A Woman's Guide to Choosing a Rifle for Hunting Season
More woman hunt now than in the past. According to Fox News, the number of women hunters have increased by 25 percent from 2006 and 2011. Because more women are taking to the fields and forest, it's important for women to know what kind of rifle they need when they're out hunting, either for food or sport.
Be Safe First
Regardless of whether the hunter is a man or woman, it's important to know the basics of how to shoot safely. Prospective hunters should attend a firearms safety course so they use weapons safely.
Firearm and ammunition Littleton, Colorado can help new firearms enthusiasts find an NRA approved safety course. Also, if the new hunter is hunting in Colorado, she must take a hunter safety course. Even if it's not required where she is hunting, having completed a hunter safety course is a good idea.
Pitfalls to Avoid
New women hunters may be tempted to purchase a firearm similar to a family member's rifle, but it may not be the right rifle for her. Women are usually smaller and may have fit issues when it comes to purchasing a rifle that is normally sized for men. What's more, what may work for someone else in her family may not work for her. Just because her husband, boyfriend, or brother likes a certain caliber or brand of rifle doesn't mean it is right for her.
A rifle is a personal choice and one that the woman hunter needs to make. That's why she should visit gun stores without her male companions and talk with the salespeople on which rifles might suit her needs. If the salespeople aren't helpful or if they are condescending, she should take her business elsewhere. Many gun stores are happy to help women customers.
Don't choose a rifle simply because it is marketed toward women. Pretty pink rifles, while cute, don't shoot any straighter and are often smaller calibers. If they appeal to the hunter and are the right caliber, then great. But if the hunter is stalking deer, elk, or bear, she is going to need a caliber that will do the job.
Pick the Right Fit and Caliber
The rifle needs to fit the woman first and foremost. Otherwise, she will be uncomfortable using it. The second important thing is caliber. The caliber needs to be heavy enough to kill the intended game while having a manageable amount of recoil.
If the woman isn't certain she'll like the caliber, testing a rifle in that caliber at a shooting range is a good idea.