Most Powerful Handgun (legal to own)

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WestKentucky said:
So what can currently claim the crown as the most powerful handgun legal to own in the US.
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Not trying to be picky, and certainly not wanting to start an argument or steer this fine thread off topic, but are there "legal" limits to how powerful of a handgun a person can own in the US? Really. I want to know. If there are, it seems like one more thing for the antis to chip away at.:uhoh:
 
.308 Norma said:
Not trying to be picky, and certainly not wanting to start an argument or steer this fine thread off topic, but are there "legal" limits to how powerful of a handgun a person can own in the US? Really. I want to know. If there are, it seems like one more thing for the antis to chip away at.:uhoh:
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Size limitation on diameter at 50 caliber with the caveat that “other” cartridges may be exempted for sporting purposes. I think that the weapon itself would be exempted. There is no limit on case length so you could get ridiculous, but practicality gets in the way in a hurry.
 
I thought the limit was .501 but how do the 600s get exempted?

And yes after buying the two x-frames and carrying the 460 a few hunting seasons I dropped back to carrying the 44. It will reach as far I need to be shooting at deer with irons with far less hip pain at the end of the day. The size of the guns gets cumbersome after the 44 imo. To each their own. Rhett are nice to get out and shoot occasionally but I doubt I do much carrying them. Moods change though
 
Anything over 50 caliber needs to get a sporting cartridge exemption, which I gather is not that difficult. Otherwise it would be a destructive device
 
12 guage slugs too I suppose at nearly .730

Of all the ignorant pointless laws though. Who decided that a 510 would be more painful or deadly than a 50 cal.
 
Speaking about handguns that can be safetly shot, probably a .500 S&W revolver, a .460S&W revolver, a .50AE Desert Eagle, a .454 Casull revolver are the most powerful, practical to use, chambered for handguns cartridge, handgun currently available. Those are also usually "easy" to find cartridge at the LGS.
 
WestKentucky said:
That begs the question though, if it’s truly a pistol (handheld, non stocked, etc) how does it compare to a 500S&W in a true pistol length? An 8” S&W is essentially an optimized barrel length. BMG will get a HUGE penalty for barrel length because it is optimized for very long barrels. The powder in a BMG would likely still be extruded rods as it exited an 8-10 inch barrel....good lord the fireball though....
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Motivation to trim the beard short.
 
Leads me to ask, aside from full automatic handguns, which handguns are illegal? What law defines them?
 
crestoncowboy said:
12 guage slugs too I suppose at nearly .730

Of all the ignorant pointless laws though. Who decided that a 510 would be more painful or deadly than a 50 cal.
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Believe it or not it's an arbitrary number. I read a piece on why magazines were limited to 10 rounds. The answer was it was a compromise. One side wanted ?? and the other ??. The 10 round number was the compromise both sides could live with. There was no real reason, just because. Remember, these people were voted in. I'm guessing the 50 Cal number was decided on in a similar fashion.
 
In my opinion the 500/460 s&w in the x frame, and the 45-70 BFR don’t count. The revolvers they are chambered in are so large and cumbersome I categorize them with the encore.

I’d say the most powerful true handgun cartridge, that’s not a rifle round placed in a revolver would be the 500 linebaugh maximum
 
First thing you have to do is quantify "power". Energy places too much importance on velocity and for big bores I prefer TKO, if I'm gonna use something. IMHO, nothing that fires a rifle cartridge applies. I'm going to submit the .500S&W. The .460 is a speed demon but that doesn't make up for mass and diameter.
 
Jessesky said:
In my opinion the 500/460 s&w in the x frame, and the 45-70 BFR don’t count. The revolvers they are chambered in are so large and cumbersome
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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.
 
That swing breach pistol looks pretty neat. I don’t see it having more power than a 500sw though because of the short barrel and wrong powder penalty.
 
WestKentucky said:
That begs the question though, if it’s truly a pistol (handheld, non stocked, etc) how does it compare to a 500S&W in a true pistol length? An 8” S&W is essentially an optimized barrel length. BMG will get a HUGE penalty for barrel length because it is optimized for very long barrels. The powder in a BMG would likely still be extruded rods as it exited an 8-10 inch barrel....good lord the fireball though....
Click to expand...

I think you would have to be a hand loader to get impressive powder out of a 45-70 revolver. Rifle powder just burns too slow... and most of the powder goes into the fire ball instead of the bullet velocity... but I haven't actually done a side by comparison on paper.
 
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