I've always thought the .38 Super was an overlooked cartridge, at least by mainstream handgun afficionados ... and the ammunition companies. I'm glad to see it making a comeback.
10mm appears to be enjoying a small return of interest, but it does seem to require a more experienced hand to properly control it and put it through its paces ...
Ditto for the .41 Magnum, except that it hasn't seemed to enjoy the same minor resurgence of interest. More's the pity ... I used to enjoy some backcountry long range shooting with a nicely balanced 3-screw Ruger chambered in this caliber when I was younger.
The think the 357SIG is a bit over-hyped for what it is ... and the much repeated anecdotal "proof" of its superiority in "stopping power" and auto body "penetration" has sort of masked the same on again-off again success/failure regarding "stopping power" as the other popular calibers have always enjoyed. It is a bit harder on some platforms, though, and the cost of quality duty-grade ammunition from the
major manufacturers isn't one of its more attractive attributes. It seems to "work", but not with the smoke, thunder and fire that its die hard fans would like to so fervently believe.
By the way, I always thought that the 4" barreled .357 magnum was a
compromise when it came to this venerable caliber, and that it was best typified by a 5 1/2"-6 1/2" barreled revolver when it came right down to it ... at least as far as controllability and maximizing the performance of the older ammunition. Just my opinion ... and I really did have reasonable confidence when carrying my M66 & M686, which I was issued at different times, as well as my snub nosed Magnums. I just thought the longer barrels made for a better use of the caliber, all things considered.
9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP have pretty much "proven" their staying power, so to speak, when it comes to L/E & non-L/E personal defensive calibers. Of course, the ammunition makers have helped this along with vast improvements in bullet designs and powder technologies.
I might have to revise my previous opinion regarding .45 G.A.P., now that at least Winchester has somehow redesigned the case to allow for the use of 230gr bullets. After all, what's the difference between a 230gr T-Series .45 bullet traveling 885fps fired from a .45 ACP case, versus the same bullet traveling at the same velocity fired from a .45 G.A.P. case? Of course, I'm one of those apparently dwindling number of folks that feel the 185gr & 200gr .45 bullets aren't as useful
overall as the 230gr bullets, and I'm less and less enthused about +P pressures in .45 pistols as time goes by ...
The G.A.P. may indeed attract some increasing interest among the folks who just can't wrap their hands, or minds, around the larger framed pistol platforms which use double column maagzines ... or who, for whatever reason, aren't interested in any version of a 1911 platform. That doesn't really bother me ... live & let live. I find I can relatively easily use the current crop of compact & subcompact .45 ACP pistols available in the marketplace ... and I don't begrudge anyone else from taking advantage of the slightly smaller framed pistols starting to emerge, based around the slightly smaller dimensioned G.A.P. case.
I
do think the 9mm and .40 S&W are going to remain the leading calibers, though, for a number of reasons ... followed closely by the .45 ACP ... 357SIG/.45 G.A.P. ... and perhaps the 10mm closing the GAP (intentional pun, I'm afraid) ...
... And, I'd like to see the .38 Super advance into this horse race once again, especially if the platform bears the Colt Pony on the side.
I
do think that continuing advances in technology will throw us all some curves, though ...