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My advice is probably worth less than you're paying for it, especially since my large game rifle is an older Winchester 670 in .30-06.
First, lighter gun = greater felt recoil. I have a T3 in .243 that is noticeably lighter than the .30-06 and it's fine, but I'm a bit wary of shooting a T3 in any .308 caliber.
Second, the T3X recoil pad is supposed to be better than the older T3 recoil pads. Have your son wear a shooting pad under his jacket and I think he'll be fine.
Third, I use Remington Core Lokt Express ammunition and it has worked very well for me. I think I'd use 180 grain ammunition in a .30-06 for elk unless the shooter is exceptionally good.
Fourth, from what I've read and been told (rather than what I know), I think your son's 7mm is the better choice for elk than his .243. I regard a .243 as a small deer/antelope/coyote gun. Elk have been taken with lots of different calibers but it is always better to be “over-gunned” rather than “under-gunned” as I learned while watching a good friend shoot a kudu in Africa with a .257 Roberts that we then had to find…in the dark.
Last thing. I prefer to get close. I'm very confident of my ability to hit the kill zone at 100 yards and less confident as the distance approaches 200. I'd rather let one that's beyond my comfort zone get away than have to chase it down (been there, done that once for me and once for a friend, long story).
