RE: Youth Rifle
I used to think that way too HEAD until I got my daughter a break open single shot H&R HandiRifle in .243. I DO NOT like the fact that she has to lower the hammer with a cold thumb or with gloves on after she cocks it. It went back and a youth Savage bolt is on its way. Top tang safety. Easy to open the action. Now, the shotgun I got for her was a Mossberg 500 Bantam in 20 gauge. It also has a top tang safety. It has a dowel in it that makes it a single shot even though it is a pump. You can only put one shell in it at a time. Very safety oriented.
Break down and spend the money on two guns. For me, it was a Savage youth bolt action in .243 and a Mossberg 20 gauge in youth as well. JMHO.