Yep...really old debate.
My wife and I got into CCW certification some six years ago. Although interested in fire arms for decades, I never really got the fever until the CCW thing for us came around.
We both qualified with a S&W .357 using .38 special rounds.
I got her a real sweet, Walther .380 PPK/S. For me...well, I always thought the look of a 1911 .45 ACP with a 5” barrel was “the way things ought to be.” So that’s what I got for myself. And both the .380 and .45 ACPs are children of the great John Browning.
Occasionally the family and friends will gather at Mom’s farm for a little shootin’. I just get a smile on my face when the .22LR pistols go “CRACK”, the 9mms go “BANG” and my .45 goes “POW!”
Lots of fun, and I have no beef with any of the calibers people choose to use. They key is “to each his own” and most importantly they’re armed.
.45 guy here too, only 4” instead of 5”. I use to call it my winter gun, a compact 9mm being my summer gun, but then I found the perfect IWB holster for the .45. Now she’s my best girl. Never leave home without her.