With all due respect to the great replies you've received here, I'm pretty sure your son will be happy if he chooses the Edge/Axis. I bought my .223 Edge last fall as a coyote hunting rifle, and I've been very pleased overall. It's a great little shooter, it's lightweight and comfortable to carry to and from my stands, the trigger works fine for me, it always goes bang, and it doesn't complain one bit if a little rain or snow falls on us before we get back to the car. I'm sure there are better guns out there, and the points expressed in favor of the Stevens 200 are all well-taken. But sometimes we all listen to our hearts, instead of our heads, and learn from the experience. Whatever he decides, be happy and supportive of his choice, and may you both enjoy many years of happy shooting together!