Looking to buy a new gun.
So i'm fairly new to hunting and looking for firearm advice. I live in northern Ohio, but my best friend recently purchased 125 acres in Tennessee. We hunted down there this year on the fly and had a really good time.
I'm looking to purchase a new firearm cause this is America. It's essentially going to be my Tennessee deer rifle. My budget is $1500 complete including tax/scope/rings everything.
I would like a gun that:
shots flat at 125 yards
is light
appropriate for varmints
is new
known for reliability
i prefer a wood look
The two that pop in my head right away were the Ruger no 1 and the Mini 14.
Any advice, words of wisdom or considerations would be appreciated.