My son, now 15, started deer hunting at 9 using a very light 308 with 20' barrel and Remington 125g reduced recoil loads. He has killed nine deer and a few hogs. The bullet always performed well, but more importantly, the shots were well placed. Most animals dropped in tracks; longest shot was about 125 yards. The light rifle was easy to maneuver, so he could get into comfortable shooting positions. We practiced with it often, but only after shooting a 22 first and then shooting from a stable position at a 50 yard target. He would only take one or two shots with the 308, then back to the 22 with basically the same scope. This built great confidence and no flinch.
