ORIGINAL: Cryptic Gypsy
he would probally be better off with a good recoil pad added to asynthetic youth modelchambered in308.
Little youth 308 great mountain rifle for future use in his lifetime.
I was going to recommend 243 over 25'06 because of the Short Action.
But 308 Youth would be a good backup for him in the years to come.
Youth models generally always come with open sights also.
A great backup on a backup rifle.
Recoil pads tame recoil down but properformabsorbs recoil better than anything.
Ilike Savage myself.
http://www.savagearms.com/10GY.htm