The BSA Lightning XL SE , to me, is a lovely looking gun, compact, very printable, but sadly the examples I've tried were very "jumpy" and not pleasant to shoot. The GRT (has ram technology) replaces a spring with a gas strut and apparently this makes the recoil even sharper. The lightning also has a reputation of being a scope wrecker due to the sharp recoil. I was seriously considering buying one, but once I'd had a chance to shoot one I was severely disappointed as on paper, it seemed to be just what I was looking for. For your friends asking price, you could buy a Weihrauch HW99S and a 3-9x40 Nikko Sterling Mountmaster scope which is a much better gun than the lightning. Somebody else will be along soon to tell you about the 99s. I get to use my mates now and then and it's hard to believe how good these guns are at the price. Try your mates gun, you might like it but keep a HW99 in mind.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Steve
.22 HW 110 ST
.22 HW97 KT Blackline STL
Walther CP88 Competition Nickel