Did I get your attention? i just bought a STI Tactical 5.0 ss 1911. I got it for an amazingly low price. I bought it from a young guy that bought it on a whim after he won a $5k ticket. He never owned a $2300 gun before. I told him to meet me and if it was a low round count and was as new like he said, I'd buy it. He then said if you buy it I'll throw in a gun belt and leather holster made for it that costs over $225 and give me 275 rounds of ammo for it. It is a 40 S&W and he had it in his mind listening to others that a 40S&W was not the best round and he wanted a 45. Once I put that thing my hand I said Lets go to an indoor range that I shoot at and shoot up some of that ammo you brought. If it shoots, I'll take it. It felt like a special custom hand gun , fitted for me. I had it in my mind that It was mine after the first shot. I put two 10 round Dawson mags down range on a target and the group looked like a tiny chocolate chip cookie. I have to say it was made for me, and I shoot a lot and load rounds till I find perfection. You say a 40 S&W ? A shooter can shoot a BB gun effectively. Forget what round you "think" is effective. The gun is more important. I never argue a caliber ever. I shoot almost everything but a 380. If I can hit a target with a handgun effectively, if its a 9mm. or 40 S&W, or a 45, mission acomplished. Im going to hit target with the right gun, with a good grip and a good stance breathing properly, forget the caliber argument. My sister weigh 145 and she can put 6 rounds on target at 25 yards every time with my S$W 6 inch 629 44 mag. It's not a recoil problem for her. We forget that the objective is to hit target repetively. The only caliber that is effective is the one that hits target period. Now i an talking about 9mm and up. A 22 will do the job but Lets be reasonable. If truth be known, the FBI data is not trustworthy. They just switched again to a G2 9mm boolit. I have an aquaintance whose son works in the FBI. He gave me a box that he had. 147 grain G2 with clear polly inside the hollow point. Great 9mm round. but Because I shoot a Kahr K40 better than any other carry gun I have ever had, "MY" best round is an Underwood 165 grain 40S&W traveling at 1220 FPS, making just under 600 foot pounds of energy. The heavy all stainless steel frame and the 4 inch ported barrel has no problem handling the recoil as long as my grip is good. I have shot that round very accurately and followup shots are quick. i cant do the same with a Glock (bad grip for me and I dont care for the trigger) or most orher Poly guns. The 40 has a lower dB than a 9mm and a 45acp also. it can not match my 1911 45acp, but i dont carry one. Given the right gun I am just as deadly with any of these three calibers for self defense. Now for bear backup or hunting, I want my .44mag. Thats why they make so many different guns and calibers, for us to have so much fun shooting them. Please dont turn this into a 9mm vs. 40vs 45 argument. i am making a totally different point.