re: Best Rifle for first timer

How much have you shot? If you are just starting out I would buy a rifle with low recoil like a .223, .243, or 7-08. Optimally I would start you off with a .22 but if you want something to hunt with now I would pick one of the three I listed. Shooting long is not terribly complicated. The biggest, by far, problem civilian shooters have is the flinches and once you get them they are hard to shake off. You can prevent the flinches by dry firing thousands of times, buying a light recoil rifle, and shooting as often as you can stand to do so. Good luck.