I don't believe Platt received a fatal heart wound. As I recall, his "fatal wound" was a transected blood vessel in his arm, which was caused by an outstanding shot by Agent Dove while Platt was diving out the front passanger window of the Monte Carlo.
The .38 cal can be a good weapon. The same goes for the 9mm. The key is to use high quality jacketed hollow point ammo of the appropriate weight and speed, and to select a weapon that holds an approopriate amount of ammo. Remember, F = Ma, and a 9mm that holds 15 rounds may be better than a .45 cal that holds 8. Many law enforcement officers find that high quality 9mm 147 grain jacketed hollow point ammo is effective. Plus, it is easy to use and you can carry more of it more easily than .40 cal. Sig .357 or .45 cal ammo. (I believe that those Agents, who were usuing 9mm handguns on April 11, 1986, loaded them with Winchester 115 grain SJHP ammo, which is fast but light).
The quality of handguns is somewhat better today than it was on April 11, 1986. The quality of handgun ammo is much better today than it was then, and there has been a good deal of research done since 1986 documenting what various handgun ammo can and cannot do in terms of speed, energy, wound channel creation and "stopping power." Much of this research was motivated by this shootout.
The problem with handguns is the same problem one always has with all weapons --you always need to give something up to get something. For instance, if you want more "stopping power" you probably need to select a weapon that causes you to carry less ammo, and so on.
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