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Its probably true that shot placement is the most important thing, but if you really believe that strongly just carry a .25.

This will go on forever. Carry what you want. I own a .380, 9mm, .40, 10mm and .45acp. Some will say they choose the 9mm because they are more accurate with it and it can hold more rounds. I am more accurate with my .40 then any of them but that’s just me. As for power 10mm takes the cake but you get increased recoil. 17 rounds doesn't really mean anything to me unless you think you’re in the movie Heat. My brother is an EMT and he always carried a 9mm until he became an EMT. He said it would probably stop a threat if the rounds were placed well but he responded to many calls were someone was shot 6 times in the torso with a 9mm and lived. Doesn't mean you can't get shot once with a 9mm and die but he said he never saw anybody conscious or alive after 2 shots of .45 to the chest. A 9mm is adequate for personal protection. Same goes for all the calibers bigger. I would just master a larger caliber or more powerful round. To each his own.

As the gun poster says "45ACP: Shooting twice is just silly."

Put it this way. There is a reason almost everybody I know has +P or +P+ in 9mm. They just want more!!! A +P 9mm is still only putting weak .40 cal power down on paper and its still a smaller diameter bullet with less weight! Even if they are wrong, mentally they think they don't have enough power.

There were some links posted somewhere on this site here is one.
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There was another with drawings of wound cavity that was good also. Just can't find it.

My law enforcement contacts prefer 9mm - their experience in seeing people get shot with various calibers is that fewer people get up from 9mm than from 45.

Maybe due to shot placement - maybe luck - but I dont get shot at for a living, thank goodness and therefore I take the advice of my trusted friends who do. Rather than Internet conjecture

The best examples of those cartridges mentioned, used well, work about at well as each other. However, the larger rounds tend to have a larger "sweet spot" - a little more tolerance for when things go just a little wrong. Hollowpoints don't always open, or the target might move just a bit as you fire and through your point of impact off a little.
I have nothing against any of the current crop of service calibers. It's great that we get to debate, choose, and own more that one! I just happen to have a .45 that works for me. Anything else will have to offer quite a bit to justify the change.

Zoomie wrote:F=ma and KE=(1/2)m*v^2.

That's why I've been working on my form tackles.

I also have a few guns I shoot on a regular basis including a 38 special revolver, 380, 9mm, 40, and a 45.

I carry the 9mm (Kahr mk9 elite) most of the time because it has good stopping power, and is concealable for a slim framed guy like me. Just be carefull in your choice of ammo to put through it. I carry the Horniday Critical Defence 115 grain hollow points. Notice I do NOT carry +p....The Horniday round is designed to stay in the soft target and all it needs to do that is 115 grain.

I love my 45, and shoot it more often at the range as it is comfortable to shoot, but it is a full frame 1911 and I have a really hard time hiding that sucker during the summer in Houston. If someone broke into the house, and I had a choice of which weapon to grab, it would be the 45. If I need something to carry everyday...it's the 9mm.

Kahr in 9mm (all stainless) is a great gun. Kimber 1911....sweetness.

I like both, one is more practical for me to carry.

USA1 wrote:Why carry a .40 or.45

Because they don't make a .46

A well placed 22 will do the job. But the sound of the, bang, just is not there.

No, actually, shoot what you feel comfortable with. It is your gun. No one can tell you which caliber is best. A cannon that misses the target is just as worthless as a 45 that misses. Just a lot of noise.

A buddy of mine is an Iraq veteran and he is the only person I know who has been shot at and fired back. He has a very interesting view on calibers. Shoot the heaviest gun. He always told me he liked heavy handguns because when you get shot at your adrenaline goes into overdrive and no matter how hard he tried his hands would shake a little. That’s why he loved his rifle and only on a few occasions used or discharged his handgun. He thinks recoil means little or nothing when it comes down to it and that how calm you are and the weight of the gun will help your hands from shaking. That’s why he carries only revolvers and 1911s. The weight!!!

CC Italian wrote:A buddy of mine is an Iraq veteran and he is the only person I know who has been shot at and fired back. He has a very interesting view on calibers. Shoot the heaviest gun. He always told me he liked heavy handguns because when you get shot at your adrenaline goes into overdrive and no matter how hard he tried his hands would shake a little. That’s why he loved his rifle and only on a few occasions used or discharged his handgun. He thinks recoil means little or nothing when it comes down to it and that how calm you are and the weight of the gun will help your hands from shaking. That’s why he carries only revolvers and 1911s. The weight!!!

This got me to thinking after reading it. Great post by the way.
You deer hunters know exactly about the shaking. Ever had buck fever? I always said it couldn't happen to me. Was I wrong. When a 15 point walks out in front of you, you gonna get it. And when the gun goes off, you don't even know it. So much for the "I don't want all that recoil" thing. Yes, when you are at practice, you are going to notice it some. But to worry about the recoil to the extent of, will it effect my shot when it counts? You are not even going to notice it if that time ever does come. Besides, 99.9% of us are never going to have that time come. So enjoy the shooting and practice a lot. Have fun with it. Do some bragging about how good you did. And if you didn't do all that great, lie.

I always preferred the .45 over the 9mm while on Active Duty due to handling, shooting and ergonomics for my hands.
I carry .40s as primary now for the same reason.

I think if I ever have to shoot someone I'm gonna have enough factors going against me without throwing an underpowered caliber into the mix. The smaller 1911s are plenty small enough and about as flat as anything in any caliber.