How many people in 2018 remember or ever knew that at one time in our past, thousands of young guys picked up their rifles and went forth to hunt and FEED THEIR FAMILIES. In many cases their results meant the family ate that day.
Imagine....back then there were no supermarkets to go to for supper. The cook, naturally MOM, waited for supper to be brought in. Then “fresh food” had a slight different meaning than now.
The young hunter was a hero, not a “gun grabbing thug.”
My first rifle (other than my .22 Rem 521) was a Short Action Rem .243 I bought at Foleys for $99.
I shot it for many years as a .243. I’ve since rebarreled it to 6.5 x 47 Lapua.
I am very partial to 6.5. I also have a 6.5Grendel.
So I would suggest the 6.5 Creedmoor as a first hunting rifle.