Coldbore my first thought was 7mm-08 but thought he just might want to stay w/30 caliber. The 7mm-08 gained a reputation for a reason and it did it in an over crowded 7mm field. The 08 w/a 154gr Hornady would be good for about anything in n. America but the big bears. It's accurate, can be made to any weight and length, and is a life long cartridge one doesn't have to change entering adulthood. Never could figure out why people started their kids out on 22 cals and then moved them to something else in two to three years. powdr
