As usual, lot's of stupidity. Prairie Goat knows of what he speaks - kind of obvious really.
My son (now 31) started at age 12 with a 223 and 53 TSX's. He turfed several antelope beyond 200 yards with that combo. It's a great round for anyone of any age. If I were building a kids rifle/cartridge combo, and was a handloader, I'd build a 22 CM with a 1-8" 23" bbl on a Kimber 84M Montana platform. Barrel would be a hybrid that works in the barrel channel and mic's .650" at the muzzle. Otherwise a 1-8" 22-250 would be perfect.
My friend Dober has a string of something like 40 one shot kills on deer and antelope with that combo. Actually, I think one of the forty took an extra round. It works, and I'd use the same on open country elk.
