My young daughter enjoys spending time hunting and fishing with me and her older brothers. She has also been after me to take her hunting for western big game, specially elk. Up to now she has been using my wife’s cutdown .243 to deer hunt here in Texas, but it doesn’t have the knockdown power down range that a larger round may have. In short, little gal needs a bigger rifle to lug around the mountains. Would like suggestions for rounds and rifles… thanks in advance.

How old is she?
Big for her age?
How much recoil can she handle?
What's your budget?
Will it have a suppressor on it?
How far is she going to shoot?

7 Mag and 300 Win Mag are great elk calibers but heavy on the recoil.

My Christiansen Mesa in .300WM, without the suppressor, kicks incredibly little. And I'm not that big of a .300WM fan.

You could try the ancient, and according to some here - completely obsolete, .30-06, with 200gr. bullets even, although 180 will kill.

7X57 used to be a choice for ladies, not that much less power than the "old warhorse."

easy.

Sig cross 6.5 CM
light at 6.5lbs
adjustable LOP and comb
threaded for break or suppressor
folding stock and 18” barrel makes is very packable

my only complaint is two stage trigger, its a very good two stage trigger but it may take some extra teaching when they go back to a single stage trigger, that has no slack

Bobo makes some great points...but I HATE the 6.5 Gaymoor and feel you'd be much better off with a 7-08/7-08AI.

I'm a custom snob...so I say build her a custom 7-08 or 7-08ai and if she is younger go with a 140 copper bullet that will get more penetration in the lighter bullet and not recoil as much. Then as she got older if you wanted you could go to the 150/160's.

I'm a huge fan of the Nosler 120 ballistic tip and it would be perfect for this setup if you didn't want to go copper but they are like finding a hen's tooth and have been for a few years. It's a thick enough jacket to really push through most shots on an elk (sans maybe a double shoulder).

Good luck and let us know what you decide. FWIW - I have a Sig Cross I rebarrelled to a 6 Gaymoor and when I say Bobo makes some great points, he really does make some great points. For the money, that rifle gives a whole lot of flexibility in size and will grow with a kid....plus they are very affordable.

A used Remington model 7 at least 15 years old and load her up some 140 partitions. Those model 7’s are about perfect to tote in the mountains. If she can stand up to a little more recoil a 270 with 150 partitions. Both will get the job done on elk and both are also perfect to use on deer at home.

I'll throw my "youth" model Browning Micro Midas 7mm08. Shoots great, kills chit dead.

I saw a perfect little .223 at a pawnshop here in Friendswood with pink camo etc. Send me a PM and I'll go send you some pics of it. That will be too small for some of the bigger game but it is all about shot placement. You can get some really good deals now at Cabelas right before the season. I have a sweet 30-06 1909 Argintine but dont think that is what you're looking for here. Call me anytime I can be of service to you. Happy to see people hunting, and good on you for reaching out like this. All the best to you and yours!

As some have mentioned I would go with the 7mm-08. If going for elk I would go either Barnes 120 TTSX vortex or 140 TTSX vortex ammo. Don't know if you reload but if you do go with 120 TTSX over Varget or CFE223 or 140 TTSX over Varget, CFE223 or Big Game.

For whitetails go with 120 SST or 140 SST either in ammo or reloads.

Honestly, you can get most any standard caliber you want (except the big magnums). I can make reduced recoil ammo for almost any round. I started my son off with a 308 Win with a reduced load with a 125 grain bullet doing 2400 ish. My daughter is shooting a 6mm Creedmoor now and it has very light recoil and would be a good option. But your favorite round loaded as a reduced load now, and then full power a few years later. That would be an easy option for almost anything.

Buzz,
The bolt is on the wrong side.
Are you left handed?

Tikka 270 with a brake

Lightweight and will kill elk

270 would be my vote too, big enough a step up from a 243 to be worth the change.

270 or 7mm-08.

Haha, no, its my daughters rifle.

Be hard to pass up a 7-08 for me. I have a new 700 short action, been pondering on what to build next, keep coming back to a 7-08.

Guys - Thank you so much for the recommendations. Based on your feedback looks like a 7mm-08 it will be.

First time to read this thread. Good choice, this will be my 40th year with the 7-08.

You both will be happy with the 7-08. My Bergara Ridge in this caliber is the rifle I pick most of the time and it consistently produces 2.-.3 groups with my hand loads.

Browning Micro Midas or Weatherby Camilia, either in 7mm-08.


My wife is 5'0, 120 lbs and has killed Kudu and Zebra with her Camila. Very nice gun and built for a female frame.

FWIW, a little over 20 years ago, I was in a very similar situation with my young daughter (except for the elk angle) and ended up with the same conclusion: 7mm08 Rem.

Great cartridge, and I found a great little rifle for her (a custom gem built by Howard Dietz) that served us well for many years.

Alas, my daughter is all grown up and moved away now, with little time for, or interest in, hunting. Enjoy the time you spend with yours while you can!


Addendum: Thinking I have a 7mm08, set up for a young hunter, that may need a new home soon . . . .

Howard was an amazing gunsmith and a very good guy.

I was fortunate to know him when I was a teen

I just got a Weatherby Camila 308 for my wife. She loves it!! The stock is designed for the female body. Rifle can be bought directly from Weatherby just call them. Can be purchased with wood or synthetic stock. My wife loves wood stocks,so that's what I ordered for her. If you are a reloader, you can download the 308 and upgrade the load later.

The Lehigh TXC 155 shoots GOOD in the gun at approximately 2500 fps and even better at approximately 2750 fps. The TXC will kill any elk at 2500 fps.

Some of these come with REALLY great wood.