It seems strange to see folk describe the Marlin lever as "awkward". To me it is nothing but user friendly. I personally find it awkward chambering a second round with my bolt actions. I can count on one finger tho the number of times that I've had to shoot multiple times.
All that said however, even tho I own several Marlin levers it was'nt the first rifle I put in my sons hands as a deer rifle. I had a single shot o6 that I gave him. I believe that for a youngsters first rifle the simpler the better.
I personally quit taking shoulder shots when I started grinding my own meat as there is a lot of good quality meat that is bloodshot with a shoulder shot. I shoot for heart or lung and rarely a head shot on a doe.
I did hunt for yrs with an 06 and a 270 and it's a funny thing about penetration as I have made a couple of shoulder shots with the 06 that did'nt have an exit wound. On the other hand I have had the same round go all the way thru a hogs head and kill the hog beside it also.