Rifle/cartridge choice for daughter

[badbull]

Stick with the LH rifle…7mm-08 will do the job.

 

[rbTanzan]

What is the weight of the various rifles and their LOP, as many have mentioned? Lightweight is nice when walking up and down mountains.

Also, what is their accuracy? If one of the rifles puts out lots of 1/2" pairs and triplets but also flyers at 1.5" to 2.5" and another is more consistent at 1.0" I would go with consistent.
Confidence in putting the bullet where one looks is important.

Haven't seen mention of Hammer bullets, so I'll add that. The monos are great for both close shots and far shots. There is no real hunting difference between 0.277" and 0.284", bullet integrity is more important.

And above all, enjoy the time with a daughter. Relaxed, loving memories will be cherished. The years will pass quickly.

 

[xsn10s]

I have an opportunity to take my 15 year old daughter on a private land elk hunt this fall. Trying to decide what is the best combo to carry. Here are the current setups. Obviously scopes can be swapped and different loads developed.

Ruger american LH 7mm08 18" barrel with 2-7x32 vortex viper shooting 139gr interbond. Fast handling, but roughest action and least energy.

Remington 700 bdl lh 270 with older Redfield 3-9x40 shooting 140 gr Barnes. It was my Dad's gun. She deer hunts with his 788 in 6mm.

Semi custom 35 Whelen with 24" barrel with vari x iii 3-9x40 shooting a 225-250 cup and core. A little heavy to tote but makes a big hole.

Tikka t3x lite roughtech with 24" fluted barrel and husqumaw 5-20 scope probably shooting 162 gr eldx. Just got 400 of those eldx. Haven't worked up load yet.

She shoots left handed and the area to be hunted has a lot of brush and cedars and some canyons. Quick sub 200 yard shots are a strong possibility. My initial thoughts are for her to carry the ruger american and shooting stix and keep the tikka cased in case a longer shot presents itself.

How did she like your Dad's 270 Win? How did those Barnes shoot? The 7-08 is a fine choice. Secretly I was hoping she took your Dad's rifle. But my original post stands. Whichever one she chooses, they'll all work and only hits count. Good luck to both of you!!!

 

[Terry Scott]

Calling 4 life is right on
Also coach her when the time comes to get her best shot angle
Women take instructions better than men so calm correct instructions as the shot is developing goes a long way
All of the rifles will do a fine job with correct shot placement making it a more rewarding experience for her

 

[JackASimms]

Start her running the bolt, like, sitting in a rocking chair while she's watching TV just cycling the bolt constantly.

Run that thing so it's like glass, and have her dry fire with it, with snap caps, and practice so she can cycle the bolt immediately and effectively without having to lower the gun.

Why, well, if some of those combos are perhaps not perfect elk droppers, fast follow up shots are wise.

Teach her not to shoot, then poke her head up and look to see what she hit, but rather to shoot, cycle the bolt while under recoil to then settle back down on the stock looking through the scope on the animal again prepared to send it.

Can't believe how many people I've seen and how much you see in videos, people that can't cycle their bolt cleanly, and how many shoot, look around, ask "did I hit it," then eventually get to cycling the bolt to load another round... even people with incredibly expensive guns

Shoot, cycle bolt while under recoil, fall back on target, shoot

Rinse and repeat, I'm not saying you need to destroy all the meat, if the first shot was spot on, maybe the next will all be at the upper neck as insurance shots, whatever, but at least you end up prepared for another shot.

If she can do that, she's ready for whatever, she can competently handle the gun effectively and efficiently, I'd trust her regardless which of your calibers she had.

Plus one. New to the board and enjoy reading for content. Am new(er) to shooting, took a class and this stuck with me for my first elk hunt when i needed a fast follow up. My 16yo spends time doing the same….maybe he will hit the NM draw NEXT year.

 

[WoodPecker Hunter]

My pick from your list is the 7-08 with the Horn 139 gr Interbond .

 

[bluegrassdan]

I have an opportunity to take my 15 year old daughter on a private land elk hunt this fall. Trying to decide what is the best combo to carry. Here are the current setups. Obviously scopes can be swapped and different loads developed.

Ruger american LH 7mm08 18" barrel with 2-7x32 vortex viper shooting 139gr interbond. Fast handling, but roughest action and least energy.

Remington 700 bdl lh 270 with older Redfield 3-9x40 shooting 140 gr Barnes. It was my Dad's gun. She deer hunts with his 788 in 6mm.

Semi custom 35 Whelen with 24" barrel with vari x iii 3-9x40 shooting a 225-250 cup and core. A little heavy to tote but makes a big hole.

Tikka t3x lite roughtech with 24" fluted barrel and husqumaw 5-20 scope probably shooting 162 gr eldx. Just got 400 of those eldx. Haven't worked up load yet.

She shoots left handed and the area to be hunted has a lot of brush and cedars and some canyons. Quick sub 200 yard shots are a strong possibility. My initial thoughts are for her to carry the ruger american and shooting stix and keep the tikka cased in case a longer shot presents itself.

I have an opportunity to take my 15 year old daughter on a private land elk hunt this fall. Trying to decide what is the best combo to carry. Here are the current setups. Obviously scopes can be swapped and different loads developed.

Ruger american LH 7mm08 18" barrel with 2-7x32 vortex viper shooting 139gr interbond. Fast handling, but roughest action and least energy.

Remington 700 bdl lh 270 with older Redfield 3-9x40 shooting 140 gr Barnes. It was my Dad's gun. She deer hunts with his 788 in 6mm.

Semi custom 35 Whelen with 24" barrel with vari x iii 3-9x40 shooting a 225-250 cup and core. A little heavy to tote but makes a big hole.

Tikka t3x lite roughtech with 24" fluted barrel and husqumaw 5-20 scope probably shooting 162 gr eldx. Just got 400 of those eldx. Haven't worked up load yet.

She shoots left handed and the area to be hunted has a lot of brush and cedars and some canyons. Quick sub 200 yard shots are a strong possibility. My initial thoughts are for her to carry the ruger american and shooting stix and keep the tikka cased in case a longer shot presents itself.

I have a Left handed Remington long action that currently wears a 338 Edge barrel. If you want to buy the action and If you can get your hands on a 7mm or 6.5mm barrel in the contour you think is the right balance,I would be willing fit and chamber it for free (I have a few reamers to choose from in the shop)so she has a left handed rifle to hunt with. Anything to help a young hunter be successful. I think a 6.5x284 or .260, or a straight .284 will work great on a long action, allow you to take advantage of the heavier bullets.

 

[rbTanzan]

Left handed Remington long action that currently wears a 338 Edge barrel.

Now that is an elk cartridge.
.338" bullets are great for heavier animals.
And probably not much of a step up from someone who shoots 50 rounds of 12 gauge.

But the rifle might be a tad heavy trudging up and down the ridges.

 

[xsn10s]

IMO what the OP has will do just fine. No need to get anything else for his 15 year old daughter.

 

[rbTanzan]

IMO what the OP has will do just fine. No need to get anything else for his 15 year old daughter.

agreed.

 

[Buckys]

Probably whichever one she shoots and likes the best. That would be my suggestion. The reason is they'll all work. So whichever one she has the most confidence in would be the best choice.

Exactly ^^^

If you are able to broaden your projectile options, Accubonds are always a good choice.

I would also consider the Hammer Hunters. The HH might just be the solution for the 7mm08

Hammer Hunter Load Data, (See page 1, Post 8)

OK, folks. Steve at Hammer Bullets has been getting requests for load data on Hammer Hunter bullets. There is an extensive spreadsheet for Absolute Hammer Load Data developed and shared by members on this Forum. Data for Hammer Hunters is on the Hammertime Forum, but it has not been placed...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[FlyGuy11]

I have an opportunity to take my 15 year old daughter on a private land elk hunt this fall. Trying to decide what is the best combo to carry. Here are the current setups. Obviously scopes can be swapped and different loads developed.

Ruger american LH 7mm08 18" barrel with 2-7x32 vortex viper shooting 139gr interbond. Fast handling, but roughest action and least energy.

Remington 700 bdl lh 270 with older Redfield 3-9x40 shooting 140 gr Barnes. It was my Dad's gun. She deer hunts with his 788 in 6mm.

Semi custom 35 Whelen with 24" barrel with vari x iii 3-9x40 shooting a 225-250 cup and core. A little heavy to tote but makes a big hole.

Tikka t3x lite roughtech with 24" fluted barrel and husqumaw 5-20 scope probably shooting 162 gr eldx. Just got 400 of those eldx. Haven't worked up load yet.

She shoots left handed and the area to be hunted has a lot of brush and cedars and some canyons. Quick sub 200 yard shots are a strong possibility. My initial thoughts are for her to carry the ruger american and shooting stix and keep the tikka cased in case a longer shot presents itself.

Whichever rifle fits her best and have a Terminator T2 brake installed; the recoil reduction is amazing. I've had my daughter shooting a Bergara B-14 chambered 6.5 PRC hand-loaded to the max load since she was 10 and she is now 13 with this setup and she loves it.

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

Let her use whichever rifle she likes the feel of best. In my experience girls aren't so sensitive to recoil as long as the rifle they're using suits them.

 

[Lee Goodwin]

I'd go 270 on that