"The main reason the US military went to 9mm in the 1980s was because of various NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAG). It was long overdue compliance to a longstanding agreement but also a concession to get NATO to adopt and standardize the 5.56mm. It had nothing to do with ballistic tests, field experience, or cost. Yes, those were looked at but they had no impact in making the switch. The switch did coincide with a dynamic push to "feminize" the ranks and we wondered if the timing was more than a coincidence, but that was purely speculation."

I know you love the 45 ACP but imho its only nostaligia -
the common adoption of the 5,56 was a much bigger step into this direction!

in the end I found a niche for the 40 S&W if you have a Colt Thuer conversion revolver

case here made by lathe turning 44 magnum brass

http://www.1960nma.org/Conversions/The%20Making%20of%20the%20Centaure%20Thuer%2020Jun13.htm

http://www.oldammo.com/august06.htm

yesterday I found some cases the very first ever on my indoor range

and if you fill them with black powder and load a .450 diamter lead bullet it must fit into the Colt Thuer conversion cylindern if my measurments are correct.

44 Colt Thuer( 40 S&W case), 40 S&W case, 45 ACP case