I was 14 when I bought my first center fire rifle…..took almost a year to save the cash needed! It was a Winchester Model 88 in .308 Win.
The rifle weighed only just over 7 pounds! I shot it quite a few years without a scope and to this day retains the factory plastic butt plate! I survived, and shot it pretty darn good. Shot several large birds in flight, a crow at over 200 yards, many hand thrown #303 cans, ect, ect.!
If fact, growing up on this rifle likely contributed to my being able to easily handle the “punishing” recoil of the 6.5 Crudmore! 😂
If you son has a real desire to shoot/hunt, a rifle with today’s superior recoil pads, stock fit, and the popularity of muzzle breaks (God forbid) ……he should have no issues with a .308 Win. or even something with a bit more recoil! JMO! memtb