As to a rifle to cast for the old stand bys 30-30, 38-55, 40-65, 45-70 or smaller cased modern rounds 7.62X39, 7 mauser are more forgiving to start out with I think. The first listed can be a lot of fun to shoot very rewarding to cast for and will do well hunting plinking or in some matches.A single shot or bolt action is probably easier to start loading for in rifles.