While .45 ACP is higher grain, the velocity is lower and the rounds tend to "overpenetrate" (meaning, exit the body entirely). One of the reasons 9mm was widely

While .45 ACP is higher grain, the velocity is lower and the rounds tend to "overpenetrate" (meaning, exit the body entirely). One of the reasons 9mm was widely adopted was the penetration properties - 9mm tends to stay in your body (making more of a mess). Even with these advantages, it is unlikely you will be killed by a single 9mm round to your torso. But generally you are right - the larger rounds like 10mm and .500 will smash whatever they hit while .22 and other smaller calibers are likely to only make the intended target very angry.