.177 will give you a flatter trajectory and allows you more margin of error when judging distance to targets, although its not very difficult to learn your .22 trajectory curve if your prepared to put your time in.
If you think .22 is loopy you should try .25, some of the lads on here use it to deviating effect!
Still if you want to give .177 a try look for a cheap second hand rifle on Gunstar, at least that way you haven't wasted to much money if you decide you don't like it.
I personally would look at something reasonable like a Air Arms S200, you can pick up a tidy one for under