The 760/7600 is not a bolt in the traditional sense.  BUT it is a turn bolt action, the bolt actually rotates with the action to lock the barrel.

These are extremely accurate rifles (shoot with the accuracy of a regular bolt action.  The Barrels are free floating also.  and they come in Lefty versions.  A 243 or a 308 would be a fine starting rifle.  You son could stay with it forever even.

It is the rifle I recommend for dads with left handed sons.  Some advantages are it is heavy and absorbs recoil.  It you buy the older model 760  in a right handed model it is very easy to just change the safety to left handed.  If you are not comfortable with working on the safety/trigger mechanism any smith can do it cheap.

There are some nice new 35 Remingtons now available, but they might be more than your son can handle, but great deer rifles.  The guns come in carbine and rifle versions.

One last thought.  CHECK if your son is right eye dominant.  many kids are left handed and right eye dominate; if so get him a right handed gun and he will shoot it better..

It is also a very viable thing to teach a starting Lefty shooter to shoot right handed from the beginning.  If he has been shooting lefty for years it is more difficult.

BEAR

Schlep;

Of course, if the kid is left eye dominant, just continue to let him shoot off the left shoulder.

Don't be afraid to find a used left hand bolt either.  The Remington 788 was made in a left bolt version in 6mm & .308.  I have a 6mm & it's a shooter.  The Rem 700's are also made in a variety of calibers in left.  As are the Ruger 77's and Winchester's.  However, trying to find a Winchester new model classic left for under $500.00 these days is gonna be a trick.

There are some Euro's in LHB too, but not within the budget I think.  But I get kinda goofy when I think of a 1950 LHB Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in 6.5 X 55 Swede. 

900F

CB900F wrote: Schlep But I get kinda goofy.  900F

See? Wrong handedness affects the brain.

DD

Fella's;

But quoting out of context is an indication of outright insanity.

 900F

http://www.gunpartscorp.com - www.gunpartscorp.com

http://www.e-gunparts.com - www.e-gunparts.com

 Also I gotta agree with Bear I have a couple of 760's and 7600's all are great hunting rifles. Also how about a lever gun,don't know where you hunt but I just picked up a Ruger mod. 96 in .44 mag,shoots good and not recoil. I know this is a small bit over your budget but,fine rifle will last him many years and they have been going up since they came out.

  http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=50238760 - http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=50238760

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=50240054 - http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=50240054

Right now I have two guns at the smith getting prepped for prairie dogs. One is a LH Savage Model 11 in .243, which is a great gun and the other is a LH Rem 700 in 22-250.

The guns are out there, it just depends on how much you want to spend. I was able to find  the 22-250 for under 500 dollars, but it took a while. The Savage on the other hand was even less than your budget, even after putting a Nikon Buckmaster on it. (the scope was a Midway closeout).

bob

Schlep;

If the Remington 788 does not have a mag, it is a bad deal!  Magazines for 6mm Remington 788's are now typically running $100.00, or more.  Beware the 6mm mags that have been converted from something else, they rarely work well.

900F

OUCH!!!!  Well, that sux!!!

"...I found a Rem 788 6mm for $250, needs a bolt and a mag, but looks in great shape otherwise.  Is this a fair price?  And, are there LH bolts available? "

Seems a fir price would be free.  Clips are tough and expensive.  LH bolts somewhat tougher, and YOU WILL NEED TO GET IT HEADSPACED BY A "SMITH THAT HAS SOME 6MM GO-NO-GO GAGES.

Probably get that manlicher by the time you are done and you would still only have 788!

BEAR