RE: First real rifle - mostly for dear, What would you get?
How about a .30-30 lever gun? Marlin is good and easy to find. Also easy to mount a scope on. With new LEVERevolution ammo it can be a 200 yard gun! Although Winchester is out of business, a Model 94 wouldn't be very hard to find. Great guns, just not as easy to mount a scope. Just my 2cents.