Free: Contests & Raffles.
I buy Winchester Power Points in 270 and 30/06 for $19.99. Can you get 7/08 for that price?
I agree- ammo cost isn't a big factor. Availability is more of an issue, and that's why I like to stick with the most common cartridges- 243, 308, 270, and 30/06.
Oh and by the way, Superformance is not the ammo you want for a young person. My brother had a black and blue, bruised up shoulder after only shooting around half a box. And that's the 7/08's claim to fame- low recoil.
Yep, that illustrates the fact that the ammo used is more important than which cartridge it happens to be. Low recoil loads can be purchased for the 270, 308, and 30/06 as well.
I think a common mistake is picking too mild a caliber that the youth outgrows. You can tone down a 30-06 with milder ammo, but you can't turn a 243 into a 30-06.