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The top 5 reasons why .45 ACP is still great for defense.In the never ending debate on which is the best caliber for defense, most popular cartriges are on the fast and furious end of the spectrum, 9x19 Parabellum, .357 SIG, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, 10mm, etc. But one fat and slow still holds its own, the venerable .45 ACP.Many say the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) is now obsolete and has been overtaken by more modern calibers but dont believe the story just yet because here are the top 5 reasons why the .45 ACP is still great for defense:1. Stopping Power- Some say stopping power does not exist, well, they are only kidding themselves. The .45 ACP was primarily designed for one purpose- stop criminal predators on their tracks. Designed by John Moses Browning, the round was developed due the perceived lack of stopping power of the .38 Long Colt used during the Moro rebellion in Mindanao. The experience and the Thompson-LaGarde test of 1904 led to the conclusion by the US Army that a minimum of 45 caliber was required for a new handgun (later the Colt M1911 pistol). 2. Battle tested- The .45 ACP, together with it's perfect platform- the 1911, has been to countless wars, in different weather conditions. No complaints about inadequate stopping power here, bigger bullets create bigger holes. The .45 ACP has been there done that.3. Subsonic Cartridge- Being slow has its advantage as the .45 ACP tends to do better than other calibers when fired from almost all barrel lenghts. Other calibers suffer in ballistic performance when fired in shorter barrels while the .45 ACP was designed for optimum performance at lower speeds. There is not much difference in performance firing from a 5 inch barrel to 3 inch barrel even with Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) ammo.4. Full Metal Jacket- In defensive ammo the choice should only be Jacketed Hollow Point. But in certain conditions when JHP is not available, Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) in .45 ACP is the only caliber i trust to still be able to reliably stop any human aggressor because its heavy mass has the capacity to penetrate tissue deep enough and its large diameter creates a large wound channel than other calibers.5. Variety of loads- The .45 ACP round has long been a large commercial success. So it will not be hard to find ammo for the caliber wherever you might be. And it is also a common law enforcement and military issue round so ammo compatibility with your defensive round of choice is high. Bullet weight range from 68 grains to 300 grains. I prefer loads in the 230 grains for defense. The truth is, the .45 ACP is not for everyone. I don't recommend it for noobs or as a general issue firearm. It is more fitting to the advanced or veteran armed professional or to a small elite police or military unit. One thing is sure, your grandpa's favorite round is still going strong and will not be going any where.