Beginner-friendly picks: a .22 LR (e.g., Ruger 10/22 or bolt .22) for learning/cheap practice; an AR-15 (.223/5.56) for modularity, low recoil and home/varmint use; a bolt-action in .243 / 6.5 Creedmoor / .308 for hunting/precision.

From the sound of the OP he wants to hunt big game with the rifle, that would rule out the 22 long rifle and most likely the AR 15 which is no good for much more than predators and deer if you are an expert marksman, the op indicates he is a beginner. I am a very good shot and was a firearms instructor for handguns rifles and shot guns and Only if I was very hungry and had no other rifle would I use an AR 15. They are not legal for big game in some states as well.

best starter rifle for a new whitetail hunter, Ruger Ranch rifle in 6.5 Grendel. My go to woods rifle used to be a savage 99 in 7mm/08, the last 3-4 years have been using an AR-15 in the Grendel, no recoil, shoots great and kills deer dead.

My go to rifle is the 30-30.. However the areas you’re planning on hunting in is the deciding factor or at least for me. I have 2 Remington 30-06s with one being a bolt and the other being a pump. But, in most places that I am hunting I will take my Marlin 30-30 in a heartbeat. The Marlin is a lever gun with a tip off scope mounted on it. It’s very accurate with that micro grove rifling. Yes it’s slower than a hi powered rifle and it also shoots through the brush much better. That’s basically why they call the 30-30 a brush gun. All of us has likes and dislikes about the rifles we use. But what fits you best and your comfortable with is what counts. Good luck on what you decide on.. No my lever gun is not that light but with shorter barrel you can move it around better in the woods and will shoot straighter threw the brush because of it’s lower power and a 170 grain bullet it carries well. High power rifles tend to get deflected by the branches and the like. Yes there’s a reason they are called brush guns..

save it phil, the myth of brush guns is nothing but BS, hitting anything of resistance will upset the bullet and change its trajectory, you have no idea where the bullet will go.

Phil, that was funny. Seriously! You got it absolutely 100% WRONG in one sentence and 100% CORRECT in the second! Talk about covering your bases! Like Ridge said, any small branch can change the trajectory of a bullet. May just move the nose just a teeny tiny fraction but that teeny tiny fraction will present more to the wind and create a wobble making the bullet "knuckle ball" and keyhole into the target or miss or even worse gut shot. The "big heavy bullet blasting through 100 yards of heavy brush to hit precisely where aimed" is a total horsecrap myth. Another thing I am wondering about, what kind of Marlin 30/30 do you have Phil that is heavy? I've got an old Marlin 336 made in 56 that feels like carrying air! That's with wood furniture not this cheap tupperware crap they make nowadays. Granted I may be a muzzleloading guy but I own my fair share of modern rifles and that old 336 is among the lightest of my .30 cals.

I smile your at comments.. I have hunted with a 30-30 since 16 and now I’m 65. There’s no such thing as better rifle for the brush than the old reliable 30-30. Yes we have a lot of brush and small tress to hunt in because of the heavy clear cutting of the 70s. The 30-30 has a lot of advantages in this stuff. Say what you want from whatever information you hear. The 30-30 will shoot straighter through the stuff we hunt in. Yes it is well known to be a brush gun! I have also hunted with a muzzle loader and shot a scored at 143-1/8 8 pointer and in the Maine record book. That buck was running roughly 100 yards from me through aspen saplings when I shot. It was getting close to the end of the season and I wanted to fill my tag. It was sighted in at 115 yards and got that buck no problem. When you’re used to hunting in brush you’re used to it.. But those hi powered rifles won’t do much justice in that stuff. There’s a lot of deer that gets wounded and gets away from them than those small barreled 30-30s. That’s enough said from me and have a nice day..

Ok guys , so even though I HATE Phils political views ( Biden Voter ) I feel compelled to jump in the quicksand here and save his life ! Not about his facts on a 30-30 with a 170gr bullet though . I would not call that one a " Brush Gun " . The lighter the bullet the more it deflects . You are never going to get any bullet to shoot straight going through 100 yards of brush probably bouncing off 25-30 twigs or 1 inch branches on the way. But I've shot a few through the " Brush " and clocked them where they stood . Right through 10 -20 feet of hemlock branches, whips , and blow downs . There are only 4 rounds that I would consider being a brush gun with limitations . 1 ) Its not the gun but the load . Remington 30-06 core lokt round nose soft point in 220gr . 2) 35 Whelen in Rem core lokt .250gr or Federal trophy Bonded Bear Claw 240gr . 3) The all mighty 45-70 in 350 or 400gr Flat Nose bullet.. 4 ) My favorite. 12ga 485gr Slug ! I would probably put that slug up against any of these choices and the slug would win. I dont take that brush shot only when I have to because there is no other choice. And that 12ga slug has always worked when I needed it. But will only fire that shot if there is no other alternative .I'm a darn good shot and can usually thread the needle because I am a fanatic about having my guns perfectly sighted in .

Oh brother what a load! Of course you brought up your politics so I am nor surprised.

It’s just one of the reasons that this site has a hard time keeping members around.. But the deer are smaller where he hunts.. He can’t help himself with that statement even though this has entirely nothing to do with politics..
This doe would put most of his bucks to shame..The old 30-30 could drop her where she stood as well. But, no doe permit so maybe use the crossbow during our archery season.That could work if the wind is in the right direction..