RE: Need help finding gun for wife!
Luke, buy it and let her try it out. Worst case you sell it and get your money back or have a great little rifle for you. My wife can handle a 270, but complains a bit after a few shoots (she is small 5 foot)...my buddy has a 257 roberts and having shot it I noticed quite a bit less recoil compared to 270. Has a bit more than the 243 but I am sure it is managable and much better round to boot. (Sorry 243 lovers, not my cup of tea for a deer rifle!)