Nice to see a few posts actually answered your question. I can never figure out how people don't understand when a question is asked about a GUN or a RIFLE that is is not enough to say ".243" or "30/06".

These are cartridges, the ammunition that goes into a GUN or RIFLE.

And a few posters have asked you an important question, what type of hunting or shooting do you intend to do? What kind of game do you intend to hunt mostly? What is your age, size and relative experience shooting various guns?

The kind of GUN and the kind of cartridge, for you, really depend on those factors.

My daughter and son started out shootinga shortened .22 single shot I bought and modified for them. Then I got a Rem. modle 788 bolt action in .243 for them to shoot and eventually hunt deer and pronghorn with. I have not been that happy with the performance on game of the .243. Wish I had gotsomething a little"bigger". A simple, short, light bolt gun in 6.5X55 Sweedish mauser or a.260 rem. or a 7mm08.

I think rifles chambered in .243 are better suited to more experienced hunters than "starters".

Robin in Rocky