Welcome!
One thing for sure, a .22 rifle is the least costly way to move up the learning curve. And away from work on paper targets, there are beaucoup tin cans and suchlike for plinking fun.
FWIW: "Plinking" came from the nickname of Ad Toepperwein's wife. Every time she'd pull the trigger in exhibition shooting, she'd say, "Plink!"
http://www.showmanshooter.com/html/toepperwein.html
Mr. Toepperwein was a friend of my grandfather's. I used to accompany him to Petmecky's gun store in Austin, Texas, wishing I could shoot well enough to draw one of Mr. T's indian-head outlines with my own .22.