Everyone is quick to jump on the 9mm JHP as the failure point, yet it was .38 special that failed harder both in inferior ballistics, as well as lower capacity keeping agents from gaining volume of fire. To the point Platt was literally shot in the face with a .38 special, knocked out with the bullet lodged in his sinus cavity, and regained consciousness and was able to get from one car to another.
The 9mm round performed as it was designed to hitting Matix and killing him. It just didn't do it fast because it was literally the worst case angle.
Looking at it all from a lens of modern terminal ballistics, and saying it's a failure is disingenuous, as the modern terminal ballistics knowledge did not exist at the time.
.223 also had it's own failure to stop the fight, hitting an agent in the arm, but allowing him to still fight one handed. ETA- as well a 00 buck with shot placement and the magical "spread" failing to make up for aiming errors.