Small .45 is great if you can handle it with accuracy. I can't so I stick with 9mm, but I do have an XD tactical 5" in .45 which is my favorite. That is an excellent weapon that has a good stock trigger and easy to handle. I wanted a striker-fired big bore full size polymer to carry in my backpack (I'm not comfortable carrying 1911 cocked/locked in a backpack, even tho' it's also in the holster). The XD has NEVER once malfunctioned, no matter what I put through it or how I shoot it. We can't get the XDm in Kalifornia, which is the newer generation.

.45 costs a lot more to shoot than 9mm tho', so I figure one day you'll get a 9mm anyway, in the same or similar platform, to practice with more often. I have friends who own M&P or XD in .45, and get same gun but in 9mm, which is lot cheaper to shoot. I think it's just another reason to buy another gun, bec you need to have a reason when you have to explain it to your wifey/GF.

:-)