For all that are curious:
I took the shot at no more than 8ft from me. That was as close as I wanted him to be and figured that the blast would be fatal at that range.
He was on his way in and kept doing this thing with his head where he would lower it, cock it to the side, and then bark, growl, and snarl while bringing his head back up to normal position. Along with this, he was doing a side to side sort of deal. Some sort of weaving action. Almost like he was trying to get behind me.
I aimed directly at his nose. I was slightly elevated compared to him. Just as I shot, he barked. The shot completely removed his nose, both eyes, upper teeth and went down his throat and blew out the back of his neck. It blew him over backwards and he fell instantly. Whew...
As I stood there absorbing all that had just happened, listening to pouring blood and a gargling type sound, he amazingly picked up his head and looked at me.
Fortunately, I had two rounds left.
Have you ever seen those videos where those guys hunt lions and tigers? The ones where that 450 pound cat is charging them and they shoot it so close to them that it lands dead at their feet?
That's how I felt!