Guns for small people

[FeralFemale]

I am on the small side. I'd like to hunt, but everytime I have been target shooting and someone hands me a hunting rifle I literally get knocked off my feet and on my behind when I shoot. This happens even with rifles that, I am told, are smaller and don't have as much kick.

Am I doomed to leave the hunting up to dh?

[agmantoo]

Borrow a 22-250 rifle and test fire it. I think it will make you happy.

[FeralFemale]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Borrow a 22-250 rifle and test fire it. I think it will make you happy.

Yeah, but will that put down a deer? Or just small game...which..I guess I would be happy with, too.

[Rocky Fields]

Hey.

Try bow & arrow.

RF

[mwhit]

No, you aren't doomed-- I'm a small person and have hunted for years. Of course, I do get the occassional bruised shoulder (I'm remembering that darned 10 gauge shotgun)but there are guns that have very little kick. I use a 30.06 for deer hunting, but I think that may be more kick than you want. If you want a small deer rifle, probably a 30-30 is your best bet-- I'd say they have the least recoil of any deer rifle.

Michelle

[FeralFemale]

Originally Posted by Rocky Fields

Hey.

Try bow & arrow.

RF

Are they easy to pull back. I've never used one. No one in my family uses them -- I think it's the only season dad didn't participate in.

[Scrounger]

.223 Winchester is a good one for a small person. It will bring down a deer. Check with your local Game and Parks, they will have a list of approved calibers for your state (for deer hunting) and go from there.

[Rocky Fields]

FeralFemale,

They make bows for women that are easier to pull. A simple longbow is quite effective. As a kid, I used a 45lb. longbow to kill deer.

RF

[Clifford]

A .270 is an excellent caliber for anyone. It is fast, flat and little noticable recoil. I've used mine for 15 years and absolutely love it. Glad I upgraded from the .30-06 (punisher) I used to use.

[BAmaBubba]

I agree with Clifford. I use a .270 as well. A .22 CAN bring down prey but is not as effective. You always have the option of a 20ga shotgun with slugs if you'll be hunting fairly close range.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I got my youngest son a Marlin 35 caliber lever action rifle when he was younger. It didn't have much kick at all. It's a good deer rifle too, especially in scrub land, but you can make long shots with it (if it's scoped or you're just a great shot).

[MountAiry]

Good question FeralFemale and I am enjoying reading the answers.

I don’t hunt, but do have a double barrel shotgun my husband gave me. When he was telling me how to use it (this was years ago) he said try to lean against a wall, or the butt of the gun against the wall as he said its gonna knock me down flat. (I’m not that big a person either)
Kinda of scary to think of being knocked down in an emergency, actually. And gesh, if it can knock you down, can it break your shoulder or something?
It does feel good though to have something for protection.

[Ed in S. AL]

A 270 is a fine gun. Maybe try a little 243. I have killed a lot of deer and pigs with mine. For something smaller just pick up a 22. Anyone should be able to shoot that.

[Macybaby]

I find my Marlin 30-30 has very little kick, and it will take down a deer at 100 yds. My husband reloads, and has developed a nice load for my 30.06 that does not kick much but will still take out a deer at a decent range.

My DH wanted to find me a Remington 100 (semi-auto .308 -I think. . .) as a semi auto will use some of the recoil for cycling the action. Found a Marlin MR7 and fell in love with that.

He even loads for the 45-70 so I can shoot it, now that is a fun gun!

Worst kickers are your shotguns. I have a 12g and 20g double and the 12 packs quite a punch. My 12 gauge pump is not quite so bad. DH's 12g auto has very little kick. The worst kicker was the 12 guage single shot. The gun was too light, and when you pulled the trigger you got 100% of the recoil right in the shoulder.

But for practice and fun, I shoot a .357 carbine or my semi auto Camp 9. Much cheaper that way.

and if you really want to have fun, we'll pull out the handguns!

Cathy

[Bear]

Try the 30-30 or a 243, both good deer rifles and recoil is mild.

[foxtrapper]

F=MA. Force equals mass times accelleration. Move it around and you get F/M=A So for the same amount of force, a heavier gun moves less.

KE=1/2MV^2. The kinetic energy of something is one half the mass times the velocity squared. Move it around and you get KE/M=1.2V^2. So for the same amount of energy, a heavier gun moves less.

A heavier gun kicks less than a light gun with the same load.

[mwhit]

Originally Posted by MountAiry

I don’t hunt, but do have a double barrel shotgun my husband gave me. When he was telling me how to use it (this was years ago) he said try to lean against a wall, or the butt of the gun against the wall as he said its gonna knock me down flat. (I’m not that big a person either)
Kinda of scary to think of being knocked down in an emergency, actually. And gesh, if it can knock you down, can it break your shoulder or something?
It does feel good though to have something for protection.

Why don't you shoot it? I hate to think of someone counting on protection they don't know how to use-- as WIHH said, alot has to do with your shooting form.

[BAmaBubba]

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

F=MA. Force equals mass times accelleration. Move it around and you get F/M=A So for the same amount of force, a heavier gun moves less.

KE=1/2MV^2. The kinetic energy of something is one half the mass times the velocity squared. Move it around and you get KE/M=1.2V^2. So for the same amount of energy, a heavier gun moves less.

A heavier gun kicks less than a light gun with the same load.

True dat. Not to mention the fact that part of that energy is dissipated through the arms, etc. and not all transferred to the shoulder. I think another thing, besides the mass of the gun, is that people shoot guns that are improperly suited them. If the stock is too long, a small person will have to overextend the arm thus being able to compensate less for the kick. A heavier gun with a customized stock to match the shooter will be more easily handled than a heavier gun that is too large.

[TnTnTn]

FF-you need to shoot a lot with a .22 rimfire rifle that fits you properly so that you get used to gun mechanics. Then if you want a varmint capable round get a .223 in a rifle that FITS YOU. For a low recoiling(relatively) deer capable rifle I would recommend a .260 Rem or a .250 Savage. Ammo and rifles for these rounds are harder to find but they are out there. A Rem youth model 7 in .260 would be perfect for you. Never brace the back of your shoulder against a post, wall or tree when you are shooting a firearm that has recoil. It makes the 'kick' much worse as your body/shoulder can't move with the recoil action.

Good luck and kudos for wanting to try and learn. TnTnTn
Feel free to PM me if you have more specific questions.

[CGUARDSMAN]

.243 or .270 in a med weight rifle will not kick much a .223 will have hardly any felt recoil but is kinda light even for deer. An AR based rifle will have a little felt recoil but your gonna pay for a good one.