For the life of me I can't figure out why people like the Savage 99. They actions are rough, the triggers suck, the receiver is round in the back which makes drilling and tapping it next to impossible to do if Savage didn't do it when they made it, and they are ugly as home made soap. Sorry frizzellr.[&:]

For a first big game rifle I would highly reccomend a compact bolt action rifle in 308, 7mm-08, 257 Roberts, 260 Rem, 6mm rem. Thick woods or long range it would make a very effective and versatile rifle. The .308 would be, by far, the easiest to find a wide range of ammo just about any where you go. It is an extremely versatile round that will allow you to hunt everything from coyote size animals up to elk and moose.

I would top it with a compact scope in the 2-7X or 2-8X range. The 2 power will be plenty low enough to give you very fast target aquasition in the thick stuff.

Don't believe any of that "brush busting" junk that you may here about the big bore bullets. There is no such thing as a bullet that will go through brush and not deflect. A big bullet will deflect just like a small bullet. A brush gun is simply a gun that is small and light enough to allow you to handle it quickly and easily in thick cover. This could be anything........ a bolt, lever, semi auto, or pump action.


I am not dismissing any of the other types of rifles as being very good rifles but for a first one you should pick one that will give you the most versatility and "bang for your buck". A lever action is not it IMO.