The Kimber Custom shop does some great things with the 1911 chassis, and that's a proven round.

Also to consider is the .40S&W. I was once a huge fan of the 10mm....until I fired a Glock in .40 S & W. That round is very controllable for it's size.

Match your size, hand and eye dominance, physical stature and protection needs to the ballistic curve and energy you require in a round, and you'll see which caliber and action to move toward.

The key isn't the biggest boom. The object is to match a tool to the person, so that the 3rd and 4th round is as consistent as the 1st. In the moment of truth, you need to have quality tools that you trust and can predict the outcome of deploying. A squeeze of adrenalin doesn't help most people shoot more accurately.