If you’re comfortable with the 45acp, why not stick with it? It sounds like you already have several, and you shot well during the test, so why not stick with them?
If its size, several of the folks on the sight carry full sized 1911’s with no problem. But if you want a smaller pistol, both Kimber and Springfield make nice compact and sub-compact 45’s that are a breeze to carry.
As others have said, I wouldn’t be too quick to rule out the 9mm due to a concern over stopping power. The difference during gelatin testing, for good ammo, is negligible. Now gelatin testing is a little suspect in some circles, but the results coming in from the field show 9mil, 45ACP, and 40Cal to be effective pistol calibers. Of course they're not going to be “death ray� level…they're pistols, so by definition their stopping power is generally limited when compared to Phasors, Death Rays, baseball bats, shotguns, and rifles (despite Hollywood’s opinion).
But since stopping power is a little limited with common pistol ammunition, some camps feel quantity is an important attribute, which when coupled with concealed carry, leads towards the 9mm discussion. The logic is 15 +1 is more chances for a stop then 7+1 or 8+1. There are high cap 45’s out there, but they can be a little hard to conceal comfortably for long periods of time. I have a Para P-12 that by the end of the day, my hip is complaining about. There was also a reliability issue, but that’s another story…
There’s also the point of proficiency costs. To shoot any pistol well in a defensive environment (not just putting holes in paper on a range) takes practice, and a lot of it. That equates to lots of rounds down range, and as anyone that’s looked at the current ammo prices can tell you, that’s a lot of dollars.
Once again, 9mm generally wins out over 45ACP and 40Cal.I’m not a strong proponent of the 40Cal. I have a Glock 23, but I rarely carry it. I’ve pretty much settled into either carrying my 45’s or 9mm. The 45’s, depending on the required attire, are generally easier to conceal while retaining comfort. My favorite is my Kimber CDP with my Ultra second in line.
But since I buy into the higher capacity argument, I also carry a Glock 19 or Glock 26. I have a Kahr that’s useful for deep concealment or as a backup gun (BUG).
Why the 19 over the 23? Higher capacity in the same size carry weapon…more chances to get that “One Stop Shot�
…there’s also the issue of multiple assailants, which seems to becoming more the norm now. 