First thing - if you have friends with guns, start off buying ammo and taking them out shooting. Shoot your ammo through their guns, clean their guns afterwards, and KEEP A DIARY of what you liked about which weapons. If you have a range with long guns for rent, then that's another option.    I'd seriously try to get into a Mosin-Nagant or SKS at first; keep it original and don't mess with those fancy stocks trying to turn it into something it isn't.    Use that to work on your skill, then save up for an AK or AR-15... whatever you find you shoot best with.