RE: Close shot
Loanshark - if you're a relative rookie as you say, why the heck are you taking a low percentage shot that obviously (based on your own experience) is difficult to make?
Shoot the heart/lungs.
Second: if you really want to make the shot you're asking about, you need to go to the range and practice shooting at the various distances and find out for yourself. Anything else is irresponsible, imho.