I don’t know if howa still offers the youth package that comes with a full size stock when your kids gets bigger.
Id also look or consider at shorter barrel version like 20”
I gave my boy my tikka 223 and put a youth stock on it.
and the 22.4” barrel seems little long.
I like 243, but the 6.5 CM is so popular now days I got a box of S&B ammo 140 fmj for 10.99 and 140 SP for $12.99.


All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well.