The size of the bullet, and even its velocity, is less important than where the bullet hits.
Place 'em well, and it really doesn't matter if it's a 9mm, a .38 Special, a .40, or a .45 ACP. Even a "mere" .380 will do the job, if you hit the right place(s).
Therefore, no matter what you choose to carry, if you don't practice, practice, practice to make yourself proficient with it, you will be outgunned and you will lose.
A high-powered miss is not as good as a wimpy hit.
Not being a smartaleck, but for concealed carry, the caliber is not as important as proficiency with a given platform. If you're more proficient with a Glock (shudder) .40 cal, then carry it. If you're more proficient with a 1911 (that would be me) in .45 ACP, then carry that. If you're new to concealed carry, shoot as many handguns as you can get yer hands on, find what you like, then get proficient with it. After you 're proficient with it, then carry it.
I've carried a 1911 for so long, and I'm so old, that it would be ill-advised for me to change... so I won't :smt1099
A .45 is clearly superior when comparing FMJ. The comparison is less clear when it is JHP that you are comparing.
I think both are effective rounds (more effective than a 9mm).
I think it boils down to which gun.
Which gun can you shoot more accurately?
Which gun are you likely to have on your person at any given time?
For me, the 1911 in .45 is the most accurate weapon I've ever shot. But it is not a weapon I like to carry. And the smaller, lighter versions in 1911 seem all to have reliability issues.
I like the Glock 27 for carry. The new Nano (Beretta) in .40 caliber reads like a nice weapon and once it is proved reliable I plan on getting one. The Walther PPS also reads like an ideal carry weapon in .40 caliber. But looking at the Walther-specific website (forums) I see too many complaints about the .40 caliber PPS (fewer problems with the 9mm version).
Which weapon are you likely to carry? And can you shoot it well? (And is it reliable.)
Once you get up to at least a 9x19 (9mm Luger), with proper ammo, it's just a matter of shot placement. So, the best SD gun for anyone is simply the one they will practice with the most and feel confident with. I prefer .45, because I like to shoot them, and feel confident with them.
The size of the bullet, and even its velocity, is less important than where the bullet hits.
Place 'em well, and it really doesn't matter if it's a 9mm, a .38 Special, a .40, or a .45 ACP. Even a "mere" .380 will do the job, if you hit the right place(s).
Therefore, no matter what you choose to carry, if you don't practice, practice, practice to make yourself proficient with it, you will be outgunned and you will lose.
A high-powered miss is not as good as a wimpy hit.
If you have shot 9mm why go for .40 or .45 stick to 9mm.
The most used and popular pistol and sub machine gun round in the world.
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