Study the ballistics on ammo offered in 9mm. Underwood & Buffalo Bore offers great 9mm ammo with lots of power!

No beef. When it comes to polymer pistols, I stick with Glocks except for my XDS.

I'm sure it's a shooter.

a Well placed shot is better than a bigger more powerful round. I don't think most can shoot 45's as well as 9MM. This was taught to me by a ex detective that was a CC instructor. He had been shot with a 45 to the left of his heart. He stated he was glad the guy didn't shoot a 9MM that he could shoot straight he would be dead. The 45 was off target and went in through his chest and out under his armpit. a 380 through the head is just as deadly as a 45 went one hits what is needed to stop the attacker. a man hit 4-5 times but none hit vidal organs is not near had dangerous as a single 380 through the brain. I think it's more important to learn your weapon and be able to shoot it under GREAT STRESS.

funny... I've taken a lot of first time shooters from work, to make a long story short, every one gravitates towards my stainless 5" government 45 as the easiest to shoot, most comfortable in the hand... they like the 9, 40 & 38 too, but being plastic and an airweight revolver - good representatives of carry guns, they tend to be a bit snappier...the woman chose the 45 hands down, and shoot it well ! so much for pushing them to get the puny 380 and 9 pp guns...

Okie dokie
They make 9mm in 1911 and Beretta that are big guns also and yes the small frame guns can be snappier

The most snappy gun guns own is a Kimber ultra carry in a 45 we can all find guns to say they can or can’t be shot.
I can assure if I am shooting my Ruger LCP 380 it will take down the assailant
If you can shoot the bigger guns sure but most women can’t or won’t
He recommended a Ruger hammer less 327 Magnum for women because the will shoot the 32 shorts but can be loaded with the 327 Mag ammo for stopping power when adrenaline is pumping and they are being attack just point and shoot

Nothing wrong with 9mm P for a defensive round. For many years 9mm terminal ballistics were inconsistent, and the cartridge was significantly outperformed by the .357 Magnum, a virtually identical bore size with higher velocity. Additionally, many of the platforms available were not capable of great accuracy. The 9 acquired a reputation for being a poor defensive round. All of that has changed, and not just recently, and the 9mm is offered in some stellar platforms that perform admirably. Modern technology has provided us with bullets that deliver impressive terminal ballistics at easily achievable velocities, and they do so very consistently. I still love my 1911s in .45ACP, but I do not feel at all undergunned with a 9mm. Defensive use is all about shot placement. A hit to the central nervous system or a large bone with a smaller projectile is much more effective at neutralizing a threat than a peripheral hit with a .44 or a .45. The 9mm P is a viable defensive caliber and is undeserving of the stigma that some people still cling to. As a LTC instructor I was always amazed to find that there are still some people around who believe that "a hit to the shoulder with a .45 will spin a man around and sling him to the ground". Urban legends...........

Several years ago my fishing buddy and his wife decided to get their CHLs. He was a Navy veteran and had some firearms experience, but no longer owned a handgun. She had shot long guns as a kid, but never fired a handgun in her life. I lent him one of my 1911s and he shot the qual with it. His wife was unable to make it to the range with us due to work. I left him my gun and told him to work with her and have her put a few hundred rounds downrange before qualifying. Jean was a pretty sharp gal, a quick learner, and very competent at physical tasks, so I wasn't worried about her mastering the handgun. After a couple of weeks she called me and we met at the range. She still hadn't put any rounds through the pistol, but Greg had provided ample instruction and she had handled it a good bit. The range owner commented (in front of her) that the 1911 was "too much gun" for her and that I must not like her if I was going to have her qualify with it. She shot a perfect score with it. Now, the Texas CHL qual was certainly not difficult, but very few people shoot perfect scores other than experienced shooters. The point is, a .45ACP is not a difficult platform to shoot accurately, if the shooter has learned the proper grip and stance.