If you can find one, why not a Savage 99 in .250 Savage, 243 Win, or heck even 300 Savage, be a great rifle that he'll never outgrow.
I'm also been really liking those new Mossberg 464 30-30s, it would also be plenty light and handy for a youngster.
My taste may be called into question for bringing up the Mossberg, but what the heck, probably no worse than saying "The Big Labowski" is the greatest movie in modern history. Well what can I say, the dude abides.
