Truthfully if I was going to start the young lad out. It would be with a BB gun or pellet rifle first. I would teach him all about the gun, gun safety, and all the responsability that goes with owning and shooting any firearm. I would also set him up for a hunters safety coarse first. I would be hard on him to the point where "SAFETY" is the most important part. And drill that into his head. Not to sound harsh or mean. But too many kids take for granted that owning a gun is just a right they have. And don't care or worry about the safety and respect that owning a gun is really about. Then after teaching him all that. I would purchase him a good 20 ga. shotgun, then start all over again. Never stop letting him know just how much responsability there is when he takes that gun into the field. I know that some people are going to say I'm going too far. But as far as I'm concerned you can never tell or preach enough the the younger people about guns. Another thing always make sure that when teaching a new hunter, that you make it fun for him or her to learn all this. And always praise him or her when they do something good.