They do not have a larger target radius. Whatever the hell that is. You need to aim just like a rifle. And the pellets will penetrate several walls if you miss. The idea is not to scare the intruder but to ventilate him.
(Bolding mine, in both)
I agree with all that’s been said. Yes, you most definitely need to aim any, and every weapon, when firing it.
You are responsible for every round that you send ‘downrange’.
With that said, I do have a slight :nitpick:… As demonstrated here on the web site “The Box-O-Truth”, a rifled shotgun barrel will have a ‘spread’ of about 17"-18" at only 5 yards. :eek:
That would not be an ‘improvement’ over an aimed shot with a regular smooth bore barrel, though. 
Just sayin’…
Shotgun shells can be loaded with birdshot. Which will stop almost anybody without killing them. (there’s always a small chance you’ll nick a major artery.) But most people survive birdshot wounds. Ive been told it hurts really bad and would discourage anyone from attacking you. VP Cheney had a hunting accident and shot a guy in the face with birdshot. He was out of the hospital pretty quick.
You could load the first shell birdshot. Then the next shell double-aught buck shot and blow a hole through the guy if he didn’t take off running.
If it’s two attackers than the other guy better take off running. Because your next shot is lethal.
Box o’Truth shotgun