I am totally against muzzle brakes especially for young kids! It only takes one time and the young man can LOSE his hearing or damage it badly in the inner ear, if he forgets putting in his ear plugs or wearing his ear-muffs. Then the ringing in the ears starts and never goes away......called Tinnitus {NO CURE EITHER!!!)

Now for less then $40 dollars, you can give hime a PASTV RECOIL PAD that fits his shoulder, then he can fire a bigger rifle even if need be. It will make that 25-06 feel like he is firing a .223 caliber. I did this with all of my children growing up and never had any problems with recoil bothering them or flinching because of recoil.