re: Remington 700 .308

quote:

---

Get the son to handle multiple rifles and see what feels good in his hands.

---

1+.
-If you've got heart set on the Remington that's one thing, but if not, there are a lot of fine guns to consider in that price range. Some that come to mind include bolt actions made by Ruger, Savage, Mossberg, Howa, Weatherby (Vanguard) and possibly Browning.
-308 Win is a fine choice for a starter deer rifle, especially for the non-handloader. If your son's sensitive to recoil, look for reduced recoil ammo. When my son started deer hunting at 10 y/o, I bought him a Savage bolt action in 308 Win. If you come across a great deal, the 7-08 would be my #2 choice. OTOH, the 7-08 has some ammo availability disadvantages.
-I've never had a deer hunting rifle w/ a bull barrel. For typical deer hunting, it has no advantages but does add weight.

Keep us updated.