If it was me, I would let him use it. It will mean much more to him and any grandchild if it had real memories than if it just becomes a safe queen. Scratches are part of the story.
Velocity ladders are great way to work up loads quickly. Something seems off on this one - Wrong powder? Wrong range? Problem with powder scale? Wrong bullet? I would try again with a different powder and work up from the median loading book load up to max load. I would also check the powder...
I wouldn’t mind a “no brake” rule at the range (for any cartridge). Shoot whatever you like, but then live with the recoil and muzzle rise you chose. Don’t divert your recoil into powder blast in my face. I am a big fan of you do you until you make your problem into my problem. Basic courtesy...
Who knows if they are even legal in 20 yrs. I would guess the long term trajectory is not good for gun owners.
But for now, better to enjoy hearing safe shooting today than to worry about an unknown future.
I really like bergara premier actions and tikkas. Both are smooth, both have really good factory triggers and both are very accurate. I have multiples of each - can’t go wrong with either.
The answer is to move the Raiders back to Oakland. And then have every team's "17th game" be in the Vegas stadium, a neutral site. It would be a huge windfall for NFL & vegas as 16 weekends a year as the fans of the two teams would flood the city -- maybe even play this as all of the Thursday...
With my old doubles (this being the 3rd) I am following @BrentD's advice and shooting RST shells which are gentle on older guns. But they are stupid expensive -- but I only shoot at 10-12 birds a year so not a big deal in the big picture.
Choke work definitely on the action plan.