What should a first-time buyer get for competition?

For 10-meter Olympic-style target shooting, you need a .177 single-shot match rifle or pistol such as those made by Feinwerkbau, Walther, Steyr, or Anschutz, and a recoilless platform (PCP or single-stroke pneumatic).

For field target, a regulated .177 PCP in the 12 to 20 FPE range plus a high-magnification adjustable parallax scope is the standard. For benchrest, larger calibers (.22 to .30) on heavy regulated PCPs dominate. Talk to your local club before buying, because match rules dictate the gun.