Will go Lou’s firearms probably. Side note have you ever been to the garden state armory I remember my friends dad talking about it. Might drive there and take a look
Garden State Armory
I was there once for a private transfer. Seems like solid folks with a good selection of rifles.
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Yep bought firearms there too 
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No wrong choices here just what you prefer. That said, my recommendation is to go w/ a 22LR bolt action first as its a great “beginner” that’ll still be great fun to shoot even after you’ve moved on to bigger calibers. In time you’ll have 5.56, .308, .7.62x39, etc. but I guarantee you’ll always pull the 22 bolt action out of the safe.
I picked up a Tikka T1x MTR a few years ago and LOVE it. I have long guns in all calibers but always find myself taking this to the range to plink with. I recently introduced my son (12) to shooting and he loves it as well. Was nailing the bullseye consistently at 25yds. No need to get a crazy scope for it given its a .22. I picked up a decent Vortex scope for it just to get some distance.
Good luck and stay safe.
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If set on a bolt action look at the Savage 93. Comes in 22, 22mag , or 17. Usually stores sell the gun with a scope.
Would also recommend vortex scopes. I have them on a few different guns and they will handle 90% of what you may need. The crossfire is probably the best value and great glass for the $$ and no issues out to 200 yards. (Haven’t shot farther, yet).
You mentioned small game hunting. If staying in NJ you can’t use 22 for small game here. Get yourself a 20ga pump. Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. Handle them. Only real difference is location of the safety. I prefer Mossberg.
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Best move - put up a Want to Buy here in the classified section.
Also, I’ve seen posts talking about paying as much or more for the scope. As a general rule I completely agree with that, the exception being for .22. Almost all your shooting is so close that you can get by just fine with a decent, not great scope.
If you’re anywhere near central jersey, I’ll give you one.
Also, FWIW, the Henry Frontier .22 lever action (full length barrel model H001T-22) is by far my favorite 22 and is an absolute tack driver.
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Did tons of research and I have come down to either IWI Zion Z-15 or the S&W mp15. Not sure what to get. Also what ammo should I use?
I would opt for the S&W.
As far as ammo goes, 55gr Nato 5.56 will be the least expensive. E.g. Federal xm193, Winchester M193, Privi Partisan M193, etc. You can shoot any brand and grain 5.56 or .223 but point of impacts will vary slightly. I usually just stick to 5.56 55gr Nato for 99% of my shooting from 50-300yds. I do have a longer barrel precision AR for long range shooting where I use Match Grade 5.56 ammo.
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It depends on what you are hunting and how. For walk and stalk, you can’t go wrong with a lever action for squirrel and rabbit. For stand/blind, a bolt action would be better.
That said, I recommend a 20ga shotgun for upland small game. it will do the small game and also give you opportunity for winged game like pheasant. Plus, you can come to our forum clay shoots. 
Yeah, after some thought I think I’m just going to get a dedicated hunting shotgun in the future and right now I’m going shooting with a friends dad to test out some options for my first gun.
Pretty cool you guys do this. Where would I see like dates and stuff for events like this ?
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Also:
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Do that as often as you possibly can before you buy anything. Knowledge is valuable, experience is invaluable. Finding yourself a mentor will take out most of the guesswork and make you a more confident marksman.
Keep an eye on the EVENTS & MEETUPS sub-forum for deets I organize about 6 to 8 shoots a year, split between north and south Jersey. To receive automatic notifications when a shoot is posted, open the EVENTS & MEETUPS page and click on the BELL 
(notification level) icon at the upper right of the browser and choose how you want to be notified.
At Stafford Forge (Little Egg Harbor) we do clays and rifles, tho we avoid summer shoots at Stafford because the Benny traffic is murder.
At Clinton we only do clays, and if not too hot get one or two shoots in over the summer. Clinton does have a 100yd rifle range for hunting license holders.
Occasionally members post ad-hoc shoots at various public and private ranges.
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High Caliber Ordnance in Somerville.
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I didn’t initially comment in this post because I’m a AR guy. 22 is ok but a decent AR you will have forever and you grow from there. JMHO.
Yeah decided to go this route most likely. Although more expensive I feel like it is better suited. Any AR’s you recommend sub $1000 I was thinking IWI Zion Z-15 or S&W M&P15
You just increased your training ammo cost by 8x - 10x. Six to eight cents per round vs fifty five to eighty cents per pew. Every AR magdump will cost roughly $5 to $8.
If you go the AR rout, a separate dedicated 22lr upper will save you a lot on ammo as you learn to shoot. You should check PA game laws and find out if you can hunt small game with an AR.
I still believe for learning and hunting, a bolt action 22lr is the way to go. Learning on that will make you a better shooter. You will not immediately develop a flinch reflex and can concentrate better. Look, I’m just say’n, there are more benefits to learning on a 22 bolt gun than not. That does not mean you can’t learn on another platform. Just, might take you a bit longer to get to the level of comfort and accuracy you want to be at.
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Planning to get dedicated 12 or 20 gauge for hunting. As for my decisions it’s not set in stone like I said going to the range gonna see what I like and decide from there. Also I do see what you’re saying that .22 might be a better option.
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You are going to like everything! LoL
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