45 ACP. Is it the weight or the diameter?

roguebooger said:

I have tried unsuccessfully to research this and frankly, I give up. Perhaps I should stop thinking about this. I’m really fond of the .45 acp. I generally carry one for self defense in various configurations. My wife says I accessorize.

There are of course different weights of projectiles from 185 to 230 grains. In that respect which is best for stopping a threat? The lighter grains feel like they recoil less, but is it the heavier bullet that does the trick or the diameter that causes the larger permanent wound channel?

I absolutely believe that accuracy is the best way to stop an attack and that caliber is probably not relevant. So is bullet weight relevant?

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I'm not sure that the theoretical research matters much. If I'm going to use a gun for self defense, I'm going to use the most vicious round that I can buy. Some high weight, jacketed, hollow point. I live in west Tennessee, and we have the
"castle doctrine" That means I can defend myself in my home !! And every time I hear an oddball noise, I grab
one of my many handguns guns that are around the house. Sure, my rifles are stored in a closet but not my
self protection hand guns. My favorite is a SS 1911 5" with oversized controls. I also like my SS SIg P232 9mm
SA / DA. I have always held the belief that anybody in my home that doesn't belong is only there to cause me harm.
My belief was tested when I was 15. A drunk neighbor tried to break into my parents home when only my 3 sister's
and I were home. I loaded my parents .38 and was no longer in the position of being a victim. The older sister was
a model and one of the younger ones became one. I didn't have to shoot him..... but I would have.