Definitely a good gun- not a lot of $$$ but that doesn't matter. Don't let anyone tell you because you didn't spend $1000 on it, it's no good. And no need for a lot of bells'n'whistles on it just yet either. Running it plain jane till you get really comfortable with it is your best bet. You're better off spending money on training and practice if you're just getting started with a defensive shotgun. It's better by far to make yourself as the shooter "tacticool" in practice and not worry about how the shotgun looks.
Get into the habit early of pumping it in a two-count stroke- Count One, all the way back briskly until the forearm stops at the rear, and Count Two, all the way forward briskly until the forearm stops at the front. That will solve a lot of 'teething problems' before they start. Most people try to get ahead of the gun when they pump it, and that leads to short-stroking, jamming, closing bolts on empty chambers when there's ammo in the magazine, etc. Don't try to pump fast- pump hard, all the way back, then all the way forward.
Start out with light birdshot loads. No need to pound yourself with heavy stuff just yet. Work on your gun mount and form- it might help to have someone who's been around the block a time or two evaluate how you're mounting the gun and how well it fits you. A lot of shotgun stocks are too long for a lot of shooters when they leave the factory. That's especially the case with defensive shotguns, which usually fare better with stocks an inch or so shorter than factory length.
Be sure you're getting the butt of the gun into your shoulder pocket. Lift the elbow of your shooting arm to 90 degrees out from your body. Put the thumb of your other hand on your collar bone about half way out, the middle finger on the joint of your shoulder, and touch your shoulder pocket with your index finger about halfway in between your thumb and middle finger.
Then swing the elevated elbow forward and back a few times- you'll feel the muscled pocket in between the collar bone and the bony ball joint of the upper arm/shoulder- that's where the gun butt needs to go. Get the butt on bone, either shoulder joint or collar bone, and it'll hurt you. Get the butt on the upper arm and not in the shoulder pocket, and it'll hurt you worse.
Keep working on it, keep practicing... and Stay Safe,
lpl
