So my wife tells me she want's to get into hunting with me last week and I need to get her a rifle! I'm stuck between the .223, 22-250, or 243 calibers.... I was raised with a 243 but I'm thinking it may be a little much for her. She's really never shot a rifle larger than a 22 long lol so I don't want to shake her up too bad.
This gun will be mainly for deer and coyotes so I guess my main concern is, how much more or less is the recoil between the 223 and 22-250 compared to the 243, and will they be enough to effectively take a mature whitetail.

223 and 22-250 will kill deer, but I prefer them more in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing and not a novice.

243 has pretty mild recoil. If you buy a 243 in a heavier gun it will be less. Personally I bought a 243 for my wife and she doesn't like it, she likes to shoot my 270

7mm-08 low recoil and great punch and accuracy.

My 10 year old daughter shoots a 243. My 12 yo daughter shoots a 243. They both will shoot my 308 without any probs.

25.06 (My 16 daughters shoots it just fine!)

Coyotes and other varmints = .223

Throw in deer and hogs = .243

Caveat, they will all kill your listed target animals with proper shot placement. My , of your listed choices, I'd go with .243.

25-06 hands down

This is what we did......

.243, start with some Hornady Custom Lite ammo if you think she's shy. You could also go .260 or 7mm-08, Remington has Managed Recoil ammo for both.

AGREED.

When it comes to deer, hogs, etc a 223 or 22/250 is (in my humble opinion) an expert's gun. Yes, there have been thousands of game animals killed with the 223, but it requires exacting shot placement. I personally wouldn't saddle a newcomer with that responsibility. Lots of parents with the best of intentions buy a youngster a .410 gauge shotgun without realizing they just handed the child a gun that should be reserved for expert shooters.

The 243 is very capable and the recoil isn't extreme.

And if you reload, it becomes a non-factor.

I haven't used them but there are factory loads for the 243 that are labeled "low recoil". That might be an option.

Thanks for the input. That's basically what I have decided "243" I took my 1st 4 deer with one when I was 6 years old. I'll be putting a new Leupold VX-3 on it so she will be able to be precise, just wanted an opinion on the recoil factor. I found a little chart just now and it's pretty informative.... Recoil Chart

7x57

You have 16 daughters?

.243

You have 16 daughters? Are you Mormon?

.308 or .243
It's a bonus if you have a suppressor. It doesn't make them jump as much since there is no loud bang to scare them, just a light push of recoil.

I know they make 7-08 "Managed Recoil" (Remington) or "CustomLite Reduced Recoil" (Hornady) if you want to start her shooting with those and then move her up to standard loads.

25-06. Good for anything in Texas and mild recoil for what it can do.

7-08

As I said, I haven't hot any of the 243 Reduced Recoil ammunition, but we did use some of the 7mm-08 that was labeled as such. My son said he couldn't tell any difference at all.

243 or 6.5 creedmoor on a short heavier barrel gun
A little different would be the Grendel or 6.8 spc
I disagree with a 308 or 708 because more than likely you'll end up buying a flyweight gun that will thump.

That old round will never kill a deer unless you spook them to death with the noise it makes.

Seriously though, one of the most famous female hunters in history swore by 7x57 (Mrs. Eleanor O'Connor). 7/08 will work just as well if you can't find one that you like.

.243 is a good round and has been used by half the hunting world at least once, but I like the history and the way a 7x57 "feels" if that makes sense.

.243
6.5 Creedmoor
.260 Rem
7mm-08

My 7-08 is super heavy, and built to shoot repeatedly. Three weeks ago my wife did me proud. Started at 200 yard steel, and worked out to 500. At 500 she said "the mirage is right to left, how much should I hold right?" I said "point three right". Pow....ding. Repeated the same process to 800.

We don't give our wives enough credit. Mine shoots every gun I own.

I find that most women are more afraid of the sound of the shot than the recoil. We let our women clients shoot suppressed rifles. We have several 308s, 6.8s and, 223s all suppressed. I have actually watched women shoot a suppressed 308 and then freak out when shooting a 22-250.

I would suggest getting a really good pair of noise canceling ear protection first. Then find a rifle that fits. We have had the most success with our suppressed 6.8 ARs with women shooters. It is easier to adjust the AR platform to fit smaller shooters.

From my experience fit and noise are the biggest issues to address for women shooter.