For starters?..... .243

Depends....If you are not a shooter and just starting you can't beat a .22 for practise. Inexpensive to buy and cheap to shoot. Perfect gun to learn both shooting and safety skills. For hunting a great gun to start out with is the 30-30. I prefer the Marlin to the Winchester but that is personal preference. I started my first son off with a 30-30 but was introduced to the 7-08 and ended up buying one for my second son as his first hunting rifle. What a sweet cal. Check out the ballistics on the 7-08, they really impressed me. Nice short action, little recoil, and respectable down range hitting power. I also have a .243 but after shooting the 7-08, I think it will have better hitting power due to the heavier grain bullet. What ever cal. and/or make/model of gun you choose it has to feel good when you shoulder it. The cal. also depends on the type of hunting you will be doing as well as location you will be doing most of your hunting in.

Another vote for the 7MM-08 if you are talking about a rifle for hunting deer and other deer size game. If its your first then I would also say a good 22 rimfire.

.243 or .270

Whatever feels good to you, but dont buy cheap garbage because your a starter.A good gun can last for a life time.

hahaha... .243... It's not just for starters any more...

I'd say a .30-30 lever gun.

For what purpose? A gun you choose to shoot deer is bound to differ from one you use for elk, moose, squirrels, jackrabbits, or elephant...............

I would suggest for the younger shooter, any shorter length rifle from .223 to 7mm-08. This includes, .243 ,.6mm, .260, .25-06, .308, or the .257. These are all fast flat cartridges that have less recoil than most larger calibers. A youth model maybe okay but there are some gun like the Remington Model 7, 770, Winchester M70 featherwieght (hard to find), Browning Micro Medallion, or the Savage 110. Find something that fits. The most money saving model would bethe Rem 770 and it has a scope. A nice lever action or cabine has prolly been nearly everyones first gun. 30-30 or 32 Win SPL had taken more deer than almost any other cartridge. It is venerable. If you are looking for something bigger in power, the 30-06 or .270, or .280 is there, but you now get managed recoil loads by Remington in the 30-06, 270, 7mm Magnum,. They kick less but perform nearly as well.