I found that my previous flinching was more from the noise, not the kick. First of all, make sure you have GOOD earplugs. With proper trigger SQUEEZE the shot should be a "suprise" to you, so the noise may make you jerk when you anticipate the shot.

This might be common sense, but I'm shocked at how many people go to the range without earplugs. I forget 'em one day and flinched the whole time!! Of course, you won't need them for the woods...

The only problem I see with practicing with the .22 is that it does not punish improper technique. Therefore, any flaws with positioning will go unnoticed until you go back to the big gun.

Try this, get a snap cap that can be cycled through. Have someone help you by placing the snap cap in between the real rounds without you knowing where it is. Keep doing this until you don't flinch at all when you pull the trigger onthe "dummy" round.

If that's not possible for you, just practice, practice, practice. You'll get used to the noise and recoil. After you've fired enough rounds without trying to anticipate the shot, you'll stop flinching.

Listen to this, I had a guy tell me once that my .300 Win Mag was useless for hunting because I had to wear ear muffs to shoot it at the range, he thought it was too loud to hunt with, and it doesn't have a Muzzle Break or anything like that, what an idiot.