My son is about to turn 10 and has taken 3 WT bucks so far. He has used a suppressed AR in 6.8 SPC with an illuminated Leupold 2-7 and it has been perfect. The collapsible stock makes the gun fit him perfectly, the suppressor allows me to talk him through the shot, the dot in the reticle makes a easy to understand aiming point, and the recoil is mild enough with 120gr bullets that he shoots it with confidence.

His first rifle will be a bolt 6mm of some flavor but the AR has been very effective to get him into hunting. We practice with other ARs in .223 so he is efficient with the rifle.