"I hit the buff with the first shot (the second shot was a miss)."

With my Wildebeest I hit on the first shot but did not kill. I dropped a round in the right bbl and after a short track I took a shot and either missed or hit a twig, I quickly moved my finger to the back trigger and fired the left bbl, dead.

I mention this because it's not shame to say "I missed". Hunt long enough and it will happen.