Trytostaydead wrote:If you are wanting to have a rifle for smaller big game hunting, then the 6.5x55 Swedish is perfect. I myself owned one, and it was my first high power rifle. A little customized job done by my gunsmith father of a Mauser M1896. Took the barrel down a bit, turned down the bold handle, drilled and tapped for a scope, fiberglass stock, etc.
Yes, I absolutely loved the 6.5 when I was playing around with it, it had a modified sight and the accuracy was absolutely delicious. Even though I know how to handle them, I just don't want people to think it's presumptuous of a somewhat novice to have such a big gun.
No, I don't think my school has a gun locker.. it's a Univeristy of California school, damn liberal hippies.. LOL. But no, I'm living in private apartments right off of campus so it's more of the bitch who's my manager I'm more scared of.

Ah, private apts. Well, shouldn't be as big of a deal, then.
But the 6.5 is a nice starter out HP rifle. I got mine when i was, what, 11 or 12. It has light recoil (comparitively, anyways), and has an incredibly flat trajectory. But alot of it depends on the gun you get.
As I said, I have an old Swedish Military surplus from the Carl Gustav Armory, one of the most respected and quality armorers in Europe, sort of along the lines of the Springfield Armory (when it was gov't owned, anyways) in the US.
Ammunition is relatively cheap, bout .50 cents a round on the low end, but as high as a buck a round if you get some of the really good ammo.
But, if you just want a plinker, something you can take down to the range and shoot fifty rounds and go home, definitely go with the .22. If you want to get into serious target shooting, well, small bore target shooting isn't really my field of choice (I could tell you alot about Trap and high power, but I really don't know that much about small bore and rimfire target shooting).
One of the most fun things I have done in my long time of shooting is Trap and Skeet. Man, it is just GREAT.