I got my first deer rifle when I was 10 years old - a Remington Model 7 Youth chambered in 7mm-08. Killed my first deer the following year at age 11. I still have it, and love to shoot it, to this day 12 years after I got it. It was definitely not too much gun for me at that young of an age, and didn't hurt at all - and I wasn't a big/strong kid by any means.

A 7mm-08 is definitely a good gun for a young shooter.