In the aftermath of a violent encounter, it is natural to reflect upon it, and many folks often reach the conclusion that what they were carrying was insufficient, regardless of how the event played out.
However, I can say based on experience that when something really terrifies you, when you really feel hopeless/helpless in a situation, and fear for your life, then regardless of what you were carrying at that time, in the aftermath you'll still feel like what you had wasn't enough. Honestly, regardless of whether you're carry a .22 Pistol, a .45, or even a 12 Gauge, if you were terrified in that moment, you'll still wish you had more. Terror often times defies logic/reason, even a soldier inside of a Tank can experience terror as it rolls into battle, and in that moment he'll wish he had bigger guns at his disposal, that's just the way it is. One of the most important factors for success in fending off an attack is having the confidence necessary to help overcome fear, that's why when choosing a firearm, I would encourage anyone not to hold back, don't be too intimidated by the firearm or its recoil, because what may seem frightening at first will quickly become reassuring once you've mastered it, and that confidence will aid you greatly in a fight.
However, that obviously doesn't mean that you should go crazy and attempt to carry a .500 S&W Magnum, nor that you shouldn't carry a small caliber firearm that you otherwise have total confidence in, merely that if you aren't truly confident in what you are considering carrying, then you ought to carry something more that does make you feel confident.
It is an indisputable fact that shot placement is the single most decisive factor in successfully stopping a threat, and factually speaking, with proper shot placement, any cartridge can stop a threat. However, while a .22 Short to the eye socket will almost certainly stop at attacker, it doesn't make any difference if you're so paralyzed by fear in that moment that you cannot fire your gun, or hesitate to do so out of doubt that it would be ineffective, so I would suggest that whatever you carry be something that you have total faith in. In the aftermath of a gunfight, it's entirely possible that you'll find yourself wishing that you had more, because sometimes fear is even worse when revisited in memories than it was at the time it occurred. But what's important is that when a threat comes along, that you have confidence in what you carry so that you can react quickly, decisively, and with as clear a mind as possible.
I carry a Ruger LCP with me everywhere I go because it's extremely easy/convenient to do so, and I have enough confidence in it to get the job done in a pinch. However, whenever I can, I carry a .40 as well, because that's what I am the most confident with.The LCP is just fine in a pinch, but I don't shoot it all that well, being such a small gun with such tiny sights, so I'm more confident with something bigger.
