I'm with Retaks on this one. I started with a .243 when I was 11, and while I harvested several bucks with it, none were put down with too much authority. I'd like to remember myself as being a good shot, but the odds are that it wasn't all the caliber's fault...

In any case, I think if I would've started with a .25-06 or a 7mm-08, I'd have been better off.

The biggest problem for me was the massive recoil of the .243! It took me quite a while to realize thatI was really flinching from the muzzle blast of shooting without hearing protection. I'm glad Dad introduced me to shooting & hunting, but I guess hearing protection wasn't stressed too hard to him when he learned back in the 1940's.

Pick anything from .25-06 up to 7mm-08, then get him to the range so he can shoot enough to get comfortable with it. AND MAKE SURE HE'S GOT EYE & EAR PROTECTION!

FC