Revolver as a first handgun?

I don't get any use out of my GP100, personally... but there is no reason NOT to have one.

You'll buy more guns, no point stressing out about whether one gun or another is the ideal "first gun" IMO.

The only reason I keep mine is that I have a .357 lever gun I really love, so it seems vaguely worthwhile to keep the pistol as well. Also my wife has a 686 she likes a lot, so having a similar gun around is maybe useful, I guess. But my shooting needs are not your shooting needs.

One thing I will say...if I were going to buy a revolver right now, that one you bought is the ONLY restricted revolver that interests me at all.
 
With me my revolvers see roughly equal time at the range and in my shooting matches. I really like them.

Great choice on getting the "Canada Short Edition" GP100. I've shot a fairly well used example that belongs to a buddy and the "shoot in" nicely to end up with a very nice trigger..... But maybe not quite as nice as my S&W's... or I may be a little biased... :D

One thing for sure, once you learn to shoot well with the DA trigger of a revolver you'll be a better shooter for any handgun. To work with the long DA pull such that you support the gun accurately and in a stable manner to put your shots on target requires a neutral and stable grip as well as mastering a very direct back trigger pressure. All things that will serve you well with any future handguns you shoot.

If you begin shooting the GP100 in competitions a little note for you. Be sure you tip the muzzle well up for ejecting the empties. I've seen two GP shooters that ran into troubles with powder flecks getting in between the ejector star and the recess in the cylinder. The second guy began holding it up to a higher angle like 70 to 80 degrees, so as to not break the 90 limit, led to cleaner ejections and fewer jams almost right away.

The S&W's do not seem to be quite as prone to this issue but I'm not quite sure why. I make it a point to aim my own muzzles up to a high angle while ejecting just in case though.

In any event the GP is a superb shooter and should be capable of doing groups that are "one ragged hole" at moderate distances if the shooter can hold it that well. So get started and give us a range report once you have it out for your first "date".
 
Thanks for the tips, BCRider. Not sure if I'll end up competing, but IDPA in particular does interest me, and their regulations for the SSR class did partly influence my decision to go with a 4.2" barrel. As with my shotguns, the "dynamic" or "action" shooting disciplines bring me the most enjoyment, competetive or no. Before that, though, I just want to learn to shoot a handgun with reasonable accuracy. Can't wait to get this thing to the range :)
 
Revolver - very simple, very safe, usually accurate
Semi autos - lots of similarities and differences

No problem if you have one of each, but a quantity of semis can get confusing. I like your Ruger.
 
I’m 58 years old, my Father was a Sheriff so I grew up shooting, even after years of shooting ‘a lot of ammo’ Vietnam & Sheriff’s SWAT, I would recommend a Good-Solid revolver. Owing to: the variety of loadings available, the reliability & inherent accuracy, the ease of learning to shoot & dealing with-FTF/FTE situations, reliance on accurate shooting vs mass quantities expended, etc.

Remember there’s always a trade-off between performance and convenience, ‘small & light(concealable)’ means more felt and perceived recoil,
also disruption of sight picture/shooting position. super-light = difficult-to-control, in real world terms. I’m not saying that both comfortable and accurate shooting isn’t achievable, but this will take: a lot of range time with a competent firearms instructor, many hours of gun handling to develop muscle memory, and thousands of rounds of ammo for familiarization with ‘a single arm & caliber’.

The problem is that most handgun owners ‘don’t/won’t/or can’t’ devote the time to mastering their weapon of choice/carry. A well-armed, but inadequately trained person becomes more of a liability than an asset in stress/armed confrontations. Owning and carrying a firearm doesn’t automatically grant a person ‘indestructable status’ overconfidence will count for more fatalities, than actual gunfights.

I know this is hard for many to hear, let alone listen to, but if you’re going to buy a handgun for security & protection = then you have to accept the responsibility of ‘a common sense approach to training/handling/& useage’. Don’t fall into the trap of being ‘a Walter Mitty armchair shooter’ ask anyone who’s grown up in the country or on a farm about common sense & firearms.

BTW= Ditto on the earlier comment of owning a handgun/rifle combo chambered in the same caliber

Newton’s Third Law says it best “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” this applies to thought as well as deed….
 
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