I've got a Browning .223. Nothing is more fun to shoot than a .223. Factory ammo is about the cheapest of any caliber, yet most of it will shoot amazingly well. Tikka makes a nice .223 as well. I wouldn't put a cheap scope on anything. I've tried cheap optics, only to be dissappointed (Tasco, Bushnell, and Simmons). The Wally World models just won't hold a zero or stay together. Some of the higher end models by the same manufacturers will, but not the cheapies. I would also plan on getting a trigger job. Most factory triggers are set too heavy. Remington makes a nice gun, but man are their triggers set heavy. A .223 is also a great caliber for varmint hunting.

If you think you might want to try your hand at deer sized game, you might try a 25-06. It shoots flatter and will shoot a little further than the .223. Larger bullets dpn't drift as bad, either, when shooting long distances in windy conditions. A .243 or 6MM would also fit the bill. Recoil is low enough these are still fun for all day shooting.

By the way, welcome to the forums.