I sympathize with Nuclear Glock. I find it odd that he had to spell out in detail "all other factors being equal", because I think his question already implied that. Yeah, yeah, we know, shot placement, and everything else is details. He's asking about those details. Why can't people answer the question without diverting to a tangential topic? The answer to your question, IMO, is "unknown". The jury is still out, and the debates are endless. The purportedly scientific "studies" have been called into question as flawed (or even fraudulent), so most question their reliabity. Agree with Walter - I personally carry Triton Quik Shok +P .45acp JHPs, with 230 ball in the mags below round 2 for enhanced reliability and pene if 2 quik shoks can't do the job. I imagine out of a 3.5" bbl, you'd be lucky to get 1,150 (100 fps less) due to bragadocious ad vels, and shorter bbl length (ad vels based are based on 5" bbls). The answer may also be "depends on the target" - large thick individuals may, on average, go down more quickly with the heavier 45 due to better pene, but the average man MAY go down quicker with 9mm at faster vels due to fragmentation/expansion - I just have never seen any kind of reliable comprehensive scientific studies comparing the two, that stand up to peer review. In the grand scheme, as you may have inferred, the difference (is in all liklihood) neglibible.
My personal reason for leaning toward the .45 is this: assuming no expansion from either, and assuming equal penetration, the volume of the permanent wound cavity is "much" greater due to the frontal area of the .45 (i.e. bigger hole). Yeah I know, this may not be valid due to suspect assumptions, but I like it anyway.
[This message has been edited by Futo Inu (edited December 30, 1999).]