I don't see it mentioned here--
NewYork, do you have any friends who are hunters? If so, it might be nice for you to actually shoot a caliber or two before you buy.
Just me, but I would not do anything other than 30-06 or .270 for a first hunting rifle. Why? Here begins a very short story. NewYork buys his first rifle, gets it scoped, and then finds out he really enjoys hunting. He starts planning trips here and there, including places where he might spend a few nights out in the boonies. One of these trips NewYork get to the lease, or the camp, or wherever his bedroll is going to be and discovers he has no ammunition. He swore he packed everything but then recalls after the recent trip to the range he left his cartridges on the work bench at the house (or on top of the refrigerator in the garage, the kitchen table, or wherever else one might leave a box of ammo). Well dang. It's at least a 30 minute drive into the nearest town that only has one store that sells just a bit of everything: hardware, clothes, yard tools, lumber, fried burritos, and bait and tackle, including live minnows. Luckily, this place also sells ammunition. At a place like this, you have a decent chance of finding 30-06 and .270.