I can't agree with babsfish4life about the .30/06 for a beginning shooter eleven years old. It's a great all-around caliber, but the recoil would be much too severe for a youngster. If you get a chance to test-fire one before making your decision, I would urge you to do so. You'll be glad you did.

A much more suitable caliber would be the .243 Win. in a bolt action rifle shooting a 100 grain bullet. I know you didn't ask about action type, but you would do well to stay away from semi-automatics and slide action types, as they tempt you to focus on follow-up shots to the detriment of making that first shot count.

That 6.8 Rem SPC you used in the Contender to take your blacktail is a great round. Low recoil, great ballistics, and, from your results, good performance. Not a round you see a lot of people using, so that is cool.

If you are considering other rounds with very low recoil there's the .243 Win or old .250 Savage. If you are ready the .260 Rem, .257 Roberts, .25-06, 6.5x55mm, 7mm-08, 7x57, or .35 Rem are the next step up in recoil.

Since you are only 11, I would recomend a smaller caliber such as the .243. It won't kick too bad...

7mm

Ok, a 30/06 may be big for an 11 year old but define "big game". If you plan on only hunting deer I would say go with something smaller than a 30/06, but "deer and big game" sounds like deer and something bigger. If you plan on shooting something bigger than a deer (elk?) I would say a 30/06 would be hands down the best caliber being quite a minimum because of age. At least kylepountney shouldn't get after me for suggesting a big caliber.

A 30-06 will have WAY too much recoil for an 11 year old. My best friend's dad gave him a 30-06 to use his first year deer hunting and he was so scared of the recoil, he never hit anything. It soured him on deer hunting... not good! I agree with Clay... a 25-06 with 100 grain bullet has about the same recoil as a .243 but much more killing power. If you can reload, you can load down to 75 grain bullets for varmint hunting too that have practically no recoil at all. A .243 is a nice rifle but a 25-06 is even more versatile and will last you a lifetime. A woman took one of the largest elk harvested in South Dakota with her's this year. I would advise that you be recoil conscious. My 14 year old niece is still using a .223 because of the low recoil and loves it. I was with her last year when she decked a buck at 150 yards with it. She is using that and a .243 this year. Good luck... if possible shoot it first and see what you think.

the 243. win , 257. roberts , 25 06 will work very well for you on most middle size game and wont thump you to hard while doing it

Like posted above 243 or 270, plenty of nock down power and flat shooting out a ways. I agree with 99explorer about the actions. Still away from auto and pumps, I think the good ole bolt is a great action. Good luck hunting!!!

I'd say you already have a 100 yd rifle little lady.
Nice Buck by the way ! Your 6.8 will do you just fine till you get a little bigger or need a bigger round.
then stick with the ol' 06'.
MLH listed some other FINE one's too ! (+1 for you).

I would say a .270 It doesnt kick hard but gives you all the power you need to take down most big game in america

i got my first rifle when i was 11, it was a remington model 700 mountain rifle in 7mm-08. Im 21 now and still using it to this day. it is an awesome round and every deer i have shot with it has dropped or only gone no more than 30 yards. another thing about the remington 700 mountain rifle is that it is compact and short, perfect for smaller guy. it is a real light rifle and easy to handle and shoot with low recoil in the 7mm-08. the 7mm-08 is also a flat shooting gun, ive shot deer at 300 yrds no problem. it basically has the ballistics of a .308 but with the ballistic coefficient of a 7mm.

I am 12 and I say that you should be great with a 308. I am suprised no one has said this to much. it has the same punch of the 270 but less recoil. I have to say I love my 20 gauge and with slug that would work out to one hundred yards. If you can handle a little punch like me than a 308 is best

a 243 or 7mm-08