Not a slam, Its really impossible to say you like rifle and long range shooting when you have not done it.
So as has been noted above, shoot the 22.
While its fun, shooting clay targets is not going to teach you anything.
Not that you can't mix fun in, but what you want to do is get a target, set it up and 25 yds and start practicing. Gun control and trigger pull.
When you can do a bull eye on each shot at 25, take it out to 50 and then repeat.
You also need an accurate rifle and you will need a scope (or a good peep site setup)
If you are going to do long range bench shooting, then at least longer term a Savage MKII would be the way to go. Its heavy which is what long range rifles are (steady and easier to hold on) it has types that have peeps if you want to shoot iron or scope for that type of shooting (I shoot scopes my eyes do not do well though I am so so with a good peep setup)
Short term CZ 452 and the newer 455s are the best bang for the buck
I don't know about Ruger, they are new.
Levers Action are fun, but they also tend to be iffy for tack driving accuracy.
With a good 22 and if you can shoot, you should be able to do a dime size 10 shot group at 50 yds. Until you get that any center fire rifle is going to be a waste of time.
CZ runs $350-400 or so and a good scope is going to be another 100 or 200 (I like Leopold but there are other Rimfire scopes out there)
Savage probably can be had at around $400, you get a lot of bang for that gun buck but it is not a field gun.
YOu hae to sort that out, Ruger and CZ are good field guns as they are light, but if you are really do get into long range.
There is nothing wrong with two 22s, as noted, everyone should have one general 22 and the target being an option.
I have a CZ 452, love it, tack driver and I would be better off with the shooting I do to have th MKII. I didn't know where I was going at the time.
Ammo is not going to be inexpensive as some have noted.
If you want good accuracy you pay for it, that is the bricks that are up in the 60 and 70 dollar range. Norma Tach is fairly prevalent and the 452 likes it.
Buy one box quantities to start with, 22s can have some pretty dramatic preference though the CZ tends to shoot every ok, some better to where its a tack driver.
I have 5 different quality 22 types, some are very good European and the 452 shoots it so so. I have some old Remington blue box target it shoots better than the European stuff. Go figure.
Lower cost ammo is fine for plinking, but if you are serious about target and long range, you need to be able to shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100 yds ( 1/2 MOA would be the more technical term.)
So, go slowly, figure out what you want.
If possible shoot a center fire rifle. The 223s, 243 6 mmm don't have a lot of kick.
308 start to have a good kick, 300 WWM and the 338s will thump you good.
Bad news if you get a 338 Lapua to start and then find you have a flinch!
So as has been noted above, shoot the 22.
While its fun, shooting clay targets is not going to teach you anything.
Not that you can't mix fun in, but what you want to do is get a target, set it up and 25 yds and start practicing. Gun control and trigger pull.
When you can do a bull eye on each shot at 25, take it out to 50 and then repeat.
You also need an accurate rifle and you will need a scope (or a good peep site setup)
If you are going to do long range bench shooting, then at least longer term a Savage MKII would be the way to go. Its heavy which is what long range rifles are (steady and easier to hold on) it has types that have peeps if you want to shoot iron or scope for that type of shooting (I shoot scopes my eyes do not do well though I am so so with a good peep setup)
Short term CZ 452 and the newer 455s are the best bang for the buck
I don't know about Ruger, they are new.
Levers Action are fun, but they also tend to be iffy for tack driving accuracy.
With a good 22 and if you can shoot, you should be able to do a dime size 10 shot group at 50 yds. Until you get that any center fire rifle is going to be a waste of time.
CZ runs $350-400 or so and a good scope is going to be another 100 or 200 (I like Leopold but there are other Rimfire scopes out there)
Savage probably can be had at around $400, you get a lot of bang for that gun buck but it is not a field gun.
YOu hae to sort that out, Ruger and CZ are good field guns as they are light, but if you are really do get into long range.
There is nothing wrong with two 22s, as noted, everyone should have one general 22 and the target being an option.
I have a CZ 452, love it, tack driver and I would be better off with the shooting I do to have th MKII. I didn't know where I was going at the time.
Ammo is not going to be inexpensive as some have noted.
If you want good accuracy you pay for it, that is the bricks that are up in the 60 and 70 dollar range. Norma Tach is fairly prevalent and the 452 likes it.
Buy one box quantities to start with, 22s can have some pretty dramatic preference though the CZ tends to shoot every ok, some better to where its a tack driver.
I have 5 different quality 22 types, some are very good European and the 452 shoots it so so. I have some old Remington blue box target it shoots better than the European stuff. Go figure.
Lower cost ammo is fine for plinking, but if you are serious about target and long range, you need to be able to shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100 yds ( 1/2 MOA would be the more technical term.)
So, go slowly, figure out what you want.
If possible shoot a center fire rifle. The 223s, 243 6 mmm don't have a lot of kick.
308 start to have a good kick, 300 WWM and the 338s will thump you good.
Bad news if you get a 338 Lapua to start and then find you have a flinch!