There is not much you will find in a youth model for under 400 dollars unless you find a bargain on a used gun. You might have to bite the bullet and spend a little more especially if you want a quality firearm. You are probably not wanting to spend to much on the account that your wife and daughter might not keep interest in the sport. Heres a different angle to consider buy something that will work for them aswell as yourself so that way if they lose interest you have yourself a fine firearm for your own use. Another problem you may run into is a .270 is a long action caliber asfar as I know all youth models are in short action calibers such as .308 , 243, etc . My recommendation is the Remington M700 Mountain rifle available in .270 and other popular calibers. Its an in between size rifle. Its inbetween the size of a Model 7 and a full size M700. Has slightly cut down stock and a light contoured barrel. I own one in .308 win(the rifle is no longer produced in .308) and its a pure pleasure hunting companion very easy to handle. Especially easy to carry the gun alone weighs 6 1/2 pounds, Scoped and loaded probably weighs just shy of 7 1/2 lbs. Not to mention the accuraccy is great I use Remington express core lokt ammo ( the cheap stuff) and it holds less then a inch groups at 100 yards. I've used this rifle for Elk, Pronghorn, and mule deer in Arizona and also whitetails in Missouri. My wife is a small framed 5'7" lady and she handles this rifle just fine. Make your choice carefully, I highly recommend looking at a M700 mountain rifle it maybe the perfect rifle and exactly what you are looking for. Would be my first choice if I was buying a rifle for my wife and daughter. Heres a link that shows all the specs on this rifle http://www.remington.com/firearms/ce...e/700mtndm.htm