Just to add fuel to the fire

10mm for when you outgrow your 45acp

And the college student on budget.

i am on the fence with this one. i agree with both sides really. i personally favor the 45 but im a rather hefty guy and can handle it. where as like my sis shoot the 45 and complains but when handed the 9 is fine with it. i think it wasnt the best idea for the military to leave the 45. way more knock down then the 9 but its lighter and in turn can carry more ammo which appears to be the biggest thing. and i know illcatch flack for this but it seems every one needs all the ammo they can get there hands on cuz most cant hit crap but owell just my opinion.

thats the militarys answer, toss enought ammo around your bound to hit something. =) I dont like the 9mm personaly and i try to get myself to buy one just to to CC with. But then i look at the 45 -v- the 9mm when its time to carry and i always grab the 45. I like to KNOW your not coming after one shot. Then 9mm is great if you wanna blast 4-5+ rounds at someone to stop them. But i take the 45.

they all pale to the 12 Gauge shotgun.

May I shoot an apple off of your head with my Pansy 9MM.

Actually the 45 doesn't have that great of one shot stopping abitlity either. It really depends on the ammo you use. Quality 9 mm ammo verses 45 ball ammo I'll pick the 9 any day. If you were really worried about it you would use a .357, it has the best reccord for one shot stops.

I also agree, 12 gauge wins hands down for home defense.

Paul

Hee hee. Lessons learned. The USMC dusted off the 45's for the big sandbox.

It would still be my pistol of first choice for anti-personnel work. At the same time, some just can't learn to shoot the slab sided beast. A 22 is better than throwing rocks.

Personally, I like the .45 too! But, I have heard of one County jail escapee that took a fullmag of .45's befoe expiring! So, nothing is certain! Perhaps moreIS better!