Here's my suggestions...
1- Start learning with a good set of iron sights. I'd suggest an aperture rear if you have or can aquire a rifle that'll wear 'em. The old V-notch and U-notch versions may blur up on you because the human eye can't focus on three things at once. With apertures, look through the rear and ignore it and you'll see a fuzzy ring. Focus on the front sight with a blurry-looking target out ahead.
2- Contrary to some other recomendations, don't start out with a 10/22 and high capacity mags. Semi-autos are for hosin' down a running jackrabbit. Get a bolt- it don't matter whether it's single-shot or magazine fed- and think in terms of "one shot, one kill". Each bullet was designed and made to do a job whether that job is punching a hole in paper or killing something. Don't get in any hurry. Breath. Relax. Aim. Sight (focus on the front like I described above). Squeeze. Place each individual bullet so it does its job.
3- Start out at 25yds. That's 75ft. as someone mentioned as a starting distance. When it's just me, I like to use a 1" blacked-in circle as an aiming point on a sheet of pasteboard... makes for some cheap targets when you have a surplus of pasteboard boxes. If you can get a sillouette shooter to coach you in the proper stance and hold, it'll help a lot because you'll be using skeletal support instead of tiring yourself a lot more using muscle support. You won't get the shakes as quick in the process of each shot. You just have to practice letting your sights settle on the target and the trigger breaking at the right time.
4- Ammo... I have two preferences of .22LR and they're both good for different guns. The Federal bulk pack stuff you get at Wallyworld is good for running a Ruger pistol... Mk2 or 22/45- they're built on the same receiver/barrel. But Federal is High Velocity and while it'll cycle the action more reliably, it's not quite as accurate. However, for an older .22 rifle, like my Remington 521-T, a lot of times the twist rate is geared for Standard Velocity ammo. For this I prefer Winchester X-pert which is a 500rd white box at Wallyworld. I'm remembering a conversation I had last summer with a sillouette shooter... this lady shoots Ely's standard velocity match load, but she told me there's probably not much difference in trajectory between it and the Winchester load I shot (in the same match as her shooting Ely) that day. Now, starting out, you need to concern yourself with developing your skills and not throwing money at this, but if you don't have decent ammo, it'll frustrate you. For the accuracy and the money, I recommend the Winchester X-pert.
At this point, I'm not sure what all else to tell you, but I hope this helps. If you have more questions, that's what we're all on this board for. We all have questions and we all have knowledge. We just have to watch out for the keyboard commandos.
