i would get him a bolt action rifle. A bolt is more accurate,easier to use,and for a caliber i would like for something like a 243 its accurate will kill a deer easy with a nice exit wound,that or if your looking for less recoil a 223 or 22-250,but idk if there legal there. But when he gets older he might want something bigger then that,so maybe get hime a TC rifle with changable barrel, and you can get one of those in a 30-30,and then change it if you want,and easy to use,safe,accurate and all around a nice gun,and get can get a muzzeloader barrel too and hunt that season also.