Thread: Buying a Rifle as a gift - advice appreciated

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy my partner a rifle for Christmas. Its a surprise and she doesn't actually know what she wants 100% so I'm just going to take a gamble on it and choose her something, if its really not right then we can change it down the track.

She has had her heart set on a Remington Model 7 but due to the issues with Remington those seem basically impossible to get right now.

She mostly hunts Sika and is a great bush stalker. Very slow and will get very close to an animal before taking a shot. She's also a great shot and very confident in targeting.
She likes the idea of a smaller, more agile rifle, hence the model 7.

What is the next best thing here? I'm looking at this currently - Tikka Spiral Flute 18” barrel - https://www.guncity.com/-369736

Also not sure on caliber - she has yo'yoed on this so many times. 243 makes a lot of sense for her hunting style but she did take a shot not that long ago and didn't drop the animal and it really shook her. Never found it.
So maybe a 308 in that case. I know this is a really personal decision but any advice or comments would be appreciated.

I will just purchase the base rifle and she can choose a suppressor and scope.

.308 is a good calibre and you can load down for it with lighter loads to help her get used to the recoil. Imho the .308 is very tolerable for most shooters.

If her last shot with a .243 meant a lost animal (it happens to us all), it might be prudent to explore shot placement also….

Sounds like she has good taste, just wait for a nice stainless Mod7 to pop up on here in 243 or 7mm08.

.....Deja vu....

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....2/#post1175377

Feeling like a troll post.....

6.5x55 Swede has nice low recoil and great rep for putting an animal down, all other things being equal, shot placement etc

Think Wilson's Hunting and Outdoors in Wanganui have or did have Model 7's.

Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel, Small rifle, low recoil can still do 300 maybe 400 on a deer

Or

buy a used model 7

Originally Posted by tetawa

Think Wilson's Hunting and Outdoors in Wanganui have or did have Model 7's.

They still list 308

Originally Posted by Nickoli

.....Deja vu....

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....2/#post1175377

Feeling like a troll post.....

Should have followed your posting before commenting, someone must have little to do or girlfriend is a patient type.

Originally Posted by Nickoli

.....Deja vu....

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....2/#post1175377

Feeling like a troll post.....

Don't want to jump to conclusions, but the evidence is compelling...... not quite enough to convict, but enough to get the prosecution wet ......

Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel sounds like an ideal rifle for the type of hunting described.
Light, capable, and not going to smash her shoulder when using it.

Yup. I think we’ve been suckered

Take into account on what ammo is easy to get currently and in near future. Pointless if there is nothing to feed it.

Originally Posted by Slug

Take into account on what ammo is easy to get currently and in near future. Pointless if there is nothing to feed it.

True.
So whatever you get - buy HEAPS of ammo for it.

Originally Posted by tetawa

Think Wilson's Hunting and Outdoors in Wanganui have or did have Model 7's.

Yes, and they’ve got one in .260 as well.