Actually, based on ballistics data, your average .40 has a touch more energy than .45, due to the .40 running a higher chamber pressure. They also travel a hell of a lot faster. That's why there is virtually nobody making any +p .40. Georgia Arms will make you all the +p+ you could ever want, though, but that stuff will damage most handguns. I've got a recoil supressor (the guide rod replacement kind from buffertech) and Berettas can handle hotter loads than most any handgun anyways. The Army ran them up to 75,000psi before they started having failures - try THAT with a glock. .45 has more stopping power since it's a larger round that makes a bigger hole. It just doesn't burrow as deep. I've recovered hollowpoints that dug 8" into a log, the wadcutters left exit wounds in the 12" log. The recoil is snappy, though. I own a Beretta 96 in .40, and have a CrossBreed Supertuck. It is an excellent holster, they are made to order, takes like 6 weeks or so to get one, and mine was around $80 plus shipping. It's also made from horsehide, and it's so comfortable it's like it isn't even there - minus the weight of course. As far as reliability, most of the common stuff is reliable as the next - but before you carry a pistol, put like 1000 rounds through it minimum to break it in and familiarize yourself with it. You should be able to chamber, reload, and work the safety without any sort of thought put into it. A few thousand rounds won't be cheap these days, but you'd be amazed how much better most handguns shoot afterwards. I'm not sure how many rounds are through my Beretta as I got it second hand, but I've put like 3500 through it myself over the years. She's not stock, either. I have a few different barrels for it and what not. I want to get a Sig 226 Equinox in .357 sometime, when I can find a good used one, lol.