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Stopping power: once upon a time there was not much question about this. The Army used big (and fast) bullets (45 ACP,, 30-06, 308). The frontier shooters (big N.A. game) used big (slower) bullets -- 45 Colt, 45-70, 30-30. Experience taught them that a big bullet was needed to knock down a big target. When they started messing with full auto rifles, the problem became how to carry around all the ammo they can process. (It took 2 guys to carry a BAR and feed it) So they opted for little cartridges. I do not like the 223, but it is adequate for man killing. The 9 mm is worthless (North Hollywood proved it). Skip the engineering tech notes and get a large caliber (pistol .357 mag, .40, .44 Mag or 45 ACP). If you want to shoot through car doors and windows take a magnum. (Rifles: 30-30, 308 or 30-06; Grizzly 300WM). Bullet -- flat nosed lead (SWC) knocks down, jacketed penetrates, JHP does both. Magnums prefer jacketed or JHP. If you need more firepower than this you have a really special problem and need some special planning.

When Cirillo's NYPD Stakeout unit confronted 280 Armed robbers, in Harlem, in 1968, over 80% surrendered without a shot. The worse stoned, drunk, 3 time loser punks still gave up, even tho they had guns. More WOULD have surrendered, but Jim and his partners shot them down before they had the chance. So the odds are 10 to 1 that you won't have to actually hit anyone with a bullet, IF you get your gun out and "on" them soon enough, and IF you can project that you WILL empty the mag into them, if you have to do so.