I agree, it’s my first gun in 20 years, I used to own a few but when I moved away from home I gave them all to my brother in law. My kids are all in 4H, one in pistol, one in rifle, and one in shotgun. My oldest is on his way to an Eagle Scout, he’s in the shotgun right now through 4H, plus they shoot at Boy Scout camp in the summer. They’ve all passed their hunters ed class too.
But ya, I think my wife and I will do the 4H shotgun class as well, I know how to handle them, my dad was police officer, used to shoot all kinds of guns at the range. I have a very healthy fear of them, they’re always loaded, no matter how many times somebody tells me the ain’t.
I would have opted for a self-loader, (semi-auto) myself. In high-stress situations its all too easy to “short-stroke” a pump gun, leaving you with an empty cylinder or worse, a jam. Cops do it all the time. Add to that the increased recoil of the pump.
Better to have the “machine do it”, (the reload), IMO. And the sound of racking that auto is equally intimidating. But since you’ve got the pump.....Practice, practice, practice ought to be your mantra. Both with dummy and real loads in practical simulations. Best would be a visit to GunSite - its fun !! - or some other school where the practical, legal and mental aspects of self-defense in a home environment are taught. >PS