Stewie333:
When it comes to squeezing the trigger, your subconscious (spelling ?) mind will not differentiate between a .22 LR and a .308 Win shot. The principles of holding, aiming, breathing, squeezing, and following through are the same regardless of bangstick and expense.
Okay, that being said, your budget will dictate which bangstick you can take to shoot at whatever club your budget will allow. yada yada yada.
I'm an advocate of repeated muscle memory.... like a martial artist: 350 repetitions to make a motion embedded into your subconscious mind. I prefer to start newbies off with a .22LR and have tons and tons of repetition( and fun factor, too).
Unfortunately, having run Service and Sniper matches, I often encounter many newbsticks (my son taught me that noun) who have lots and lots of money for expensive sniper rigs, but not the principles of marksmanship needed to operate said wonderful bling, bling bangsticks.
You are wise asking the CGNutters for advise. Hopefully , we can save you a pile of money. You are also lucky because living in Ottawa, you are surrounded by many shooting opportunities like Connaught Ranges. And you are in the midst of many great shooting resource people..... well, I'll try not to mention LeMoron (I mean LeBaron). LOL
Cheers,
Barney