Over those years, the average height has increased, and the average weight has nearly doubled. These calibers may no longer have the necessary stopping power. They do kill but not nearly as effective as when they had been developed.
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All personal likes/dislikes aside, they're probably going to stay with a 9mm size handgun, regardless of actual caliber or cartridge. Who knows, it might be the .22 TCM or something similar.
They are just as adequate, it's just that someone on a drug like meth or PCP doesn't feel things the same way. I'd argue a 32 acp is going to be MORE effective against such a person than a 500 S&W magnum. The only surefire way to stop them is a spine or head/neck hit. That's why a shotgun and #2 buck sits next to my bed, not a handgun.
Yes, the average size of people has increased and there are things like drugs in their system to consider.
By the same token, ammunition that is currently available is far better than it was back then also. The new hollow points are a far superior round than the old lead or full metal jacket bullets these guns were originally fed.
I think the better preforming ammunition has kept them just as capable as they were way back when.
Stay away from the Golden Corral, I see a lot of huge people going in those places.
One nice consequence of the initial shift to 9 mm semi autos for police departments, and among the general public, is that it put a lot of really nice Smith and Wesson revolvers into the used market at very good prices. I bought a Smith and Wesson Model 27 (5 inch!), a Model 66, and a Model 686, for about $250 apiece in the early 90s.