I got my first deer rifle when I was 10 years old - a Remington Model 7 Youth chambered in 7mm-08. Killed my first deer the following year at age 11. I still have it, and love to shoot it, to this day 12 years after I got it. It was definitely not too much gun for me at that young of an age, and didn't hurt at all - and I wasn't a big/strong kid by any means.

A 7mm-08 is definitely a good gun for a young shooter.

I guess I'm just a wee bit of a 7mm fan....started with a 30-30 for acouple of years, then bought a .280 Rem. in "63. Hunted wuth that until '84 and went with a 7Mag until two years ago, when I got my 7-08. I absolutely love it, and have no intention of using anything else for deer from now on. I would have no qualms about using it for black bear at reasonable ranges or elk to 300 yds. with the right bullets.

Gee,I thought I was bout only one that feels so passionate about 7mm08 and it's efficency. It seems I have company in my lunacy.

I bought a Remington Model 7 when they first came out with them in the late 80's. It has the fiberglass stock and the 18.5" barrel. Weighs a little over 5 pounds. This model is now sold only through the custom shop. I have shot several deer with it and also a couple of ek. One of those elk (cow) was 426 yards, one shot...dead elk. I was using 140gr. Nosler Partition.
I ended up buying my son a Model 7 also when he turned 10 and think it is as close to a perfect rifle you can get for a young person or an adult for that matter.
Presonally though I would stay away from the muzzlebrake. They are very hard on the ears if one doesn't wear hearing protection.

If you get a chance to look in a barnes relaoding manual check out what a gunsmith has to say about the 7mm-08. I have one my son will shoot his first deer and elk with one day. it has a 20 inch barrel very versitle

if shot my friends 7mm-08 before and it dont kick anywhere near as hard as a 20 guage slug. its a sweet shooting accurate gun.