Birthday comin' up, and looking forward to getting into shooting and hunting. I know there are a lot of opinions, and I am really enjoying reading all of them. This post is pretty much my train of thought on the gun I have decided on, and I was hoping those with more experience than myself (i.e. - pretty much everyone on this board) could tell me if my logic is flawed.

Based on some discussion and research, I have been leaning towards a Savage, probably the 30-06 for a couple of reasons:

-"jack of all trades" caliber for big game, and I'll be going after deer, elk, and moose eventually.

-easy to find and somewhat cheaper ammunition

-Good reputation. Savage seems to be pretty popular for an affordable rifle with great performance.

If I am wrong about any of these points, or if there are better options, please fill me in. I was also intrigued by the T/C Encore and/or Savage Muzzleloader, but I'm not entirely savvy on their pros and cons for a novice.

Any and all advice is much appreciated.

By the way, I sould mention that I will only be able to afford one firearm, and I have heard suggestions of getting a .22 to practice with first, but to be perfectly honest, I figure I might as well get what I would be using in nine months anyway and practice my butt off.