22 definitely, as has been beaten to death - my regret when I first started buying guns was not starting off with this calibre.
12ga is best general purpose shotgun, versatile with cheap(er) and great variety of rounds. There are a wide variety but I like sticking with the very proven Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 platforms. For a first time shotgun I like Remington 870 clone that is a couple hundred dollars cheaper. Fit is king.
A lot of 30-06 fans here - my preference is 308. It's an old debate and really comes down to personal preference, accuracy difference is mininmal. 30-06 is a bit more powerful and can be more effective if you are tailoring hand loads. I like 308 for weight, availibility of both bulk and match grade ammo, brass availibility, barrel life and less recoil. And it can take anything from deer to elk.
Second hand Remington 700's offer terrific value.
Just my 2 cents!
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