hello guys, and welcome to the forums, MTauss2000!
I have a
Beretta Px4 and a
1911. There are pros and cons with each.
The beretta is a very fine gun. The rotating barrel makes it very accurate, it comes from the factory with night-glow sights, and a 17+1 capacity. (mine is 20+1) It's very reliable. I've put over 1000 rounds through mine without a single failure.
Though, with that said, a 9mm is not going to drop a charging bear in his tracks, even if you manage to get several rounds off. The 9mm will offer you some protection, but it isn't powerful enough for all situations.
The 1911 is a very well engineered pistol, and is a lot of fun to shoot. As you know, they generally only hold 7+1, and are .45 ACP. They pack significantly more of a punch, and will make any attacker non-threatening in a single shot. They do cost more to shoot, obviously, so if you're going to the range a lot, it might not be ideal.
This is why I have several guns. Cheap 9mm's for the ranges and for pinches, and the 1911 .45 and a
.410 derringer for everyday carry.
If I could only have 1 gun, it would probably be a
HK USP .45
I hope this helps,