Scrap the camo.... save about $50-100 dollars.
The 2000 is prob the way to go unless you pick up an older model 1100. Never know what you might find used. Plenty of Beretta 390s floating around for under $600... and I've been shooting my silver mallard over a decade and its an awesome gun.
I'd advise him to go on and get a 12 gauge, because if he doesn't this year, he'll want one next year. I started on a 12 when I was 11 years old.... heck now I shoot the 20 way more. But if I could only have one... it'd be a 12