Answer me some Q's first. How much are you willing to spend? Do you know how to clean a firearm after use? What do you call accurate? Do you want to use a scope or not? You looking to go new or used? where will you be shooting?How much are you willing to spend?
***Are you familiar with the safe operation of firearms? Do you know the basic safety rules that if you follow religiously you will never have an accident?***
You're gonna pay out more for new than used. Usual standards are Ruger 10/22, Marlin 60. Accurate is a relative thing, one man's accurate is another man's atrocious. Some alternatives I have owned that were good starters, reasonably accurate are lever action Henry and all sorts of various bolt actions. Do not blow off the bolt actions, they will teach you the basics of safe handling and shooting, and some of them old pieces are real tack drivers. A scope, usually a 4x on a .22 will improve accuracy and teach you even more about the finer points of shooting. You will start to understand how much crap is portrayed on TV and movies.
Currently I have a Ruger model 22/45 .22 pistol w/ Simmons red dot. Each and every shot in the bullseye from a bench rest at 25yds. Also have a Marlin 39A .22 lever action w/ Simmons 3-9X scope. @ 50yds by benchrest groups are 3/4"-1 1/2". I find shooting .22's fun and relaxing, and it is the cheapest round to shoot. Buy bricks of 500 rounds and you'll shoot all day. .22's have a helluva lot bigger following than one would think. Surf and search my friend. Being that you live in the People's Republic of Calif. I don't know what your local/state regs are. Here in Fl. I'd say go to a local gun show and you'll be walking out with a very good semi/bolt action for $75-100.
Above all else learn the safety rules,
finger off the trigger until ready to fire,
be sure of the backstop,
always be aware of where the weapon is pointing,
treat it as if it's loaded-even if it isn't,
***there are more to learn***Check out the NRA site for all of them.***
DON'T LEAVE YOURSELF OPEN TO ACCIDENTS. Be safe as a courtesy to yourself and those around you.
http://www.rugerforum.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/rugerforum//Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=rec.guns
http://auctionarms.com/
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/default.asp
http://gunbroker.com/
PM me with gun q's anytime my friend. And eventually you can get the light mount made for .22 rifles and mod it to add on your favorites (Scorpion, 2AA's, etc.)
Hmm, guns, lights,gun WITH lights...
Gotta go, just wet my pants.