Hugh,
sometimes you just have to learn by doing.
All the reading and questions are good, but you and the writers of instructions won't think of every eventuality.
You can't really mess up that bad, unless you really go off the reservation.
I believe that I, or someone else, recommended you start with a shooter or "beater" pistol or just a piece of steel!
You have got to start somewhere, sometime- just do it.
