If i were you i would get a shotgun first, more so if you want to do walked up shooting, wild fowling, pigeon shooting, game shooting if you get invited or join a syndicate. and there's always Clay Pigeon shooting, you can't do all those things with a .22 RF etc can you, your restricted to ground level shooting with a back drop more than with a shotgun. unless you shoot unsafe and taking shots wear you don't know were the bullet will end up, then that would be totally irresponsible: Dave