Second guessing wife's rifle purchase.

[ScreamingPotato]

Looking for some spitballing, seems I'm never satisfied no matter what I decide and leads me to just keep buying ****.

Wife has killed a bunch of stuff with her pink death stick, deer elk and a nilgai. It's just a cheap TC Compass 308 in a pink Boyd's stock sized appropriately for her. This year she didn't shoot well on a buck and I'm wanting to reduce the recoil for her and put a thousand rounds down range before her elk hunt in October (she should get a WY general tag). She shoots it great on the bench at 300 yards but in field positions not so much and she wears out on the bench around 30 rounds or so, so I know it's kicking her. She loves that rifle because of the stock though.

I purchased a OC Polonium K for her and it's ready to go.

I went ahead and bought her a Ruger Gen2 standard 20" 6mm CM because of the easy stock adjustments and price points. I'm planning to move her Huron from the 308 because she's used to it.

Now I'm kicking myself because I'm really attracted to the Gen2 Ranch 16" in 6 ARC without too much penalty.

I also purchased an identical Ruger Gen2 20" in 223 to practice with even cheaper ammo and have a Huron incoming for that one. I'd plan to use this one myself for deer and she can practice with it.

The 6mm CM is brand new still in box so I should be able to recoup funds and buy the Ranch in 6 ARC.

This whole thing started due to wanting to minimize recoil and blast so she can focus better. Looking for discussion whether I'm overthinking things or if there would be a real noticable benefit to the 6 ARC with both being suppressed. I can upgrade the Polonium K to a Nomad XC if need be as well, doubtful we'd be shooting my rifle and her's on the same trips.

 

[David Walter]

Some ass hat that my wife used to work with made her first shot with a center fire rifle a 300 win mag with a hard plastic plate on the back and no recoil pad. Needless to say when I tried to re-introduce her to center fire she wanted nothing to do with them. I started at 223 and worked my way out through 243 and 6 mm arc and 6 mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor and she decided 6 mm arc and that’s where she is today.

At what range is she planning on shooting her elk? I know guys in AK shooting big things with 6mm ARCs and Barnes 112 Match burners and they’re happy. I imagine a Hornady 105 BTHP would work as well.

 

[BLJ]

I’ll say a couple things that MAY help.
My Gen2 20” barrel 6 ARC is an absolute pleasure to shoot.
Barely a noticeable difference in recoil between it and a 223. The 223’s being Gen 1 and Gen 2 at 16” and a Tikka at 20”.
Noticeably less recoil than my Tikka 308. Especially with 180’s in the 308.

I know you’re shouting suppressed, but the 16” 223’s are significantly louder than the 20”. Surprisingly so. Just a thought.

And if she likes the pink, paint the me one pink.

 

[hereinaz]

6mm cm is significantly less than the 308, especially suppressed.

Going from 308 to 6cm is a much bigger jump than from 6cm to 6 arc.

She very well could be happy with the 6cm, but you can’t get much less than the .223.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

At what range is she planning on shooting her elk? I know guys in AK shooting big things with 6mm ARCs and Barnes 112 Match burners and they’re happy. I imagine a Hornady 105 BTHP would work as well.

She's gonna max out around 300 yards or so, seems to be her self imposed limit. We had a big Nilgai cow at 350 or so this year and she wanted to get closer but got busted. She shot her bull at 305 but hit a little further back than I'd like. She does practice at 300 and shoots softball sized groups with the 308 off the bench but I'm sure that's wider in field positions.

The 6mm CM will most likely be factory Hornady 108gr ELD-M's and likely the same if I were to go ARC. I got a pile of 73gr M's for the 223 already.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

6mm cm is significantly less than the 308, especially suppressed.

Going from 308 to 6cm is a much bigger jump than from 6cm to 6 arc.

She very well could be happy with the 6cm, but you can’t get much less than the .223.

I'm thinking it'll be such a huge change from the 308 she'll be super happy. I tried her shooting the 308 suppressed and she didn't like it so just insisted on bringing ear plugs.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

That first sentence is rough.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

That first sentence is rough.

Yup. I'm working on it, it's been a process.

 

[hereinaz]

On the resale market, seems like won’t matter if it hasn’t been shot or if you put a box through it. That might be worth giving it a try.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Yup. I'm working on it, it's been a process.

Not yours. Internet is wonk.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Some ass out that my wife used to work with made her first show with us in her fire rifle at 300 wind mag with a hard plastic plate on the back no recoil pad. Needless to say when I tried to re-introduce her to center fire she wanted nothing to do with them. I started at 223 and worked my way out through 243 and 6 mm arc and 6 mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor and she decided 6 mm arc and that’s where she is today.

At what range is she planning on shooting her elk? I know guys in AK shooting big things with 6mm ARCs and Barnes 112 Match burners and they’re happy. I imagine a Hornady 105 BTHP would work as well.

This first sentence was rough.

 

[juju]

30 rounds of 308 is all most people want in one session. 300 yards is a chip shot if fundamentals are in place. Sounds like she just needs a 22lr trainer.

And her husband seems to have a shopping problem.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Not yours. Internet is wonk.

Oh I thought you were referring to me not being satisfied and buying too much ****.

30 rounds of 308 is all most people want in one session. 300 yards is a chip shot if fundamentals are in place. Sounds like she just needs a 22lr trainer.

And her husband seems to have a shopping problem.

Yes he sure does, she probably doesn't mind when she catches stray gear though lol. She's got the 223 trainer now for sure, that's a keeper no matter what and heck she can hunt with it as well.

 

[sndmn11]

I'd be tempted to load the 308 with 100gr bullets at a mild pace to practice with and see if she's happy keep her rifle and youre hPpy with the results.

1k rounds in a 6creed is half of the barrel, while the above could last a while.

 

[David Walter]

Fixed it. I tried the whole paragraph using dictation. Voice recognition isn’t that great, or I really speak poorly, or both.

That first sentence is rough.

 

[Stache Attack]

She's gonna max out around 300 yards or so, seems to be her self imposed limit. We had a big Nilgai cow at 350 or so this year and she wanted to get closer but got busted. She shot her bull at 305 but hit a little further back than I'd like. She does practice at 300 and shoots softball sized groups with the 308 off the bench but I'm sure that's wider in field positions.

The 6mm CM will most likely be factory Hornady 108gr ELD-M's and likely the same if I were to go ARC. I got a pile of 73gr M's for the 223 already.

Good luck fitting 73ms, I haven’t been able to in gen 1 and definitely cans in gen2 atleast in my two. I fit 77tmk in gen 1 but still a bit short for where I need to be to get accuracy. 75eldm is a long long bullet I can’t fit into either. Kinda bummed but have been single shooting and man they are nice

 

[Stache Attack]

I'd be tempted to load the 308 with 100gr bullets at a mild pace to practice with and see if she's happy keep her rifle and youre hPpy with the results.

1k rounds in a 6creed is half of the barrel, while the above could last a while.

500 gun, you could replace cheaper than about any barrel

 

[BLJ]

From what I’ve read, you may want to consider the 95 Nosler BT for the 6 ARC if you’re staying under 300 yards.
I’ve not killed anything with them yet but they seem to be highly recommended.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I say stick with the CM since that’s what you already have. It will give more velocity out further if the opportunity presents itself and she feels comfortable taking it. I say that based on the plan to take it on an elk hunt and it being kinda her do all rifle. Otherwise either cartridge will do whatever you want inside 300 yards for most game.