I would get him a Tikka T3 Stainless Lite in 308.
Maybe get a McMillan stock if you feel generous.
It will last him a lifetime, handle any weather and climate.
If he starts loving rifles, as well as hunting, he will probably upgrade to Walnut and Blued steel.

Explain him this is a stupid simple gun.
Its made better then 95% of all new American rifles.
Its field strippable and the trigger will handle dust and dirt better then nearly anything.

Tikka looked at the Sako TRG-22 sniper rifle, made to function in all out winter warfare against Russia.
Shaved of a few lbs and gave it a single stage trigger..

And Taaadaaa... a Hunting Rifle.


The US in the last 40 years:

Socialism for big corporations and military industrial complex

&

Rugged individualism for the individual.