Hate to admit it, but it's true.......I flinch, and have to actually talk myselt out of flinching each and every shot, especially if there's fur in the scope! Even if not a flinch, an anxiety sort of thing just before the shot breaks............It sucks! Worse than sucks, but stronger words are probably not permitted here!
Never used to be that way untill I got scoped a couple times by shooting light weight magnums with the same technique that I used to shoot benchrest........basically free recoil and light hold on the gun.
I've never been the same since, and I am now 5'11" and 260 lbs. Still bleed the same as everyone else though, and can't see crud through the scope when it's covered with blood!
Ok, OK, OK.......enough with all that "my name is Shane and I flinch" BS.
Seriously, I can shoot my 11 lb - 6.5-284 all day and not feel like I need a heavier gun or a muzzle break. That's 15 ft-lbs free recoil energy according to Sierra's recoil calculator. I still shoot mostly free recoil, and it kicks enough that I usually can't spot my own shots, but it doesn't aggravate my condition!!
Ballistically it's good on deer to 900 yds and elk to 600/700 at higher altitudes with proper broadside shot placement.
My Dads' old 270 featherweight is basically the same thing when it comes to ballistics, but it's got a steel buttplate and maybe only weighs 8# with scope. I can say for fact, it just plain hurts. 3 shots in a row and I am done! Throw the **** thing in the dirt and drive over it!
Point being, good recoil pads and some weight and decent stock designs help alot. I watched a couple of young boys shoot a heavy 260 really really well just last month. They were banging steel dead center over and over again out to 700 yds with help from spotters calling wind.
My kids are all grown, but I've got some grandsons coming of shooting age here in a few years.
If I were going to buy a LR big game rifle for my daughter or a grandson, it would be 243, 260, 6.5-284, maybe 270 or 7mm-08 if they appeared recoil insensive, and ensure it's heavy enough to absorb some shock, light enough they dont feel encumbered by carrying it and put a decent pachmayer or limbsaver pad on it.
Take my word if you will; a flinch is a terrible thing to have. I wouldn't wish it on any shooter, especially my kin.
Sorry to Ramble, just wanted to get that out. There's nothing better than getting kids involved with LR hunting and shooting. We as mentors gotta remember not to scare them away from it at the same time. We can all probably remember being young, especially teen years; just because it hurt didn't mean we said anything, but that pain can stick and cause issues for years down the road.
Best of Luck to you and your daughter.
