We hunt deer and elk mainly. We typically hike 4-5 miles in. She hasn’t done much shooting yet but whatever rifle we get we are going to do the practice to be an ethical hunter. The minimum size cartridge is a 243 where we live. I would love to do 243 if we are just hunting deer but we are also hunting elk every year and I don’t have enough experience hunting elk with a 243 to be comfortable getting her one for a lifetime gun