NO!

The 710 is crap, it has plastic in the receiver, and it breaks. It's not manufactured anymore, so if it breaks, you won't find any spare parts for it.

I would personally rather go with a Remington SPS in 30-06 or .308 Win, the Savage 111 isn't a bad choice either, but if you want a gun you can use for a long time, the SPS is better, depending on what model Savage you're comparing it to. Weatherby Vanguard is also a good gun, you can find them at Wal-Mart. About $350-$400, I suppose.
30-06 is a great cartridge, and so is the .308, you don't need to change your mind there, and if someone claims he needs a .243, he can't be serious, a sixteen-year old can handle a 30-06 or a .308, or he's a pansy.

I personally don't believe there is such a thing as a "starting gun", I think that a person should get a good quality, reliable rifle, that he can use for a long time. I got a good gun, and I won't "need" a better gun than what I have, my .308 Win.

I'm sorry if my username confuses you, I never have had a .243, and the very idea of one, I don't like, I just chose the username, because my dad told me to put this at the end, I have sent in a request for my name to be changed by the admin, but apparently, they haven't been on, and I'm stuck with this name...for now, and like I already said, my gun is a .308, not a .243.