[NLYE]

My girlfriend is looking to buy her first rifle, aside from a .22. She is comfortable with shooting pretty much anything. Went to the LGS and it looks like she will be choosing between the TC Venture and the Ruger American Rifle. Both are youth models. (She's 20, and <100lbs. So, she needs the shorter stock to be able to comfortable shoot. It will be used for hunting deer and coyote as well as paper punching.

Personally, I have a TC Venture that I love. However, she likes the Ruger because it is a little bit lighter than the TC.

I'm curious if anyone has experience with the Ruger, and what their thoughts are on them, as well as in comparison to the Venture, if possible...

Second is caliber choice. She was pretty set on the 243. but is now contemplating the 7mm-08 for the greater knockdown power.

Ammo seems to be very easy to find for the 7mm-08 in my neck of the woods, so I'm not eliminating it from a choice.

Thanks for any input/feedback!

 

[NLYE]

They are both synthetic. Her dad has a 270 and I have a 308. She would like something different. There's a $100 difference between rifles, so I'm just curious as to others experiences.

 

[NLYE]

The ones I am looking at are youths...so $309.99 if i remember correctly