Originally Posted by Todd1700
For something a little more stout than a .243 and a 13 year old will be the primary shooter I'd say a 7mm-08. It's a short action round chambered in a lot of youth model rifles. Recoil isn't bad at all. I have killed a good many deer with the one I own and have no complaints. I always used 140 grain bullets but I think that Federal has a 120 grain fusion round now that has a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps. That would be hot death on deer at the ranges you mention. Sighted 1.5 inches high at 100 yards it would be about dead on at 200.

ding, ding, ding we have a winner! find on in a youth stock Model 7 in 7-08 or 308 (short actions seemed to work better for my son when he was that age) and he's set for life. He can buy a full size stock when he grows into it. Get a basic reloader or find a used set-up (on Aldeer probably) and let him learn to reload and take deer with his own personal load, doesn't get much better...good luck with your choice, several good ones mentioned above.