When my son was 10 I bought him a Ruger American bolt action for Christmas. Nice stainless model with polymer stock and medium profile threaded barrel. I had to buy the shorter LOP spacer for him. Mounted a Nikon 4-12x scope. I think a bolt action is the best first rifle. Teaches them how to run a bolt and trigger control. If I had it to do over again I'd bought him a nice CZ 457 with that nice Turkish walnut since it would be a rifle he'll keep