Let me tell you a little something about a California kid leaving the state, shooting something illegal in CA, and coming back with the bragging rights.
For Spring Break back in March I went to my grandparents house in New Mexico with one of my friends from church. On the second-to-last day before we left, he lent us his AK-47 and 100 rounds to blow off.
<side note>We bought 750 rounds of .22 between us since he had never shot a real gun before and I don't get to shoot very often. We shot off every last one. </side note>
Neither of us had even SEEN an AK-47 in real life and non airsoft before. He had never held a gun bigger than .22 before. I had fired an SKS but it wasn't anywhere near as impressive. We nicknamed the AK "Thunder" because when you're in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico in a canyon, the sound waves kind of go all over the place. Every shot sounded like its own thunderstorm. After each of our first shots (I let him go first and YES I taught him the safety rules) our faces lit up. Smiles ear to ear. We got it on video and shot some pictures. I will remember that day for the rest of my life.
On that day, we swore to each other that, when presented the chance and out of the bondage of CA, we would each buy an AK-47 as soon as we had the money for it and ammo.
When we got back, we were viewed as kings by the other youth guys (we're both 16) and terrorists by the adults. Every male was jealous to the bone. Keep in mind that most Californian youth think that the AWB is nationwide and that nobody except a Middle Eastern terrorist would use an AK. We had more bragging rights than anyone else.
There was nothing better. I even saved the last round for my collection (yes, I am trying to collect one round of every caliber).
So don't take what you guys have for granted.
But anyway, I think you should get the 9mm for your nephew. Recoil isn't too much but isn't too little. Good balance (if I can remember three years ago well enough)