Smaller handgun rounds can work in close ranges(under 20ft or so) but that is where training & marksmanship factor into it.
FAMs(federal air marshals) are a great example of this point. FAMs must drill a terrorist or subject quickly but avoid any passengers or crew members near or behind the threat.
I would think it works pretty good in a HD situation with a shotgun, any shotgun, any gauge, any size shot. Something about a face full of shot after taking two to the middle of the chest would take the starch out of the nastiest meth head even if he was wearing body armor, was 7' tall and 400 pounds of muscle and bone.Put one or two shots into the chest to sort of get the bad guy's attention. While he's got that stunned look on his face, put the third one into his forehead. This type of shooting technique is called The Mozambique Shooting Technique. It really does work pretty good on people who are all doped up or who are heavily intoxicated. This shooting technique works well with an AR/M4 clone at close distances, especially when used in conjunction with a good red dot, amber dot, green dot or one of the newer blue dot sight systems. It generally works pretty good too with a big bore handgun too.