Advice on rifle for son 13yr

[apache12]

So I'm blessed with three boys. Currently 21, 20 and 13. In the summer of their 13th birthday I bought them their one rifle from "dad". I've tried to get something they can use for game from deer to elk (cow)

Oldest one has a 30-06. Great all around but thank God he was a tough kid and handled the recoil on the 06. Next kid I went other direction and did a 7mm-08. Both boys love their rifles and have had good success

All summer i have struggle to find a differnt caliber for my last and youngest son. He has shot deer and pigs with a .243 and is a nicer shooter He has an Oct cow elk tag. In a perfect world I'd find a lower recoil flat shooting caliber with a good range of bullet weight that he can hunt long shots for coues and good bullet choice for mule. And then Step it up for a cow elk. I hand load but want this to be a rifle that when he leaves home he can find factory ammo where ever his travels take him

So what do you guys think?

.308 (con bullet drop)

270 ( Con little light for big cow. I've taken. One but saw a buddy put three rounds in at distance to harvest)

7mm (con higher recoil and not a huge brake fan)

[trphyhntr]

7mm

[Flatlander]

At 13 I received a .270 from my grandfather. He bought it to hunt elk but never harvested one. I was able to fulfill that wish of his when I was 14 and 18. Both 1 shot kills. .270 is plenty for elk (even bulls, we've done that 3x) at moderate ranges. Shoot them in the lungs and they die.

[Douglas-gun-guy]

The 270win is definitely a good choice for him.

I would also look at the 6.5 creedmoore.

[10Turkeys]

PM sent.

[lancetkenyon]

.280 Rem.

Bullets from 120 to 180gr.

Realistically, 140 to 168 is a perfect match.

[apache12]

280 interesting but I think limited on factory options yes?

[5guyshunting]

My picks in order: 7mm mag,.270 wsm and.270.

[trphyhntr]

Basically, if the question is "what gun" the answer is 7mm

[bonecollector]

6.5 ruger American predator

[lancetkenyon]

280 interesting but I think limited on factory options yes?

Various R700 and other Rem models

Browning Xbolt

Win 70

R93 Blaser

Nosler

Legendary Arms

Steyr

Cooper

Kimber

Weatherby mark v

[apache12]

Sorry lance meant ammunition not rifle. Are there that many options in factory ammo?

[trphyhntr]

Sorry lance meant ammunition not rifle. Are there that many options in factory ammo?

You can get hornaday eldx for it.

[cjl2010]

6.5 creedmoor. Berger gave me load data for 140 hvld and reloader 26 at 2917 fps. Plenty for cow elk and lots of match ammo available for when he leaves the nest.

[IA Born]

Lance beat me to it. I was going to say .280 or .280AI. In a couple of years, when my currently 9-year old son is big enough for a full-size rifle, I'm probably going to have my .25-06 turned into a .280AI to be his "one rifle for everything for life" rifle. Some days, I hate my gunsmith for putting that in my head, but others, I'm excited to do this. I even have my wife convinced its a great idea!