My best bud has only been hunting for 4yrs and lastyear he asked me what to get his now 13yr old son who had outgrown his Wby Vanguard youth 243? I steered him to the 7-08 American with a Redfield Revo on it and it's been a GREAT rifle! In fact I might very well get one myself, I'm awfully partial to the American All Weather Compact in 7-08. For the money you just AINT gonna beat this platform from Ruger!