Campfire doctrine says a pistol is a poor substitute for a centerfire rifle but we don't want a pistol to penetrate as much as a centerfire rifle.
Right!!! Now you're getting it
sometimes folks get side tracked though. The only reason to carry a gun for protection, is for, well protection. It only makes sense to carry the most effective weapon you can, consistant with other considerations. I'd be more inclined to err on the side of my choice being 'dammed effective', than one that was 'ok if you do everything right, and thimgs go your way'. I will deal with the specter of over penetration, if it happens, but frankly, it's an iffy thing, not all that common, and not my biggest concern.
