RE: Caliber for son's first deer rifle?
I was a deer hunting guide for about 10-12 years. I chased more wounded deer shot by youngsters with the 243 than all other caliber combined. The main reason is that more young hunters used the 243 but another reason is that even when presented with a very good oppertunity, young hunters get excited and don't place their shots very well sometimes. It seem from what I have seen that the 243 leaves little room for error. Youngsters I have seen were more succesful with the old 30-30 than most other guns. No reason for this that I know of. Just what I observed while guideing mulie hunters.