On that budget, for a beginner, I would recommend the JG G36, for the following reasons,
1, He buys an ICS, and is getting smoked on the Field by Tuned, SRC´s, Stars, CA´s, Echo-1´s, he has no more money for the tuning that he needs.
2, Starting with one of the `` KNOWN NAMED ´´ brands, may be a safe bet for quality, but every manufacture has its lemons.
3, Most `` Named ´´ brands don´t hold up to punishment well, He is a new Player, his first gun is going to get put threw the ringer, Th JG is sturdy, can take a beating, and is a good starting base for learning how to Tune and Modify.
4, The money Saved can be invested into the hobby for things that he needs, What does a great gun do you when you don´t have Goggles or Glasses, how about extra mags, Uniform, boots, gloves, hat, Vest, Camelback, extra Pouches, BB´s, tuning parts, repair parts, HKV, Bino´s, Compass, NVD´s,Tac-light,Laser,Thermal Scope, Motion Alarm, Infrared EWD´s, Mines, Grenades, Radio, Ear-Bone Mic,........Sorry got a little carried away there, the point being, he should start slow but with quality, and a gun that is not going to let him down, and the JG delivers.
Just MHO