I think these guys who are saying that the 25-06 is light recoil are nuts, I shoot much bigger, but we're talking about a 60lb kid and that 25-06 is going to, as patrick Mcmannis said: "relocate his nose to a spot above his right eye" were it will be convieniently out of the way for the next shot. Stay w/ the short actions. 260rem, 7mm-08,257roberts, 250 savage, in no particular order. They are all common and ammo is easy to find. The 243 and 6mm are excellent also, but if the regulations say .25 cal and up then they are out.