My experience with handgun shotshells in general is that they are maddeningly ineffective when you want them to be effective, and distressingly destructive when you don't expect them to be.
Have shot some over the years, but never used the .22LR version on any animals. Note that the ones with the crimped ends usually won't cycle through an autoloader. .22LR shotshells are usually loaded with #12 shot aka dust. (there is a smaller one, "fine dust), .22 mag shells are usually loaded with #11s and do work on small things at short range, usually.
Centerfire shotshells for handguns are usually loaded with #9 shot, and results can be amazing, in both directions.
A friend of mine has had some of the oddest results. He has some shotshells that cycle in his 9mm (don't know the brand). Shooting squirrels at 20ft, he said it was like a shooting gallery. Each time he shot, the squirrel would stop, and change direction. Never did land a lethal (or even visibly damaging) hit. Later shot a feral cat, at 20 yards, one shot DRT. Same gun, same ammo, same shooter, 3 times the distance on an animal several times as big. Go figure....
I can tell you from personal experience that 2.5" .410 shells from a Contender do work quite well on vermin at across the barn distance.