some good suggestions so far... here are a few more 1) Ruger #1 no action, makes for a shorter gun regardless of caliber. 2) remington 600 or 660 -the prdacessor to the model7 3)savage 99 - in a 250 savage there might not be a better womans/kids gun caliber combination. 4)Remington 673 ?(I think they sell this in the 270 short mag.) have fun hunting w/ the wife