My wife has popped 2 deer with her Savage .243. One dropped and the other jumped about 10 yards and expired. I've hunted with plenty of folks up in PA that have used that .243 for decades and they pile 'em up every year. I acquired a BLR in .243 last summer. Shoots like a dream with a Nikon pro staff. Saving it for my boy when he gets of age.
As for knockdown, by friend shot a 6pt coming straight at him (walking) and it stood him up and over and he didn't get back up. 150lb deer.
I shot a hog 150lbs looking rite at me at 50 yds rite in the snougt went thru to the shoulder and dpoped in her tracks from my climber. They will do the job.
as for scopes, obviosly the smaller and further away the target, the bigger the glass you're gonna need and want. if the predators and varmints you speak of are yotes and bobcats, and not something much smaller like crows or prarie dogs, and you keep ranges at or less than 300 yd's a 2x10 power scope is good close and fairly far and better for a handheld shot ( with the power/mag setting as low as possible ). shooting 300-500 yd's is a whole other ball game and every other aspect becomes much more important, wind, rest, scope, gun fit,wt of trigger pull etc.
GB good choice, I like the 3x9x40 scopes for general purpose and certainly good for FL 100+ shooting, mine on 3 even is OK out of the shooting house for 30-40 yrds
a youth stock might be a better fit for a shorter woman, but I think she said she already bought the gun
