I'm kinda with Capt Beach....especially for the first one. Get a reasonable gun to learn with. If he gets a "lemon" factory gun, he can get it tuned up at a local gunsmith without having to get a second mortgage. Spend a little extra on a good trigger and some decent glass. I'm glad I started with a78 dodge ramcharger(parts kit M4 on a superior lower) and worked my way up.
As for the varmint hunting portion, will these include yotes or foxes? If it's a varmint that pays attention to their surroundings, get yourself C-Mag magazines. They fit nice and tight and don't twang/rattle as you shift your position for the shot. Or you could get some cheap 20 rounders and stick toothpicks between the magwell/magazine (been there myself). Also if you're thinking 'yotes past 100 yards, my experience is the 55grn softpoint hornady's penetrate well and put them down.
As we all know, this Black Rifle Disease is nasty stuff. By the time you get this first one figured out, you'll know more about what you want/need for your specific situation. You'll get yourself a 24" fluted bull with 1 in 8" twist so you can shoot 69 hp's or whatever your heart desires.
I got this pic from a friend and it sums it up, sopmod "It's like barbie for men."
Good luck with it,
Southbreeze
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