Pretty much no such thing as "knock down" power, not even my beloved .45 ACP. That said, and at the risk of igniting another caliber war, I usually carry .45s. When I'm not carrying a .45, I'm carrying a .357 magnum. When I'm not carrying a .357, I'm carrying a 9mm. I don't go any lower down than that.Topbuilder wrote:Reliability, knockdown power, round capacity, good simple target acquisition. All things which must be included in a pistol designed to bring to a fight. To win fights. That is a 1911. A 1911 is designed to win fights. That is what makes it a fighting pistol.
I submit there have been a few that could be added to the list since 1911...
It goes without saying that a "fighting gun" is whatever gun you have in your hand at the time you're needing one. But that said, when most people use the term (my son calls them "war guns"), for me it always evoked those guns that were designed purely for combat, and typically being "full-sized:" the 5" 1911; a Browning Hi-Power; Glock 17; Sig P229; HK USP Tactical; Beretta 92FS; guns like that.