Is there a reason you didn't start off with revolvers? When I started with guns around 1990, I only bought and shot revolvers - very simple, easy to determine if there is a bullet in the cylinder, just point and pull the trigger. Then, after a couple of years, I bought my first semi-auto. I still remember the first time I shoved the mag into the well, pressed the slide release, and presto - I was holding a pistol with the hammer all the way back, with a hair trigger. I still remember sweating as I held the hammer with my thumb and squeezed the trigger, and slowly lowered the hammer. At least Ruger puts a de-cocker on their semi-autos, so you can feel alot safer getting the hammer down........but you might want to seriously think about having a revolver and getting intimate with that before delving too much into the world of pistols. JMO.