Its hard to beat a Glock 19 loaded with quality hollow point ammunition.

Glock 19C, very accurate, light to carry and easy to conceal. A gun you carry everyday is going to have some wear and tear. The Glocks are dependable and fairly inexpensive. You can make the .40/ 9mm argument but its all about being able to put rounds on target. I have seen suspects taken out with one round of each caliber and I have seen suspects being shot multiple times by 9mm and .40 survive. I am talking about good quality ammo typically Speer Golddot that we carry these days. I have carried a Glock 23 but I like the weight of the 19C. I am armed anytime I leave the house due to my profession.

If a 100% jump in kinetic energy is not a big difference to you, what is?

.380 -> 9mm ~= 100% KE difference

9mm -> .40 ~= 30-40% KE difference

9mm +P -> .40 ~= 10-20% KE difference.

I hope this posts well, but here's a little table comparing defensive loads of all 3:

CAL GR MV KE (J) KE (ftlbf)
9+p+ 127 1250 597.31 440.57
9+p 124 1180 519.71 383.34
9+P 115 1350 630.87 465.33
9+P+ 115 1400 678.47 500.44

40 155 1205 677.46 499.69
40 165 1150 656.83 484.48
40 180 1050 597.35 440.60
40 180 990 531.03 391.69
40 165 1140 645.46 476.09

380 95 1000 285.96 210.92



While I'll grant that KE heavily favors light and fast, it's a good illustration with real numbers. The top two 9mm, bottom two .40 and the 380 are all from the same Winchester Ranger T line.

Glock would monopolize the market if they would make a single stack 9mm the size of the Glock 42.