RE: First time female shooter, What Caliber?
Unless she is shooting waaaaay out there... get a Marlin 336 in 30-30. It'll do the job, and confound the uninformed who think it insufficient. Ammo is cheap, the cartridge sufficient, Marlin quality is good, and it is very classy. Put a fixed 4x or a 2-7 scope on it, and she'll be good to go.