Like buttons are for social media. This isn't that. Popularity is often misplaced and usually misinformed. There are two presidential candidates currently garnering a lot of popularity, right?
Carry ammo as a single catch all round has too many diverse elements. Barrel length has a big influence, and velocity from barrel length is a known issue that can defeat the most highly rated cartridge just shooting if from something an inch shorter. It's why there are so many tests and evaluations.
Try sorting out .380 ammo and see. It takes specifying the exact barrel length - cut that barrel down one half inch and the results can be turned on their head. When I read Shooting The Bulls results in his ammo tests of .380 what was the popular "liked" round didn't come up so well in the rankings.
For that matter what most of us choose is based on tests that dont' even include our caliber or barrel length - it's carryover from something longer or bigger. We assume if it works good in Gun X that it should in Gun Y, but that is exactly what it is, an assumption. It's not proven factual at all.
Goes to the HD crowd, too. Lots of assumptions but no empirical testing and the basis for performance isn't well thought out either.
Look at what we do have in the way of testing - mostly gel blocks at ten yards, for self defense ammo. And what is the statistical likelihood of use? Often, much closer range, and with a barrier, either heavy clothing, and always a significant bone structure, either chest or cranial. Where is the testing for your barrel length simulating that? It's usually inferential, Even the FBI protocols aren't set up for it. They shoot their preferred DUTY gun with a 4"+ barrel, and barriers they choose, not what you might experience.
Don't sweat the small stuff, work toward better shot placement, and more importantly, awareness that you need to shoot at all. What ammo focuses too narrowly on a item that can only incrementally improve the results where being accurate and timely has a much bigger influence.
