Welcome to F&S, The best all around Cal:30/06 as for a budget Rifle Savage Axes,MARP $375.00 and a Bushnell 3-9x40 scope, Still on a budget! buy a used Marlin 336 in 30-30,32Win Spl.35 Rem, $275.00+/- add a good Pep sight or scope. Good Luck

To me best all around cartridge is the .300 win mag. Although it is far from a beginners caliber. I would go with a .30-06 or a .30-30.

First and only should be a 30 06. Savage is a good place to look, but there are many others.

If your fare does not include elk and such big beasts, the 25-06 has been my choice for 45 years. It is very low in recoil and allows you to shoot little 75g-87g bullets for targets and varmints with blazing speed. You can literally shoot hundreds of rounds a day. It will smack coyotes out to 600 yards with the 87g bullets as long as you get a good shooting rifle and scope. 100g to 120g bullets will flatten deer out to 500 yards and its speed allows you to shoot running game like few others. I prefer it over the zippy 22-250 if I have only one rifle because at similar speeds, it hits as hard as a .270. Many think the bullets are too small for deer but that is simply because they haven't tried it. The penetrate deer end-to-end and the speed generally shocks them in their tracks.

If you want something for larger game, the 30-06 is quite versatile but not so fun to shoot at targets and varmints.

I acquired a used stainless Howa 1500 that shoots lights out for $375 with a home bedding job. You may be able to find used Tika T3s, Rem 700s or Savage 110s that deliver sufficient accuracy for longer range shooting. I suggest you consider reloading if you get a 25-06 because you will want to shoot it a LOT. It is very economical when reloaded.

Remington makes the 783 that has great accuracy claims in their ads. Most all major manufacturers make a rifle in the same price range. Look at them in the store and see which one feels best to you.
There is also the option of a good used Remington 700 if you can find one. The 30-06 is a great choice however if the biggest game in on your list you may want something a little heavier like a .300 magnum. Good luck.
P.S. plan on spending as much for a good quality scope as for the rifle.

You might be able to find a Savage 111 Trophy Hunter XP for that price, plus it comes with a scope.

I'd also like to mention that that was my first hunting rifle and that it has never given me a problem.

I was handling a Remington 760, .30-06, with a 3-9 variable, yesterday at Cabelas. $279.00. Don,t overlook a good used rifle should your path's cross. A lot of hunter's shy away from pump's, claiming them to be rattle traps, noisy. I haven't found that to be a problem with the .270 I own.

In my opinion, the best bang for your buck is a Savage. Poke around on their website to see what's available and get a general idea of the prices. My wife's first/only hunting rifle is a Savage 110 in .308. I got it on sale as a wet with an ok scope for I think $349.