Ok, I am going to buy my son a rifle that will be his once he is old enough to start hunting(Another few years). He is 5 years old and already shoots his pellet gun and .22. I need some suggestions on what caliber to get him. I have read the ballistics on the .243, 7mm-08, and .308 until I can't see anymore. I don't want a .223 bc I already have one. If you ave nay thoughts please share them with me. I like Winchester, Ruger, and Remington the best but I am open to any manufacturers, Thanks.

Side note: Does or has anyone ever owned the Mossberg Super bantam with the butt pads that can be extended as a kid grows?

I'd wait and see whats available a few years from now, unless there is some reason to get in a rush.

That could be a hit or miss decision.

Many years ago I snatched up a new Browning Micro Medaliion for the same reason when my girls were still too young to hunt. Long after Browning stopped making it, my youngest now calls it her's.

Here is what Browning now offers smaller hunters, having since stopped making the earlier Micro Hunter.

Browning X-Bolt Micro Midas

IMHO I would go with a youth model 700 in 243. As he grows you can easily pickup take off stocks and cut them down to fit for cheap. Then one day can put a full size stock on it and the gun can grow with him.

Walter

There are several that fit what Walter said. Vanguard, Remington, Savage. the little Browning.

I have a 357mag lever action that several kids have gotten their start with. Ruger makes a nice little 357 boltaction, not as nice as the Browning but nice gun.

A bolt action 6.8 or 300BO might work also.

Some of the larger calibers work also with reduced loads from Remington and Hornady.

No experience with the Mossberg.

Another option is the TC Contender carbine, lots of kid friendly rounds available for it an the Encore as well as youth stocks. Those are more expensive than the other break opens but can be used for life in one configuration or another

TC also makes a neat little 20" barreled bolt action carbine that has an adjustable stock in their Venture series to allow a small framed person to grow into the full length stock, and in some standard deer capable small or medium short action calibers.
Ron

Thanks fellas, I am going to keep checking it out. I will research all the options y'all have suggested.