If I were in the market for my first shotgun, I'd definately go with the Stoeger. Go to a gun shop and compare it to other pumps in the same price range or even pumps that are double the price. You'll fall in love. It's way nicer than my Mossberg 500. My 500 is a great gun though. Plus, the Stoeger P-350 can shoot any shotgun shell. 2-3/4", 3" and 3.5". My 500 can't shoot the 3.5" shells.

For a rifle, you just can't go wring with a 30-06. I've been looking around for one myself. Any time I need a rifle, I borrow my stepdad's gun. But I recently got into hog hunting and am going to get my own rifle. I think that just about any rifle out there will be a good one. Personally, my favorite rifle I've looked at is the Remington 700 BDL. You can hold it and tell that it's a really nice quality gun. I also like the Weatherby. It's so pretty, I'd hate to take it in the woods and scratch it up! Another nice gun is the Browning A-bolt. I don't think it's all that great looking, but on the bolt action, it only has a 60 degree bolt throw as opposed to a 90 degree throw like most other bolt actions. The 60 degree would be great for a gun with a scope. A .300 Win-Mag is a great gun too. Maybe a bit overkill for some things, but it won't kill anything deader than a 30-06 will. Ammo costs more for the .300 and sometimes your selections are less. I'd still say you should buy a 30-06, but you'd be happy with a 300 as well. There's nothing in NJ that you can't hunt with a 30-06.

NJ is one of the worst states for guns and hunting. They sure know how to make everything a real pain in the ass. I grew up in Oklahoma and was used to how relaxed the gun laws are here. I was stationed at McGuire AFB in NJ for a few years and those gun laws drove me crazy! I didn't do any hunting when I was there. Their rule on .22 ammo is rediculous. I forgot about that until you mentioned it. I think that California comes up with some stupid new gun law and New Jersey follows suit. Ugh.

Now I'm stationed in Oklahoma. Gun laws here are great. As long as you're 18, not a felon and you have cash, you can buy anything you want. If you go to a gun show here, nobody asks any questions about anything as long as you have the cash.