No buffalo ever accused the 45-70 of "not being enough"  

Hay , back when I really used "Black powder" in my Black powder rifles I used 70grs behind a 220gr bullet.  

Now with the 209 shotgun primer rifles I just look up a load for the old trap-door 45-70 and push it down the barrel.   I still use the 220gr bullet ... those big bullets hurt too much on both ends !  

Thinking about the 45ACP ... I have a hard time believing that it's not enough bullet for people size targets .  I have a .357 lever action rifle (iron peep sights) that I've taken a lot of deer with.   That 158gr.swc-gas check bullet that lee makes the mold for has never failed to exit deer size targets , but it don't fit in my pocket very well ??  

So which gun fits in your pocket ?    And is comfortable to carry ??

"... So which gun fits in your pocket ?    And is comfortable to carry ?? ..."

My 3 cents.

Defense/Carry.  S&W 640 or Kimber K6s.
Both DAO, (Double Action Only) and in various configurations.
Both smooth, no visible hammer to hang/snag on things.
They go into a pocket, holster, or just lay in the drawer or console.
Both 38/357. ‘J’ frame size.
S&W is 5 shot, Kimber is 6 shot.
Both are quality reliable firearms.

Reason a Double Action Only should be used for defense Is if you ever had to use it, the Lawyer for the person you shot, WILL, say you did it on purpose and with malice.
Only One Way to shoot a DAO.

Next, use ONLY factory Ammunition.  ONLY.
Reloads can very easily be much more effective. Yet again the Attorney, WILL say anything, other than factory, is ‘malice’ (etc).

Self Defense, a Revolver.
No slide to pull back, no safety catch, no magazine not fully in, no not fire if Mag is out.
Revolver just pull the trigger. If a bad round, just pull it again.

Nothing wrong with Semi Autos, large clips, projected dot sites, different this or that.
Nothing wrong with any brand/stye/configuration/etc.
They are ALL fun to shoot.

As to what size, .22RF to 50-70.
What you have, is better than not having.

"... Why would double action only be better in court ? ..."

DAO can be fired only one way.
If you cocked the hammer on a DA/SA
and even the act of cocking the hammer on a SA
the Lawyer would most likely say:
'You Deliberately Shot ..."

 (Only Baldwin can coock a hammer on a SA, and it will fire without pulling the trigger)

Well , ladies and gentlemen ... this person was going to kill me if I didn't !   I'd do the same again to protect any person on this jury.

Only fire in self defense or to save the life of another incent person.   There are so many predators' out looking for a victim ... its only a matter of time before we are all targeted.   It would seem like any DA worthy of their office would know who the predators are.

Maybe I'm over confidant in the "Good" of my fellow citizens ?  

   

No , just borrow that 40 cal. 45ACP  monster that started this thread .

I really preferer the "Most gun I can get" , but I can't pocket the "Most gun I can get" ...  
so
What else can ya do ?  

I have a Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm.  It was the most comfortable fit in my hand out of all the pistols I picked up.

I carry just about every where I go and if a state don't recognize my TN permit then I just go around that State .   Everyday carry limits the firearm size most of the time.

Lancer , I've got a two shot over/under derringer that is chambered in 32HR Mag.  Well the grip lets me get one and a half fingers on grip.   The bottom barrel recoils into the palm of the hand ... but ... that top barrel ... is a totally different story , I've set it for top barrel first for a couple of young folks - then I move around behind them and wait for the pistol to come flying over their heads when it goes off ,   .
Ya have to let the meanest out or ya might blow-up  

I had to open the image in a new tab to see it ???

OK
If no body else is going to ask then I will :

Have you weighed that thing with a full magazine ?

I'm guessing 2.5 pounds plus ?    

I had one of those 17+ 1  9mm's one time and  never carried it because when I loaded it up ... then ... it pulled my pants down !  
Mostly it just layed around the house waiting on a home-invasion.   Well ...
Nobody ever invaded so I traded it off.
But
If somebody ever did invade my house now (while I'm home) ... I'm sure I'd be under gun-ed , I could make an invader feel very un-welcome with my little pop guns .   I shoot carpenter bees with those little pop guns all the time.