257 Weatherby it might be a little bit much until he is 16 but they are wicked on deer. You can buy a Weatherby vanguard cheap and they will generally shoot 1/2-3/4” groups. Tough to beat for the price, couple that with a vortex viper that’s on sale from midway and for $900 you have a combo that’s hard to beat and can be stretched to 400 yards with a good rest, and is a solid elk caliber as well.
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/wea...-matte-blued-finish/FC-747115431014.html

Ruger predator 7.62×39

This. And same load I handload for mine. 7x57 is good medicine

7-08

.25-06 or a .308.

I own both and love them equally.

Agreed.

7mm08
We use either Barnes TTSX 120 in the GF's gun. Mine I use the 140's just because Im well stocked up with them.. My "loaner"/back up gun for friends and family Ive been using the 140 fusions. To me 7mm08 is a caliber that can be used easily by young shooters with the Hornady reduced recoil loads which bring it to 243 recoil. Step up later to the regular 08 loads.

.257 Roberts may be the most underrated deer caliber ever. Awesome deer killer, minimal recoil.

I would also agree with .25-06, .260 Rem, and 7mm-08 already mentioned

I'd go ,,,, 243 or 25-06. 243 will kill deer to 300yards with a good bullet .

308 is my vote and what makes more trips in the woods then any other caliber out of the safe. Eli normal has my ruger American in his hands most of deer season.

If I get another gun, it’ll be a 6.5 Creedmoor. But honestly, if you study ballistics, it’s just a .243 with a heavier bullet. I’m hunting with a .243 this year and really enjoying it. A .308 is a pretty big step up in recoil from a .243. I shouldn’t have sold that Go Wild 6.5.

Why not the 243? 25-06 would be a fine choice.

7mm-08

My guess is a .308 won't be a whole lot better to him than an 06 but a 7-08 would be or a lot of the .25 calibers that the others have mentioned.

260 is what I use for that purpose.

Is there a reason nobody has brought up the 30-30? I know the range is limited but in my experience they are a very deadly round inside of 150. I was thinking about getting another one (I have a winchester 64a) because mine is too pretty and has that dang top ejection. I'd really like an older marlin 336.

257 Roberts (my personal choice), 6.5 Swede or 7x57.....all are very underrated.

7-08 .308 .260

25/.06 will flat put the smack down on one...

.280? You're getting awfully close to 7 mag recoil in that caliber, not to mention ammo availability.

To the original poster, for under 200 yards, and even further, the 7mm08 fits your criteria. The 25.06, the 308, and the .260 would all be good choices too. Hard to beat the 7mm08 for Alabama deer hunting, in my opinion.