In my opinion and what I have seen a 243 is not a youth rifle to much could go wrong and I feel the bigger bullet of the 7mm/08 is better. An average 8 year old can not noticeable tell the difference between a 243 and a 7/08. I know man th people that hunt with 243, but the deer they shoot all run a good ways. Most of the young hunter I know
all use 7/08.