Hi TunnelRat,
I do agree with your take on double stack .45 ACP handguns. The last handgun I was forced to carry was an H&K USP double stack .45 ACP. It was a beautiful gun with flawless operation. It was incredibly accurate. But I did not like it. It was huge and heavy. I begged to go back to my Sig P229 .40 S&W, which was the best and most reliable handgun I've carried, and that includes S&W revolvers. Nope. When administrators make dumb decisions, they'll rationalize dumb with extreme stupidity.
I've always believed and still believe that a good-quality 1911-A1 in .45 ACP sits alone at the top of the self-defense handgun pinnacle. I'm aware that others have different opinions.
I've carried a 1911-A1 with W-W white box 230 grain ball ammo and never felt the least bit slighted.
I've never held any other handgun that has the almost perfect natural point of a full-size 1911-A1. In fact, I'd opine that a full-size 1911-A1 has a perfect natural point.
I was new to the gig when the Model 59 had established its mediocre reputation as a cop handgun. I can't tell you of how many accounts I was told (direct evidence of primary sources) of its abysmal performance. The then state-of-the-art ammo might have been causal. Regardless, I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't carrying a 9MM. I did switch to a 9MM in the early 90's when W-W came up with the 147 grain Black Talon round. It did propel the 9MM into a category far above its previous status.
Self-defense is personal. What works for one might be all wrong for another. I'm a big, heavy bullet dude. But I also want a 100% reliable handgun that has tactical application. If I could, I'd carry a full-size 1911-A1 loaded with any quality 230 grain ammo, including ball. But it is a heavy weapon. It's surprisingly easy to conceal, but it is heavy.
I rarely carry a handgun even though I can. When I wasn't on the clock, I used to carry a Model 60 loaded with the FBI load. But it is a widow maker. I call it a neck and up gun. God forbid, were I in a gunfight (it'd be because a bad guy wanted me dead), if I didn't hit neck or above, the odds of my taking rounds (never a good thing) would be high. If there were more than one bad guy who wanted me to star at my wake, I'd of been in some serious peril. So I sought the best self-defense handgun for me. I'd of gone with my Sig P229 with 13 rounds in the gun and another 12 ready to go within a couple seconds. But it is on the difficult side of concealment. So I bought a Sig P239 .40 S&W, which is an exact replica of my P229 only smaller, which means muscle memory transfer. I've yet to carry it. But it is easy to conceal. It's far more powerful than the FBI load. It's 100% reliable. I use 180 grain Federal HST Tactical ammo. With two spare magazines, I have 22 rounds to get me out of trouble if I'm unable to avoid it, avoidance being my primary self-defense strategy.
Make no mistake, the .40 S&W performs just as was predicted. It is a darn powerful cartridge.
I have no qualms with anyone going with a 9MM. However, one should think it over very carefully if they live in CA. We have a mag restriction of 10 rounds.
Gelatin tests and other ammo tests are decent references, but they're far from definitive. There are too many variables in a self-defense scenario to isolate bullet design as predictive of performance.
My opinion is the 9MM would be my absolute minimum cartridge for saving lives of my loved ones and my life. Were I to go with a 9MM, it'd be a Sig P226 or similar handgun with standard capacity (15 round) magazines.
I've not read why the FBI has gone with the 9MM as its issued cartridge. I'm assuming its issued gun will be Glock. I am curious to learn of how many of its cops will carry either the .40 S&W or .45 ACP instead of the agency's issued gun. Were it me, I'd carry either a full-size 1911-A1 in .45 ACP or my Sig P229 in .40 S&W. But that's just me. Others would assuredly choose a different combo.
TunnelRat, I'm good with your cartridge opinions. But that doesn't mean that I concur. I'll go with science every time, and in this case, science does not agree with you. The 9MM is inferior to the .40 S&W and .45 ACP. There is just no way that the 9MM equals either the .40 S&W or the .45 ACP. But I'm more than good with your choice of what works best for you.
Momentum Indices using Federal HST Tactical ammo:
9MM 124 grains 1150 FPS Momentum Index: 20
.40 S&W 180 grains 1000 FPS Momentum Index: 25
.45 ACP +P 230 grains 950 FPS Momentum Index: 31
Sources:
Federal Law Enforcement ammo:
http://www.le.vistaoutdoor.com/ammunition/federal/handgun/default.aspx
Momentum Calculator:
http://handloads.com/calc/quick.asp
If you're in to laboratory testing, this supports the inferiority of the 9MM to both the .40 S&W and .45 ACP:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
The problem with laboratory testing is that gunfights don't occur in laboratories.
TunnelRat, I do wish you the absolute best. And I do respect your opinions. I might not agree with you, but I do respect you.