shoots once in a blue moon, but likes to antelope hunt once in a while. She has a couple young kids. The oldest is 6, so it would be a while, but I would like something they could learn on too. I am thinking a .243 like a savage axis, ruger American, marlin xs7 or something like that. I would probably spend $200-300. Any thoughts? She needs something that would be reasonably accurate. She is a good shot, but I don't have a lot to spend on it.

 

[Doublezranch]

My 12 year old son has shot a 7mm-08 weatherby youth model for a couple of years now. He was never afraid of the recoil or the noise, and shoots it very well. The nice thing about the youth weatherby is that it comes with 2 stocks. A youth stock, and a compact stock. The gun is pictured in the thread "Had a awesome day". The only problem is now he is shooting a 270 wsm and the odd 8 will have to wait until my 9 year old gets enough courage to pull the giggle button. . The best part of the youth model weatherby is price........$245. You get your choice of 243, 7mm-08, or 308 respectively.

 

[muley]

Thanks. That is a really good idea!

 

[Wyofax]

My 12 year old son has shot a 7mm-08 weatherby youth model for a couple of years now. He was never afraid of the recoil or the noise, and shoots it very well. The nice thing about the youth weatherby is that it comes with 2 stocks. A youth stock, and a compact stock. The gun is pictured in the thread "Had a awesome day". The only problem is now he is shooting a 270 wsm and the odd 8 will have to wait until my 9 year old gets enough courage to pull the giggle button. . The best part of the youth model weatherby is price........$245. You get your choice of 243, 7mm-08, or 308 respectively.

Ditto. Both my 12 & 14 year olds shoot the weatherby vanguard in 7mm-08 and love it. I started them on remington factory "managed recoil" loads. I found mine used at cabelas a couple years ago in Sidney.

 

[varmintH8R]

I can't speak to the Weatherby but I will vouch for 7-08 as a great youth caliber!

 

[pills]

Cant speak of the 7mm-08 but I bought my son a Ruger American 243 this year and he took his first antelope at 220yds last month. I have to say I was worried about the quality of the ruger but was pleasantly surprised. It is a solid gun and it has a nice trigger. I put a zeiss 3x9 on it and am very happy.
I wouldnt hesitate to do it again.

 

[Catfur]

In places where it's legal, a .220 Swift will poleaxe deer an antelope, with negligible recoil.

.243 Win and .244 Rem are nice too, but the recoil isn't completely negligible.