The 9mm cartridge is the most popular self-defence/military pistol round in the world. No question. Delve into any factory round you desire, there is a huge multitude of internet information of how this bullet/cartridge combo performs, in ballistic gel, first going through a couple of layers of denim, etc/etc.
I picked Federal 147g HST HP. Not cheap. Thank you, Son!
I served 20 years on the board of IALEFI, was the big pusher of that new-fangled round, both in pistols, and ammo. The 9mm. 1984-2004. Retired. Carry pistol was Glock. G-17 then G-19 4th Gen.
The old bit of advice was alive and well "If you cannot do it with 6! you should not be carrying a pistol" Sure. My mantra, "MORE IS BETTER ALWAYS."
I belong to the largest group of gun carriers in Florida! The Old People!
Glock 19 Gen 4. Is my pick. We seem to have many members of the gun blogs, who change their pistols like I change my socks! My reason to stay with the one model of a pistol? If I get into self-defence, life-threatening fight.
I need no confusion as what is in my hand! What controls it has, where to put the sights! On a hostile human target. To gain cease and desist in the shortest possible time span.
There are some who state emphatically, do not change any part of your pistol, but shoot it the way it came out of the box.
I am not in that group. Not knowhow. The first thing to change on a Glock pistol. The sights. Dump the crappy plastic sights. Aftermarket night sights.
If I turn my eyes to the G-19 sitting on my nightstand 3 green dots come in to view. (where the two dots are, that's where the grip is!) I use the slide stop (release) to close the slide on a reload if necessary, slid normally closes on its own! with the hard insertion of the replacement magazine. Replaced the crappy lined trigger first mod! For the factory smooth model.
The magazine release, hurt my second finger! Sharp knife, snip, fixed.
Had to point guns at people over my lifetime (84 just now!) to cause cease and desist. It worked fine.
Don't leave home without it, ever! Good advice.