Take all the "9mm is wimpy" talk with a grain of salt, because I'm sure none of the posters would like to stare down the barrel of a loaded 9mm. I have a 9 mm, .40 S&W, .45 Auto, and a 10 mm and have the same amount of faith in all of them. Why? If I have to defend my life, I'm not just shooting once. And with modern powders and bullets they all perform about the same on a human target (the 10 mm has an edge, but in the end, the .40 S&W will generally yield the same result on a human).
A lot of people quote all the army crap about the 9 mm being horrible. Remember that they must use a FMJ.
I prefer carrying the 9mm because it is my smallest pistol (G26), but the G36 in .45 auto is giving it a good run for it's money. I shoot all 3 calibers accurately, but if I have to fire in less than ideal conditions (one handed and off handed) the edge clearly goes to the 9mm or 40 S&W (the .40 simply because the gun I have is heavy). The .45 auto in a small and light gun is just too much for me to take in my off hand.
As you can see, when I consider service pistol calibers, there are more important things than "stopping power".
A lot of people quote all the army crap about the 9 mm being horrible. Remember that they must use a FMJ.
I prefer carrying the 9mm because it is my smallest pistol (G26), but the G36 in .45 auto is giving it a good run for it's money. I shoot all 3 calibers accurately, but if I have to fire in less than ideal conditions (one handed and off handed) the edge clearly goes to the 9mm or 40 S&W (the .40 simply because the gun I have is heavy). The .45 auto in a small and light gun is just too much for me to take in my off hand.
As you can see, when I consider service pistol calibers, there are more important things than "stopping power".