Why advocate using what most consider a marginal caliber when the kid has already shown he can shoot the 30-06 with no problem or did you miss that post? Put him behind the 30-06 on a bi or tripod and he'll be fine with the practice time he can still get in before the hunt. It gets a little old when people advocate using small calibers on big game when a better gun is available as in this case. It's also really asking a lot for a first time hunter to put the shot right where it counts when many seasoned hunters can't even do it when the "boiler room" is the size of an elk! The 30-30 is not only dropping as much as I stated, but it is also obviously losing the killing energy needed as it gets out to that distance. There is no sense in handicapping the kid with the 30-30 if that longer shot does present itself like another member mentioned.