45acp=11.48mm, 0.452"
40/10mm=0.400
9mm = 0.355"

they are all calibrated to go >12 <16 inches in 10% ordinance gel
so there is a 4 inch window of performance

could 45 or 40 do more , maybe but it doesn't in most personal defense rounds

40 has snappier/sharper recoil impulse
45 has a bit more recoil than 9 but less snappy than 40 in most rounds

40 is harder on guns , costs more to shoot , and harder recoiling , so you spend more time getting back on target
you need to be a better shooter to get the same number of hits with 40 on target in the same time as you can with 9mm

.452-.355= .97 / 2= .0485

if you pull a credit card from your wallet and look at the thicness of the edge that is about .040 so if you hit the same spot exactly with a 9mm vs a 45 would the thickness of that card make a bad shot a good shot.

we know capacity matters more hits on target is better

I would go 9mm take the lower cost of ammo , the added capacity , easier to shoot especially from a compact or sub compact
then practice more and more often with that less expensive ammo.

it comes back to a basic but true statement a hand gun is a handgun is a handgun none of them jump up and give shotgun or rifle energy

take the cost and recoil savings and the capacity gain.

SG Ammo.com

Buy all the .40 you want. 9 and 45 too.

Well Pete, you make a good argument. Sooo, which 9mm?

I like my .45 Shield good fit easy to carry it runs flawlessly just nothing I’d want the wife so shoot because of the bark it might scramble her brain in a stressful time.

on more point to make , only need one ammo for your 9mm shield and a 9mm home gun

if you like the S&W shield , try the M&P 2.0 full size

also worth trying a G17 but if your used to the Smith the M&P 2.0

start with feeling several at a store , if they just feel wrong in your hand scratch it off your list then take the list and go to a rental range and try them
make sure it has a rail for a light

the next question is what light I like the stream lights

Do not i repete do not use reload for self defense rounds. Per th DA that taught mr ccw class a good da can turn it into premeditated murder. His advice as a district attorney. And he was pro 2nd admindment

For home defense a shotgun w/double oo buck. Living in St.Cloud I would think that you could not have to much but maybe consider a good AK47.

Get a Glock 48 mos and put a streamlight tlr sub 7 light on it. Alien Gear makes holsters for that combo. Then get a shield arms 15 rd flush fit mag. Full size capacity but carries concealed like a dream. Same size as a Glock 19 except its thinner. If you wanna get real crazy you can put a red dot on it and the MOS holsters from Alien Gear accept those as well.
You can trade that Shield toward the ultimate set-up!

I have a Glock model 45. Great gun but my hands are not big enough to control it well. Big grips. Springfields EMP fits well but short on ammo. Springfields prodoygy has it all in 9mm. I like .45 better but you have to give and take.
If it don't dont fit your hand you wont shoot it well.

Talk to 160user I think he specializes in selling glocks.

To each their own. in my case, I include black bears in my home protection.

Therefore, all my 9mm stuff is long gone. Now it's H&K USP compact .45ACP. With a couple mags of different ammo, I'm ready for anything.

I ain't claiming the handgun is ideal for everything, Just an acceptable compromise. 12 gauge with heavy lead (00 buck/slugs) is always within reach at home.

If your gonna be a bear, be a Grizzley! 1911, with 3 8rd mags, + 1 in the spout = 25 rnds at hand!

Yup

Get one of each, lol. Carry whatever you feel like on that particular day.

45 shooting twice is silly.

that saying is silly

starting with 2-4 rounds is just good planning then assess if they need more or if the threat has ended

it still isn't a death ray no matter how hard you want it to be

the USMC was sure the 45 had to be better than the 9mm so they ordered a bunch and used them in Iraq they learned it didn't really change much and they had half as many rounds so they went back to 9mm

EDC is a glock in 357 SIG. On occasion when there could be meat involved I carry a clock clone in 10mm

^truth. 9mm is a very good choice for many reasons.

Guess I'm a real retard. Most the time Im carrying a 380 body guard. Just because it's small. Actually bought it for the wife after she didn't like the Glock 27 I bought her. Which I had bought two of when I bought the Glocks. One for me one for her. So she couldn't complain. I bought the Glocks because I got a deal. Wanted it in 40 because I wanted 40. So I do carry the Glock 27 sometimes but mostly the body guard because just easier. Right now the Glock is on the night stand. It at times lives in the small vault bolted in my truck.
Get what you like for the money you want to spend. I haven't really had a problem finding ammo for the 40 recently. More about what you pay. The 380 ammo I'm seeing again but was nothing for awhile.
If you think your going to want to take ammo off the bad guy. Then best bet is get 9mm.

Mac

Doubt anyone that gets shot with a .380 would laugh about it, bullets have come a long way over the years.