If you want a GREAT deer hunting gun, you have to go with the H&R. I don't care if you get this gun in 12ga or 20ga, they are just amazing. Put a good scope on it and your son will have a slug gun he can hunt deer with for the rest of his life. I own the 12ga, and both of my son's own the 20ga. I know they are a little heavy, but there is almost no recoil, which makes it an even better choice for a kid's first slug gun. You don't have to worry about them developing a flinch because of the recoil produced by most shotguns. Here is a picture of my youngest son (13) with his H&R and his first deer, taken this past weekend.
