Tips For Women To Find The Perfect Rifle

If you are a woman who has recently started hunting, then you may be excited to purchase your first hunting rifle. However, if you are unfamiliar with guns, then it may be hard for you to choose the right one. While the right fitting weapon depends mainly on how the gun feels to you when you hold and shoot it, there are a number of tips you should follow to help you find a good weapon. 

Decide On Weight

Weight is an extremely important factor when choosing a hunting rifle. After all, you will have to hold and carry the gun for relatively long periods of time. A typical rifle will weigh less than about 10 pounds, with the .300 RUM on the high end of the scale and weighing almost 20 pounds. If you are a petite woman or if you are someone with little upper body strength, then look for a light rifle that is within the six, seven, or eight pound range. A few examples of these guns include the .25-06 Remington and the .308 Winston. Both of these rifles, as well as others that are lighter, come with standard cartridges. Standard cartridges are made for low caliber ammunition and require less weight to retain accuracy and low recoil.

If you want to hunt small game, then a small caliber and standard cartridge rifle is a good choice. Magnum cartridge rifles are available as well, and these types of guns are meant for hunting larger game. However, these guns are far heavier than standard rifles and produce a great deal of recoil. If you are confident that you want a large game rifle, then it is wise to start with a lighter gun like a 7mm Remington. 

Consider Length Of Pull

Once you start deciding on the gun that is best for you, make sure to look at the length of pull along with the general weight. The length of pull is the distance from the end of the stock to the trigger. While the length of your arms will partially determine the length of the pull, this is not the only factor that should be considered. Your comfort in the way the stock sits against your shoulder, how your arm rests, and how easy it is for your hand to reach and maneuver the trigger are all things that need to be considered.

It can be hard to determine the best length of pull from feel alone. If you are unsure about rifle length, then speak with a gun expert about measuring your best length of pull. The professional will use a tool called a fit gun to assist you. The gun has a stock that is adjustable, so you and the expert can adjust the gun length to find the best choice. 

If your local gun shop does not have a gun fitting service, then go to a local gun range or gun shop that allows you to try out a variety of different rifles. You may be able to rent a few guns as well if you are undecided about the length of pull that is right for you. 

When you start fitting guns, be very aware of where the stock sits on your shoulder. The rifle stock should sit in your shoulder pocket. This pocket is about an inch to the right and down from the top edge of the collar bone. Specifically, the stock should sit against the deltoid muscle of your shoulder. The muscle is dense enough to absorb the recoil from your rifle. If you sit the stock too high on the shoulder, like many people do, then it will slam into your body and create a bruise.