Always happy to help new folks to the hobby but I don't think you'll have much luck with but anything other than the odd gun store or pawn shop with a break barrel here/there.
Not sure how far you're willing to travel to 'check things out' but a Field Target match will have 1-2 dozen folks who would probably be more than happy to let you handle a variety of things. I don't go often (kids are an anchor) but when I do, it's DIFTA in Damascus MD.