you can alway's go with a ar platform either .223 or 308 depending on how much power your looking for but the .223 is plenty of gun for deer when using a good quality bullet good out to 300 yards and certainly a good varmit caliber just throwing it out there even though i'm probably going to hear a lot of boo hoo's about it ? lol

No boo hoos, just the truth I won't be the person who is using a marginal firearm, I have no reason to boo hoo I wouldn't use one for deer or any other big game. There are much better calibers available for big game that will be legal in most states and are superior to the .223. Why anyone would recommend a marginal caliber to a brand new hunter is beyond me!

$1,500 is a great budget and you can definitely get a quality set up! I'm sure you have heard the saying about buying quality equipment once instead of cheap equipment several times over. In the long run, quality is less expensive. So here are some points to consider:

A bolt action rifle is the simplest to use and most accurate. I would stay with a bolt.

I know you are going to hunt deer in Tenn, but chances are you will eventually hunt other game. Get a caliber that will allow you to do so. Instead of a .243, get a .270 or 30-06 both of which are very versatile.

A couple of years ago I decided I wanted a 300 Win Mag for Elk hunting (you can easily shoot an elk with a .270 or 30-06 btw). I looked online and purchased a brand new Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in 300WM from a gun shop in Texas. The gun/shipping cost me $505 plus $35 for the FFL background check. Take a look and the Vanguard S2 as its a very well made and accurate rifle with sub MOA guarenteed. Mine had a synthetic stock, but the do offer wood.

I then put Warne bases and rings on it for about $75.

Now here is the kicker, I purchased a new Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 scope from a camera shop for $800 w/ free overnight shipping.

For just over $1,400 I bought an accurate rifle with incredible optics. Deals are out there if you do a little digging. Another quality rifle is the Winchester Model 70 if you don't like the Vanguard.

Good luck!

Good advice!

Thanks a lot of good advice in here. I'm certainly not against a bolt action gun. Everywhere i go all they seem to have is cheap hideous black garbage. They just felt cheap.

I think your spot on on the calibers tho, better have it and not need it then need it and not have it. Then again that might just be another excuse for me to increase the collection.

AR just isn't my thing.

i have a 45-70 for ohio, and that's actually what i used most of the time in tenn.

"The round that proves shot placement isn't everything"

I hear you about the cheap plastic synthetic stocks. The Vanguard is nothing like that. It almost feels rubberized and is one of the nicest synthetics I have seen.

You are going to get a lot of boo hoos for saying that. 223 for deer out to 300 yards, your looking at 500-600 ft/lbs of energy at that range. Pretty underwhelming...no room for error on a kill shot. How about we recommend cartridges and shot ranges that do not result in lost deer.

Right on. I would buy an Ohio legal big bore levergun and use it in Tennesse too.