[domininance]

the only way to not learn bad habits is to not practice bad habits.

is it easier to not practice bad habits on a .22? maybe, but certainly not for sure. one thing to consider is that if you start out on a .22 you probably wont be gripping the gun firmly enough for when you move up to a real caliber. isn't that just as much a distraction as recoil? i dunno, about everyone but the best thing to help me practice without the distraction of recoil is dry firing mixed with live firing. live firing is good because you familiarize yourself with what the gun is going to do/how it is going to feel in your hands. dry firing is good because like shooting a small caliber recoil and a few other factors are minimized/removed to help you focus on sighting and form and proper trigger pull. but even better than a small caliber dry firing is free!!!!! when you do some more live firing you will immediately see how the dry firing benefited you.

i personally had an issue with recoil aniticipation. most new shooters people i have shot with also have this problem. this problem does not usually develop until you shoot on a larger caliber (at lest 9mm), and is easily corrected with a bit of dry firing to illustrate how steady and still your hands should be. so, again, you aren't saving yourself here by practicing on a 22, because once you move up to a real cailber again your going to encounter new problems. just start with what you are going to be shooting. for me it was forty and 9mm. .22 is fun, but i dont feel it is better practice at all. free is better then cheap.