TexasCHLforum.com

I'd wager that the vast majority of us have exactly zero experience using a firearm in an SD situation, so I am happy to hear from anyone who has. That said, like most of us here, I base my primary defensive firearm choices on what is now commonly seen as truth -- that shot placement of a sufficiently powerful cartridge is a deciding factor IF the firearm is actually fired. Many times a self defense use may not require actually firing the gun. When a handgun is fired, only accurate fire to the CNS can be expected to render a threat harmless immediately. Hits anywhere else will likely take some time to be effective in stopping the threat. So, if you shoot the .45 best it may be that the .45 is the choice for you. Likewise if you shoot a .40 or 9mm best. .380 even has its place, since it seems to be the minimum caliber/energy considered by many a minimally effective.