If you are looking for a rifle / shotgun combo, then there is nothing wrong with that set up.... They make a nice gun, just like the NEF single shots...
If you want to just go the route of a rifle ..... the remington Model 7 comes in a youth model, or you can just get a standard model 7 ..... My kids can shoot it well, and I love using it even though I am a grown adult. Another short rifle option is the Ruger M77 Compact. I own one of those as well , and they are also nice. They are shorter than the MOdel 7. Overall length is 35 1/2" with a barrel length of 16 1/2 ".
Here is a pic of the ruger in a laminate stock.
Hope this helps,
Good luck