got air rifles running out of my ears .. Diana air rifles has always delivered max value.I think it would depend on his age, size, and experience. What’s his price point?
PCPs would be out for me due to cost of gun/pump easy to spend a grand here. To me a hunting rifle is a better youth choice. These can take down deer size game.
A gun at Walmart may be his best choice IMO. Hard to beat a Gamo, Beeman, or Sheridan. I’d get .22 cal for the cost/benefit myself. Most of these guns are rated with light pellets, I shoot lead. You should be able to get a good one for $99 to $150. .22 cal should be rated around 900 fps.
Here’s the two I own, these guns are as heavy as a real rifle and built that way as well, These guns will last a lifetime. The 48 is very easy to cock, the 34 is like any other break barrel, not bad but takes some effort.
I also have .177 and a .22 cal from Walmart that are fine. The difference is quality and the triggers. The accuracy to me would be a comparison between a semiautomatic and a bolt.
The real advantage to the .177 to me would be many brands let you shoot bbs as well for cheap plinking.
my .02
Diana RWS 34 Review – Is It Worth Your Money? | [September Updated]
If you’re in search of an effective rifle to take down small game at a range of 70 yards, the Diana RWS 34 .22 caliber airgun is an excellent choice.thegunzone.com
Top Air Rifle Under $300 - Diana RWS 34 w/T06 Trigger - TheBestAirRifle.com
The RWS 34 T06 trigger in the .22 is a sizzling, "uber"-accurate small game/pest air rifleyou should cherish for a lifetime with only minimal attention.www.thebestairrifle.com
The sidewinders are easy to cock.
Editor's Pick For $400 - Diana RWS 48 / T06 Trigger - TheBestAirRifle.com
No matter how big your collection, we're confident that the RWS 48 is likely the first rifle you'll grab when power & competition-grade accuracy is needed.www.thebestairrifle.com
had a number of RWS in the past. beeman R1 in .22 with custom macari stock is my fav for squirrel. but quit killing squirrels cause I never enjoyed eating em ..
it's always about ft lb energy .. beeman was the one that started arms race by bragging beeman R1 could do 1,000 fps .. never mind that was achieved with super light pellets. but R1 truly was the first magnum air rifle sold in America. also have R1 in .177 pretty heavy air rifle.
growing up in Tulsa we had an old pump up benjamin ..
what I shot the most is an old beeman R7 with trigger set to 1lb 8oz .. or same as my deer hunting rifle .270 at same 1lb 8oz.
firm believer in getting trigger time with air rifles ..