Thank for the detailed info and new ideas/ sources. will look into them.P15, P35 or Stoeger Bullshark. The first two are SPA and only available in the U. S. from Krale (who is not in the U. S. but ships here). I have 3 P35s. The P15 is the lightest, has a wood stock and is rear cocking. It weighs about 4.5 lbs unscoped. The others have plastic stocks, are center cocking and weigh a little over 5 lbs unscoped. They are all regulated. They are under 30 inches long and have 450mm barrels. It sounds like you have worked him up to this but these are not toys, of course. The 25 caliber will come tuned for about 40 fpe, the 22 a little over 30 and the 177 almost 20 fpe. All will take squirrels cleanly with pellets they like. Mine like H&Ns more than JSBs and Baracuda Match seem to be their favorite (or possibly just the most consistent). My 22 has twice put 3 pellets into exactly the same hole at 25 yards. The 177 is a little less accurate and the 25 the least accurate but it will still put 3 into a quarter inch group at 25 yards. Plenty accurate for most purposes. You should be able to get one under $500. The Stoeger should be available from a U. S. distributor and I have heard good things about customer service on parts. I am pretty sure SPA makes the Bullshark for Stoeger. Almost all the parts seem to be the same. They also have effective shrouds (although the P15 and 35 need a cheap hair curler mod) and can be below 90 db pretty easily.
Upvote 0