Great idea! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Go ahead and buy the Youth Model, then restock it later. But make sure he has the rifle chambered in a cartridge that will grow with the boy, also.

If this is a deer rig, I'd suggest the .260 Rem first, then the 7mm-08 Rem, 6.5x55 Swede or .257 Roberts. Any of these are perfect youth/adult rounds with excellent range and stopping power for deer-sized game and minimal recoil.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting