This is a good first and you've talked about it responsibly whish all firearms owners should be doing. Well done.

hope to use them in defense

I think most are like that to be honest - Being in a position to have to use a firearm in that way wouldn't be a good thing for most people and there's often bad repercussions for doing so. Let's hope you never have to do it.

Only fired the thing about 50 times since that day

Please tell me this is 50 times and not 50 rounds! I have a suspicion it's the latter though...Bro, You need to get to the range!

!ENGAGE 20