Hoppdoc,

Just a suggestion from someone who hates hard recoil (I love gentle or slow recoil, though). Please buy your son a muzzleloading double rifle. Pedersoli and Transitions both have nice muzzleloading doubles, the Pedersoli a SxS in 50, 54 and 72 calibre and the Transitions people a more modern U/O in 50 cal but built to take heavier (150 g of Ffg BP compared to 100 for the Pedersoli)loads.

My hat's off to you for your superb decision to buy your son a double rifle. He is one lucky yung man!