Folks who let kids shoot with a rifle with a heavy trigger fail to realize that kids have much less strength to pull that trigger. So a heavy trigger for an adult will be super heavy for a kid.
I really like the AR 15 platform for kids. The five or six position stocks will fit everyone in the family with a click. A bolt rifle with a really nice stock would be a shame to booger up for just a couple of years until the kid grows into it. For that reason I like the Ruger American. Buy an extra compact stock (tupperware is cheap) and swap out as necessary.
