I definitely agree with that, Jim. I consider most of the popular pistol cartridges to be of relatively puny ballistic potential. You can't count on any of them to smite down bad guys like the hammer of Thor. Effective shot placement is crucial whether you're launching .380's or .45's. A good hit with a .45 may be better than a good hit with a .380, but all that's moot, if the shooter can't deploy his weapon, or if the weapon fails to function. I'm a 1911 nut, and like a .45 better than anything else, but I mostly carry 9mm's these days. My preference for the service type autos is largely driven by their generally superior mechanical reliability. But, again, that's utterly moot, if I can't deploy the sidearm, due to either a misguided carry method or a poorly designed holster. I do like to put in some effort toward making holsters look good, but there are a number of performance characteristics which I feel a proper holster absolutely must have, some of which are all too often neglected. Retention, draw, concealability, and comfort are obvious, but are sometimes achieved by means that neglect or diminish other important aspects, such as accessibility and safety. The best designs attempt to maximize all of these traits, without any one of them serving to negate any of the others. Safety is the one most commonly neglected or ignored. An example of this the importance of being able to safely reholster your sidearm after firing it. Failure to consider this can result in any number of calamities, from burning your leg or butt, to shooting yourself through a major artery or organ.
