Sorry Blaine,
Carried a GI issue .45 for almost my entire 4 years, in combat, guard & security details. NEVER felt undergunned.
Entered LE work, ossued a S&W mdl 10, replaced that w/a mdl 19, and then a 65. Initially only allowed .38Spl, upgraded in mid '80s to +P. Never felt underpowered after we went to the +Ps.
Here's the reason, I practiced 3 times a week (other 4 were PT days)!
Now let me tell ya about 3 shootings. #1 - 2 PC detectives, 1 uniform vs. 1 perp w/shotgun. Perp shot det #1 in chest w/birdshot (#12s as I recall); det #2 is chased out of residence w/buckshot going everywhere (IIRC wounding him in buttocks). Uniform is caught inside w/perp, but bails out bathroom window only to find perp rounding corner of home. Uniform's 1st shot is COM and plants perp against a tree. Perp being upright & armed, uniform puts 11 more into him b4 perps falls to ground. (Coroner later rules 1st shot was fatal). LEOs all survive.
#2 - Uniform responds to "man w/knife" call (public disturbance). Man chases uniform around police car while uniform calls for man to calm down . Finally man lunges over trunk of car at LEO who draws weapon and fires one round thru chest. Knife AND perp fall to ground.
#3 - Uniform in marked unit on routine patrol encounters ratty, parked, out-of-state vehicle in hi- dolloar neighborhood under construction @ 2am. While waiting for license info, driver started out, LEO also started out but perp fired two shots from deringer, striking car & LEO in forehead. Uniform calls for back up, but another car had already started toward him b4 the dispatcher informed everyone the vehicle was wanted out of VA for armed robbery & a murder. LEOs 2 & 3 arrived as perp #1 reloaded and an exchange ensued. Rather uneven, 2 vs. 18. LEOs 2 & 3 unscathed, perp hit 11 times. Perp #2 remained hidden and surrendered w/o a fight.
In the aftermath, of shooting #1, quals went from annually to bi-annual and ammo from JFP std velocity to +P, ½J, HPs. Detectives WILL qualify w/carry leather, guns & ammo. After #2, everyone patted themselves on the back, and I really just don't recall any other changes.
After #3, agency chief calls investigation why perp lived after 11 hits. (I'm sure it was titled something else). IIRC, department's review panel recommend .45ACP in Sig or 1911 platform. Blue-ribbon panel recommends .40 in Sig or Glocks. Paid panel of "industry consultants" recommend 9mm, 147gr JHP in Beretta 92Fs. The several good things that ensued were that if you wanted, you could carry just about anything non-magnum. BUT, quals went to quarterly with all firearms on duty or off duty lists, passing scores were raised, and academy opened "Hogan's Alley" type facility.
I don't care what y'all say, caliber & platform are not very important. Training, familiarization & mental preparadeness will carry the day. It is my NSHO, that anyone who sez "this caliber' or "that firearm" is the BEST for ???, probably doesn't understand the dynamics of an armed encounter.
Ok, flame suit on, now fire away!