Most Powerful Handgun (legal to own)

[MikeInOr]

IIRC Eastwood's character claimed the 44 Mag was the most powerful handgun in the world so logically since "wildcats" were in the world they would be included. The better argument would be the undefined termed "powerful" as that gives enough wiggle room to drive a combine with a 45 foot header through.

In the original script the bad guy looked back at Clint and said with a smirk "Haven't you ever heard of the .454 Casull that has been around since 1959?" But I guess that part got cut out in editing. LOL!

 

[RecoilRob]

50 BMG gun: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/10/50-bmg-single-shot-handgun/

You can't get away from the fact that it's launching 650+grain projectiles...but in such a short barrel there's NO way 235 grains of 5010 is going to combust efficiently. So lots of blast and fireball but not so much recoil...it's almost counter-intuitive but the short carbine BMG's are the most pleasant to shoot because the bullet gets to the brake faster with higher remaining gas pressure. Longer barrels kick harder but also launch things lots faster.

 

[TN Outlaw]

That is largely based on the size of the person shooting them. I find my 460V very well balanced and carry it on the hip from time to time.

I agree. My 460V carries well on the hip. It feels smaller than it is. I can tell it's there no doubt but it's not bad at all.

 

[jmorris]

A “hot” 500 s&w will be under 3000 ft/lb energy at the muzzle a 50 BMG even from a short barrel will be closer to 10,000 ft/lbs.

It’s an apple to oranges comparison.


Anything more powerful wouldn’t be a hand gun rather a destructive device.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I have a 329pd, a 460, and a 500. All are easily fired one handed although the 329 isn't terribly comfortable. Ive not seen a handgun I wouldn't shoot

That said... I've never seen a 50 bmg like the one above. I don't know that I would try it.
Adding more powder, or faster powder And making it more powerful and calling it a bmg magnum wouldn't make it a destructive device though. At least not to the government, i dont think. Maybe to the guy behind it

 

[robhof]

Really? So what would have been the most powerful handgun in 1971? Assuming we are ruling out customs and single shots of course.


.

The Wildey auto in 450 mag, as premiered in Death Wish 2 or 3, however Charles Bronson was such a small guy they had to make a scaled down version for him to actually be able to handle.

 

[jmorris]

Adding more powder, or faster powder And making it more powerful and calling it a bmg magnum wouldn't make it a destructive device though.

I will concede that fact. After the 50 BMG though, the next step up is 20mm and that puts you into DD +$200 stamp class.

 

[someguy2800]

I think I have a winner, see the accompanying pistol.

 

[someguy2800]

 

[CapnMac]

Of all the ignorant pointless laws though. Who decided that a 510 would be more painful or deadly than a 50 cal.

Artifact of 34 NFA. Meant to regulate puckle & "market" guns (think 2 & 4 Bore here) which were used to bring fowl to market.
Elites of the day did not wan peasants eating pheasant (or duck or goose) bulk shot and brought to the local butchers.
Same reason silencers were banned, the elites were convinced hobos were poching game from the private lands of the rich.

 

[CapnMac]

What, no love for the .450 or .500 Linebaugh? Ok, they were custom monsters that threatened to bend Super Blackhawks.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I think of Mel Tappan and the wrist pains he had when he got older. I fired the 44 Mag at the Ruger factory and then tried their 454 Casull. Once was enough. I don't need to prove anything. The 44 Mag was enough,

 

[.308 Norma]

I think of Mel Tappan and the wrist pains he had when he got older. I fired the 44 Mag at the Ruger factory and then tried their 454 Casull. Once was enough. I don't need to prove anything. The 44 Mag was enough,

That's for sure. My lovely wife sent tens of thousands of 220gr, 44 Mag bullets (over healthy doses of 2400 powder) downrange in IHMSA competition back in the '80s. Nowadays, her arthritic wrists scold her for a week after running a magazine full of 380s through her EDC piece.

 

[CraigC]

What, no love for the .450 or .500 Linebaugh? Ok, they were custom monsters that threatened to bend Super Blackhawks.

Linebaugh designed a .475, not a .450.

Because they've been superseded by the .500S&W. Although the 1.4" case is much more practical.