Howdy From West Virginia, and welcome to one of the BEST sports in the world.
Choosing a rifle is pretty tough. it has a hundred variables that will make a difference. I have been hunting with a .270 since i was 12, and will never consider another cal. bolt gun wise. I started out with dads Winchester Ranger 30-30 that i still brush hunt with today (in the woods). All we can really do is give you some guidance on what works for what. I shoot my .270 as much as i shoot a .22 LR. ammo is fairly cheap, (i reload so its cheaper), and it will kill anything in the US. (some disagree, but hey, were all here for the same cause). the .30-06 is another great gun. dad has hunted with an -06 since before he was in the navy during Vietnam. i have buddies that use .308's, etc. depending on your stature, find what feels right to you. and like stated above, spending 150-250 bucks on a scope will make a big. diff. wally mart isnt really the best place to go. here are a few questions i have for you. 1. What will you be hunting? 2. What is your build? and 3. how much do you want to spend. well, hope this helped a little bit, and welcome to the club,
Brandon