There is something to be said for the intial shock created by the sudden deacceleration of a bullet into a body. On first contact, the larger the hitting surface, meplat, of the bullet, the larger the energy transfer, and the greater the deacceleration of the bullet.
Here is an extreme example:
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/500SWMagnum.htm
The initial slap into the block creates about a 2-3" hole.
It's that initial hit that creates nerve damage and shock on first getting hit.
The ONLY way to really take advantage of this in a handgun is big diameter bullets. Ideally the bullets would be going faster then they do in .45 ACP.
(I am aware that Lee Jurras had another solution: .429" 185 grain bullet, at 1900 fps, out of a .44 Magnum. The .40 is close to that in diameter, but lacks the case capacity to generate enough velocity. The 10MM, with light bullets, and non-expanding, starts looking really good at this point. 135 grain bullet at 1450 fps, with a TC design is going to both penetrate, create a real good slap, and equal or better the .357 Magnum).
The Holy Grail for people, horses, deer has been the .45 Colt, loaded with 260 grains at about 1000-1200 fps. It is possible to get pretty close to that in the .45 ACP, but it requires either a lighter TC bullet, or a higher pressure
for a heavier bullet, or multiple projectiles.
Trying to get that much velocity means using a light for caliber .40 bullet, which under penetrates with a HP. Therefore if I was going to carry a .40, I'd be looking for a light TC, around 155-165 grains, at 1100 fps or more.
9MM I'd be looking at a TC type bullet in the 130 grain range.
Great thing about .45 is it's already a .45 when it hits, and that is a BIG advantage, larger then numerical factors indicate.
As for wound effectiveness:
This almost looks like a rifle wound:
.45 Colt 260 grains, LFN at 1150 fps:
It also appears that as you increase diameter from there, the effectiveness goes up like the Ricther scale:
This is 440 grains, at 950 fps, in .500JRH:
and that's a .300 Win mag case for comparison.
The effect a .500" caliber LFN type bullet has on impact, even at sedate 950 fps on deer, or in this case buffalo, has to be seen to be believed.
I'm not alone in my thinking. JM Browning originally designed the .45 ACP with a 200 grain bullet at 950 fps, or more. The army told him they wanted a heavier bullet.
I suspect JMB knew more about his design then the army did. The higher velocity creates the same wound channel, the non-expanding bullet
holds true on impact and goes through the target.
Most shootings occur at very short range and are point and shoot type stuff.
We don't practice that much. The 1911 platform, at least for me, provides
an excellent quick draw point shoot combination. For others it's a Glock.
For Bob Munden it's a .45 Colt SA (I invite anyone who thinks Bob is under
a disadvantage with his gun to do a little research).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcZHVspVIDs
The two balloon hits? Think two bad guys and vitals.
I like his solution to multiple firepower and attackers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRXXxQ1OuDc&feature=related
10 seconds, 20 shots. 250 grains, 782 sec.