ORIGINAL: M77man
My cousin for instance started off like you did with the heavy calibers and 12 guage shot guns but he's a big, BIG, guy and can handle the recoil a lot better then I can. He shoots a .300 Win Mag and I a 7mm Rem Mag. My boy has a small frame, I don't under estimate him, but I want to ease him into it. Of course, I did think about trying out the managed recoil rounds also. Maybe another option....
But then again, I'm also looking for another excuse to get another rifle in another caliber
I started off on a on a .410 when I was 4, didnt get my 12gauntilI was 10 and could not rabbit hunt with it for awhile later,I just couldnt pack it for long.AsI think about this in my head, he would probally be better off with a good recoil pad added to asynthetic youth modelchambered for243 or 308. 260 and 7-08 great but harder to find ammo in a pinch. If you decide to get into reloading go 260 Remington. Little youth 308 great mountain rifle for future use in his lifetime.