Most youth friendly ELK caliber

[swehrman]

After doing some searching most states require .24 caliber or larger, but Kentucky does require a .270 or larger for elk.

-- Scott

 

[Dgd6mm]

7-08

 

[primers]

i used a 7x57 for years for my two boys as they were growing up..shot a few elk with that gun...have re loaded for years now so that helped when they got a little bigger and we could load a little more "go" in there...also a good deer and antelope gun...was a ruger 77...very accurate for a stock rifle..

 

[Akbushape]

I agree with Dennisinaz. The savage 250 would be a good choice
for an "average size 12 year", if there is such a thing
I've seen some 12 year olds that were pretty big lads. I wasn't,
and I was shooting the 300 savage at 10 years old simply because I didn't have any thing smaller.
I do think it is a good idea not to over gun a young shooter.
The 250 savage would do the job, and if you can put a good recoil pad on it and even a muzzle brake so much the better.
I hope your son's first elk hunt is a very positive experience
and bless you for taking him out and doing things with him. Not
enough fathers these day's doing that.