To Mr. specneeds, the OP,
Regarding your original question, I join with the majority in suggesting you guide your protégé towards a decent used 30-06 that fits him well. And the Burris 3x9 FFII Ballistic Plex is a tremendous scope for the money. As far as I'm concerned, this concludes the discussion about which you originally inquired.
I'd also like to congratulate you on the manner with which you've conducted yourself through this thread. Many have been ungentlemanly to you and I think you have been decent in response.
And I concur with your assessment of the loss of toughness in the recent generations. I am sure it was hard for you to give your honest assessment of yourself, compared to your predecessors, and of your descendants compared to you, as it is for me, though my observations mirror yours.
Cheers,
Rex
