I always likes the 1911 .45's. They have plenty of power and if you have to shoot somebody you don't have to worry about them getting up. I've seen a guy get shot 3 times in the gut with a .38 from around 25 yards away and get up and run away. The next day the guy that shot him went and bought a .41 magnum. If you ever have to protect yourself you don't have time to aim carefully and you want as large a bullet as you can shoot comfortably in case you don't make a perfect hit.