FWIW- I've had to finish off probably 1/3 of all the one's I've shot with shotgun regardless of range, but definitely proportional as range increased. For me the Hevi DC had the fewest requiring second shots but was impossible to get and the Hornady 4 buck loads were second best. Of the 39 I've killed this year with .223(AR) I've had close to 1/4 that had to have second shots or more to put out of their misery. I now carry a .38 loaded down to a super quiet load of 1.0gr Bullseye under a 148gr HBWC. It allows me to not have to carry my 14# rifle to retrieve them and still dispatch them as needed. Never needed this with Bolt .243's and 25-06 or pump .308 so this is new to me..However I can say without a doubt I've still recovered more double's and triples that I would never have gotten shots on had I not made this move. Once I found the right bullet for the .223 I've dramatically reduced the runners, but still have to dispatch about every 1 in 4. I accept that this will be the case with less than optimal shots with .223, on running targets etc, and realize that even poorly hit ones are only possible because of the AR and it's mild blast. I hate the AR .223 for several reasons but love it for the additional opportunities it provides when you call groups..
Next season I will be going 6x45 one way or another and hope that will help minimize the one's needing dispatched.
