He'll do fine petey, wouldn't hesitate to let youngster who can shoot use a plain ole soft point 55 gr, wouldn't reccomend the polymer tipped ones though. at close range with strict instructions for a lung shot 223's do fine.
This was a 55 gr sp from a 9 twist remmy 7615, the deer was about 80 yards broadside, I instructed the daughter to hold just behind the front shoulder for the simple reason its where I would have shot cause its a bigger target and because I do not remember what shooting was like before tobacco, caffiene, and alcahol put the smack down on my CNS.
Any ways, she aimed a bit! BANG!, deer fell over. she was elated, knew something was up, she had that look on her face. we find this
Well I had to do something, she didn't follow instructions so I began.
You do know that the brain is the absolutely smallest killing target on a whitetail don't you, and you know what would have happened if you pulled off just a bit?
Her head cocked off to the side, a hand went to her hip, "Daddy, the crosshairs settled there, the shot felt good, I knew I could hit where I aimed. and besides, you make me shoot squirrels in the head and they're way smaller!" OK, I was out of the fight so I said let me show ya how to gut them, her response was "thats what I thought I brought you along for!" Just like her mother!
RR