YES!!! The .243 is a great rifle, and perfectly adequate for deer. I Shot my first one when I was 12, at about 120 yards with our .243. It was a Blacktail Buck weighing about 170lbs, and it died just fine. My Second was a Blacktail doe, prolly only 100lbs, and she dropped at about 15 yrds. My Mom and my dad have shot MANY deer with that gun, because it was my moms hunting rifles for some years. For a young kid it's perfect, if he doesn't mind a little kick. It never bothered me, but I wasn't shooting it when I was 7. Hope he gets one, and thanks for starting him young
