The reality is that each round has pros and cons, and on balance they are approximately equivalent. It would be difficult or probably impossible to make any argument that is not purely baseless opinion that one is better than the other from an objective viewpoint. Of course the internet forums are the domain of the baseless opinion, so you see exactly such meaningless arguments all over the internet.BigBlueDodge wrote: Actually, according to Federal's site, regarding the HST loads
1. .40 Caliber HST 180 grain bullet delivers 408 lb/ft of energy at the muzzle
2. 9mm 124 grain HST +P bullet delivers 396 lb/ft of energy at the muzzle.
3. 45 acp 230 grain HST bullet delivers 404lb/ft of energy at the muzzle
In some cases, a 9mm is going to be best. In some cases, a .45 may be best. In other cases, maybe the .40 is the best. Unfortunately you don't get to pick the conditions under which you are going to need to fire a defensive weapon. No matter what you carry, it is a compromise in some way.
Two things I will point out in favor of the 9mm is that #1 the 124gr HST +P are 50% cheaper in 9mm than the comparable rounds in either .40 or .45. I am carrying 124gr 9mm HST +P in my Kahr right now. It has noticeably more recoil than 115gr WWB and dramatically more recoil than most reloads or other cheap practice ammo such as Monarch. So it is a big advantage to be able to afford to practice more with the exact ammo you are going to carry, if you are limited by finances at all. And #2, 9mm is ubiquitous, and the physically smaller rounds are smaller and lighter to carry in any quantity. For example, a Glock 26 holds 13 rounds of 9mm and is smaller in almost every dimension and lighter when loaded than the 36, which only holds 7 rounds of .45ACP. The 36 is about 1.5mm thinner but otherwise is bigger than the 26 in every dimension. You give up 6 rounds of capacity and get nothing in return, unless you are absolutely convinced that, despite the ballistic data and numbers, one round of .45 is nearly as good as two rounds of 9mm as a man stopper.