I have 4 different 6x Burris scopes mounted and used for the hills and prairie country I hunt in .Also 3 of the M8 6x36 Leupold's from 243 to 30-06 they work well for me and fairly inexpensive as all were purchased used. My early model 700ADL in 30-06 wears an M8 4x. They are all dead reliable and lighter in weight than most 3x9 varibles. At about 325 yds the sight picture for deer and antelope is about it for me with 4x. 375-400 with the 6x .Just my eyes and sight picture,I am sure others see better than I do. I put a Vari X3 1.75x 5 on my 375HH and I have others that wear Vx 2's in 3x9 and Vari X 3's in the 2.5x8. If I had to settle for just 1 choice it would go to the Vari X 3 in 2.5x8 they work very well and again are very reliable. Keep it simple for the kid, last thing he needs is to be screwing around with his power selector when he should be shooting. Magnum Man