You don’t have to shoot somebody to have your life saved by having a gun.
According to DOJ crime statistics, guns are used by US citizens 2.5 million times per year to prevent violent crimes like rape, robbery, home-invasion and carjacking, 99% of the time without a shot being fired. (Source: http://GunFacts.info)
In other words, 99 times out of 100 it doesn’t matter what caliber gun you have. The only thing that matters is that you have one.
That’s how is been for me, twice. Just had to show that I was armed to change their minds.