What caliber would you choose?

[bearpaw]

Any of the calibers will do the trick, but if I had to choose one of the calibers mentioned:

I would choose the 270 with Remington Corelok 100 gr ammo or Barnes 110 grain, both loads are fast and flat shooting, one over 3300 and the other over 3400 fps, easily good to 200 or 300 yards, recoil light. Later in life the youth can use heavier bullets if desired and have an all around rifle.

[Skillet]

My 11 year old shoots my 300 with a muzzle brake all the time. He shot his deer this year with it at 546 yds.

Is your 11 year old actually a small-framed 10 year old?

I think an 11 year old shooting a 300 mag, brake or not, it's a little unusual.  Probably not his first gun, either...

[Boss .300 winmag]

Get a .308 with muzzle brake!  good for elk or anything else in the lower 48.

My daughter used one this year for her first deer she only weighs 145 no problem with out the break, just used a tree side for stability. 

[h2ofowlr]

I purchased my 10 year old a Tikka T3 .7mm-08.  Worked perfect for him.  I was going to get the youth model, but the out grow them so fast I went with the full sized.  Dumped 2 deer this year, one shot each.

[Boss .300 winmag]

My 11 year old shoots my 300 with a muzzle brake all the time. He shot his deer this year with it at 546 yds.

Is your 11 year old actually a small-framed 10 year old?

I think an 11 year old shooting a 300 mag, brake or not, it's a little unusual.  Probably not his first gun, either...

 My oldest at 9 shot her first blackie with a .300 winmag with muzzle break with added rest! 

[Skillet]

Well, I'd say you both have every right to be proud.  Sounds like your nine-year-old daughter could relieve me of my lunch money anytime she wanted. 
But I tend to agree with your first suggestion on the .308 as a more suitable round given the OP's criteria.

[mountainman]

7-08

[Miles]

I am wondering what caliber would be best for a small framed 10 year old but big enough for elk at 100 yards. Recoil needs to be mild. Thanks for your input.

look at the 6.5 x 55 swede.

[X-Force]

7mm-08 or 260, 6.5 creed

Cant go wrong with any of them.

[Curly]

My 7-08 kicked the hell out of my shoulder and left a bruise for a week. That was with less than half a box of 140 gr Superformance ammo. After loading some 120 gr barnes, I didn't have a problem with recoil.

I normally shoot a 300 win mag but picked up a Ruger American in 7-08 last year. I am a lot bigger than a light framed 10 year old. My point is make sure you also have appropriate ammo for light recoil.

[fish-on37]

Again, thanks for the input. Took a look at the Chuck Hawks site. Good info on there. Will be putting my Kimber up for trade on here.

[timberfaller]

  2 for the 6.5x55 Swede!!

[bear hunter]

Don't forget the 300 Savage. It was around before the 308 and killed a lot of elk in it hay day, but the 308 is better I like them both. Great round for little people. I picked one up for 100.00 years ago it was in great shape but needed a stock. It is a Remington 760 made in 1953. You can find it in Savage 99 levers to pumps. I think they might of made them in bolt to. You can buy bullet weight 150gr to 180gr and load them to 200gr. GOOD LIKE AND HAPPY HUNTING 

[257 Wby Mag]

243 is a giant killer.

[Biggerhammer]

.243 Win or a .308 Win.