With the new reduced recoil ammo my son shoots a Rem 76030-06. He's 12 and weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet. If you get him something like an 30-06 or a 270 he can use it his whole life without switching guns. I cut 2 in off the stock on my 760 so my son can shoot it. I put a slip on recoild pad when I want to shoot the gun. When he gets older I'll buy a new stock for $80 and he'll be set.