.30-30 lever action is a good choice for someone who is new to guns. enough UUMPH and easy to shoot. It is a good idea to also get a .22 that is similar for cheap practice.
A used one of either is ok, the darn things don't wear out!
A Marlin 30/30 runs about $100 used. I used to use a 30-06 gamemaster but found that the Great Pyranese dog killed all the whistling pigs covering 80 acres in a week. I don't need to shoot anything anymore. Kind of a shame though. We used to fish for the whistling pigs with flyrods and lounge chairs during the summer. You just put the flyline in an open noose around the hole and when they pop up you set the line and man, what a fight you have reeling them in. It's a good way to pass the wonderful evenings of summer.