.45 or 9MM?

[egp320i]

Many years ago, I was a competition shooter. At my peak, placed 2nd in a local large bore pistol competition. My pistol of choice was a .45 Colt Gold Cup, and though I'm no longer a gun owner (I compete on a chessboard now) the .45 has always been my sentimental favorite.

If one loads their own .45 ammunition, a hot load .45 has more stopping power than any 9MM out there, and is at least as accurate, if not more so. Yet many still prefer the 9MM - - why?

45 is larger, slow, usually more recoil and heavier

9mm is faster, can penetrate better, less recoil and weight

more rounds per gun

reason LE uses 9mm and not 45 nor the military but for a different reason, NATO

a nice between round would be the 40