Man that’s awesome!

I started my grandson on my wife’s .222. He shot a forked horn buck at 7 yoa on my land. He looked at it and said “Gimmee your phone. I gotta call Grandma.” He told her “ Grandma, get down here. I just got a buck.”. Then I said that he ought to call his parents. “ Gimmee your phone”. Yep, he was excited. He’s now 28, has hunted internationally, and still has the skull mount from his first buck in his home office.

None of my other grandkids have any interest.

30-30 at 10 is old school and impressive. My boys received. 35 Rem Marlin levers from me when they were 10-12. I got them both 30.06 models as well. 10+ years later, the Marlins are their favorites.

I load like you. I'd find a nice bolt gun (adult sized) that you can buy now and that he can grow into. You can load lighter projectiles with minimum powder charges for starters. So much flexibility handloading.

Both the Gboys got Weatherby vanguards in 243. I sighted them in, very accurate rifles, Howa action but HS wasn't the same for both. Younger got his first deer on a youth hunt. I do remember him trying to shoulder an 870 12ga and the happy dance busting his first clay. Both into ARs now. And the older got him a BLR 270, doesn't shoot it much. Most youth action rifles have spacers to grow with. Don't understand your's dislike of the BO - other than it's not a 'big boomer' man gun.

I don’t have a dislike for the BO, I like it. I don’t care for the AR. Just don’t like shooting it, I do not like auto loading shotguns either it works just not my preference. I’m planning to replace the BO ar with a bolt BO.

Don't count out the recoil dampening effects of an auto loader. My BAR in 270 shoots softer than my bolt action 308, 6.5, or even the 30/30 levergun.

Have you considered a 338 win mag?

He’ll have to grow into it a little

Very helpful