OK this has turned into a 9vs45 thread...Given availability of 12+ shot .45Autos out there is only advantage poor weak 9x19 has which is availability of cheaper pinkling ammo. When one realizes that .45ACP user does not need JHPs for personal defense ammo one could easily argue that the bigger gun is "cheaper to carry". Due to availability of +p ammo the .45ACP is also superior to .40S&W and longer version called 10mm.
To those that are posting un-intelligent comments about how the .45 is a magic round and dissing the 9mm please stop. That is just silly. Normally I would tell those folks to stand in front of a 9mm JHP, but how about I just join the silly-ness and say that the .45 is weak. Why don't you carry a real mans handgun... Like a Desert Eagle or a Taurus Judge or a .44? Come on guys.
The .45 is superior to the .40? There are .40 loads coming out of the pipe at 1100 fps with 500+ ft/lbs. There is much overlap between calibers. By the way, as Autoloaders go, the 357 sig is already renown as a one stop shot cartridge (read up on it)... does that mean everyone should carry it? NO!!! The ammo is harder to find and the recoil is harsh. Every load... EVERY LOAD has it's purpose. Pro's and Con's and drawbacks.