Make no mistake. One can be as deadly as the other. A "real criminal" may only be interested in any valuables that you may own, and has no interest in killing you.
A "street punk" may only be interested in any valuables that you may own. Difference is, the street punk may kill you just for the hell of it.
In a nutshell, a criminal is a criminal. I don't differentiate between any of them.
I own pistols in both. 40 and. 45. I like them both and feel using either for self defence will do the job. I do like that most .40s&w pistols will have greater magazine capacity than a .45. Ammo for. 40 is also a little cheaper for target practice.
Any caliber that begins with a 4 is ok with me.
Yea, there is "no standard" in BG's, but most of them are probably scared silly, just desperate when they break into homes. Racking a shotgun or a belly peppered with rat-shot will send them scurrying like the rat they are. I bet the guy that got the belly full of rat-shot had no idea of caliber or round, just that he had been shot and wanted only to get the hell out of there.
There is always a 12ga automatic with slugs or 00 if your looking to transfer foot-pounds of energy into the BG.