First rifle - 22LR or 17HMR

Buy the 10/22 first. If you ask me you should get one with your drivers license. You will find that most guys that have guns have at least one 10/22... I also have the savage 93r17 and I LOVE that gun too... for learning I would go with the 10/22... (I still love emptying my 25 round mags with the ruger and .17 ammo gets expensive) once you have the basics down the 17 is much more fun... here is a video of what it does to a beer can at 50 yards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AopZNyFSPW4

Like some others have said .17hmr is rough on the meat, but if you can take rabbit headshots at 100 yards....
 
.17HMR is a great squirrel gun out to 150 yards. a nice .22 (I agree the 10/22 is a great first choice) will let you shoot all day for $5.00. You're not going to see that kind of economy with HMR.

As much as I love my Win 9417, my Remington 581 .22 gets more range time than the .17 does. But when gray squirrel shows up on the property, nothing says "I love you" like the HMR. :D
 
I'd go with the 22LR for sure.
Also, you should probably take a good hard look at the bolt actions that CZ makes. They are very very well made.
 
I would go with a .22lr for reasons already stated. If that Savage is the only bolt action available I would go with that over the other options listed(I prefer Marlin, but I prefer bolt over semi as well). Take a look at the new Marlin XT bolt action series. It doesn't take a 17hmr to get out to 100 yards accurately either. As far as scopes pretty much any decent 3-9x40(or 50..) will do you just fine to 100 yards with the .22lr.
 
Thanks everyone for all the advice, I will definitely be getting a .22 over the .17HMR. The Savage bolt action model is the Mark IIF which is listed as having the AccuTrigger on the Savage website. Probably not a bad rifle for $130. Unfortunately I went up there to buy it and someone was buying it right then:(. Have to wait a few more days until they get another one in. I was sorely tempted by a Henry lever action .22 for $266 though, a really nice gun that I overlooked due to it being hidden in the shotgun case. Once again, a big thank you to everyone for the advice. And to Wyosmith, I would love a CZ Mannlicher .22, but can't find them anywhere. However I am planning on a 550 in .308 in September as my first hunting rifle. Thanks again guys.-Mike
 
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I saw that you mentioned a Henry lever .22. While not my first .22, It just might be my favorite. It shoots super straight, action is buttery, and I can fit 21 rounds of short ammo in the tube! Don't pass up the chance to own a well built, cheap shootin' cowboy rifle.
 
In your case I'd pick up a .22. I bought a Savage Mark2 TR a few months back and the thing is very accurate with Remington Target and Wolf match ammo.
 
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