My dad bought me a Ruger American Standard in .30-06 10+ years ago when I was getting started. I don't come from a hunting family and we just went off the recommendation of the clerk at the Bass Pro. Knowing what I know now that would NOT be the cartridge/rifle combo I would choose for a new hunter LOL. I have never really enjoyed shooting that rifle and it just sits in the safe now. I've thought about selling it, but can't bring myself to do so. Thought about getting a B&C stock for it, but struggle to justify the purchase now that I have other hunting guns.
Shot my first deer with a win 94 in 25-20 cal. Was one of many rifles around farm left by a deceased uncle. I didn’t know what a patheticly weak calibre it was. But it was legal at the time. Any cf over .22 cal was good to go. 55 years later most cf .22 are legal but the 25-20 is specifically not legal.
First rifle I killed a deer with was my grampa's Marl8n 336RC .30-30 Win.
The "first" rifle I bought (traded for) was a Parker Hale .270 Win. Swapped even up for a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Mag.
Swapped the PH later for a brand new PH in .270 Win. That was 1977-78(?). It's in the safe with a 3-9×40 Leupold.