The Most Powerful Handgun in the World

Guys today complain about 6.5 Creed fanbois, but the way my uncles used to tell it, the 44mag fanbois after that dumb line in that movie were absolutely ridiculous, which is saying something, since they didn’t even have the internet to marvel over.
 
shoobe01 said:
You know M79s are real, not just plastic.

Not zillions of them, but "pirate guns" totally existed, similar things still in service with a small number of units. Here's what is called "documentary evidence" of their use this century:
View attachment 1121235

Here's a 203 pistol you can (with proper stamp) just go buy:
https://lmtdefense.com/product/shorty-40-pistol/

Etc.
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I know M79's are real, I used to fix them. But there is a Japanese company that makes an Airsoft/paintball model that looks exactly like the 'recon' sawed off M79 in the pic you posted earlier. (Though the recon M-79's I saw had the pistol grip cut like the Raptor grip on the shockwave, not that japanese matchlock look) The "round" in the pic with it was definitely not a real (nor inert training) round. It looks exactly like the airsoft round sold for the toy King Arms M-79. The one in the pic with the two HK' looks exactly like the King Arms M-79, complete with the RDS that comes on the King Arms M-79, which makes me think the two HKs in that pic might be airsoft also- I know those are made. The camo jobs with virtually no wear makes me wonder also.

The stand alone 203 is cute, but I prefer the HK M320.
 
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Carl N. Brown said:
View attachment 1121194

The Mars Automatic Pistol was the most powerful handgun in the world in the 1900s.
The .45 Mars Long 220 gr bullet made 1250 fps. It was a bit more than the newer .45 Super and a bit less than the .45 Win Mag.

"The captain in charge of tests of the Mars at the Naval Gunnery School in 1902 observed, "No one who fired once with the pistol wished to shoot it again". Shooting the Mars pistol was described as "singularly unpleasant and alarming".[2]
2. Geoffrey Boothroyd, The Handgun, Crown Publishers, 1970, pp. 410–412.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Automatic_Pistol
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I simply LOVE those ugly abominations! I was like a kid in a candy shop when I had the opportunity to handle one.
P.S. The machining is excellent in every aspect - it's truly a work of art.

318063066-10226456820554155-4062964325159736432-n.jpg
 
Rule3 said:
https://yestactical.com/the-460-vs-500-sw-magnum
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I see a lot of contradictory information on the internet about what is the most powerful handgun cartridge.(no surprise)
The "most powerful" should come down to foot pounds of energy. That depends on the cartridge. The manufacturer should not exceed max SAAMI pressure. Put that same cartridge in a gun with a extra long barrel and you should get higher velocities and energy but now have you exceeded the maximum SAAMI pressure?

From my limited research I see the 500 S&W Magnum as the most powerful handgun cartridge.

460 S&W
Bullet diameter .452 in
Maximum pressure 65,000 psi
200 gr DPX Cor-Bon 2,300 ft/s 2,350 ft/lb

500 S&W Magnum
Bullet diameter .500 in
Maximum pressure 60,000 psi
300 gr FTX Hornady 2,075 ft/s 2,868 ft/lb
 
Slamfire said:
I remember the TV series Lady Blue. It was about a fiery red headed Cop Chick who was, shall we say, a Detective Callahan in a skirt. And she had a Python in 357 Magnum. And I distinctly remember Lady Blue shooting a van with her mighty 357, and the van blew up. Big, bad, kaboom! Flame, doors blowing off, you name it.

Always wondered where I could get that ammunition. It would be fun to have a 357 round with an explosive charge large enough to completely blow up a van.

What you see in movies and TV is always true. They don't make up a thing.
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At one time I had that ammo : M72 and it WILL blow a persons head clean off along with a whole bunch of other parts :D Granted Not a pistol caliber .
1280px-M72A2_LAW[1].png
​
 
The 460 S&W magnum is reported to be the fastest handgun cartridge. Based on a earlier post, 500 S&W has more energy due to the higher bullet weight even if the velocity is lower.

Handguns designed to handle rifle style cartridges need not apply.

While they have they’re use, that are not as usable as a traditional handgun cartridge. The 460 and 500 have their uses.

I like my 460XVR for 427 big block busting should the need arrive.
 
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I'd venture to say the most powerful Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor handgun cartridge is honestly the one you can shoot the most effectively with IMHO. A government model all steel 1911 with 230gr ammo is a breeze to shoot for me so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
 
Durango_Dave said:
I see a lot of contradictory information on the internet about what is the most powerful handgun cartridge.
Click to expand...
earlthegoat2 said:
Interesting about shooting 444 Marlin and 44 Mag from a 460 S&W firearm.
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And the 500 Smith offering less penetration as well…o_O

I hate those baloney, Indian-Chinese word mill “reviews”.
I wonder if it sound as ridiculous to them in their native tongue? Are they truly that insulated against the knowledge of firearms? Or do they just not care, doing the grind, making the buck?

My opinion is it’s the latter. The rest of the world starting to hit the seventies, but with computers…
 
Durango_Dave said:
I see a lot of contradictory information on the internet about what is the most powerful handgun cartridge.(no surprise)
The "most powerful" should come down to foot pounds of energy. That depends on the cartridge. The manufacturer should not exceed max SAAMI pressure. Put that same cartridge in a gun with a extra long barrel and you should get higher velocities and energy but now have you exceeded the maximum SAAMI pressure?

From my limited research I see the 500 S&W Magnum as the most powerful handgun cartridge.

460 S&W
Bullet diameter .452 in
Maximum pressure 65,000 psi
200 gr DPX Cor-Bon 2,300 ft/s 2,350 ft/lb

500 S&W Magnum
Bullet diameter .500 in
Maximum pressure 60,000 psi
300 gr FTX Hornady 2,075 ft/s 2,868 ft/lb
Click to expand...

They are both heavy duty but wouldn't you need to compare similar same weight bullets??
I had a SW 460 Mag, one of those "must have" I do not hunt so it served no real purpose. It was NASTY to shoot.:what: I sold it pretty soon after
 
Durango_Dave said:
I see a lot of contradictory information on the internet about what is the most powerful handgun cartridge.(no surprise)
Click to expand...
Demi-human said:
I hate those baloney, Indian-Chinese word mill “reviews”.
I wonder if it sound as ridiculous to them in their native tongue? Are they truly that insulated against the knowledge of firearms? Or do they just not care, doing the grind, making the buck?

My opinion is it’s the latter. The rest of the world starting to hit the seventies, but with computers…
Click to expand...

So true! These web sites try to come across as gun experts but they have cheesy articles such as "The top 10 things you didn't know about the S&W 460". There is no substance and they seem to make you stupider.
 
Rule3 said:
They are both heavy duty but wouldn't you need to compare similar same weight bullets??
Click to expand...
No, the power of a gun is the muzzle energy. This is simply calculated by multiplying the velocity of the bullet by it's weight (and divide by 450,240 if your bullet is weighed in grains, velocity in feet per second and the result is in foot/pounds of energy)
So an extremely fast but light bullet can have the same muzzle energy as a very slow but heavy bullet.
 
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Rule3 said:
I had a SW 460 Mag, one of those "must have" I do not hunt so it served no real purpose. It was NASTY to shoot.:what: I sold it pretty soon after
Click to expand...

I found my 460XVR, new, at a good discounted price and I just could not resist. A die set and 500 Starline cases and I was in business.

But, I'll agree, the last box of factory ammo I bought was $3/round and looking today, it is $4-$5/round. Among other things, that takes some of the fun out of the revolver. But, even hand loaded 460 ammunition is expensive with 39-41 grains of W296/H110 powder per cartridge.

I developed a hot 45 Colt level load (255 grain SWC at 1100-1200 fps) in a 460 cases which makes for a fun, reasonably cost, plinking load and gets one familiar with the revolver.

My 460 has an 8-3/8" barrel. I'm not sure I'd appreciate the recoil of full power loads in a 4" or 5" barrel 460.

From shooting Unlimited class in IHMSA Handgun silhouette, I'm probably more acceptive of handguns with higher recoil.
 
someguy2800 said:
I was amazed at how shootable this appeared to be with the muzzle brake on it. It actually inspired me to order another contender barrel in 45-70 with a brake on it.

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The 44 automag did far more damage than the 50 BMG. Makes you wonder. The 50 BMG is probably FMJ but as you noted the 50 BMG didn't seem to kick as much as you'd think. Is the muzzle brake the only reason?
 
I don't know exactly where it would rank, but I did own this BFR in 45/70 for about 15yrs before I sold it 2yrs ago.
I took it out hunting for our states Black Powder/Handgun season a few times but never had the opportunity to take a deer with it.

IMG_5705.JPG
 
Gerd33 said:
I took it out hunting for our states Black Powder/Handgun season a few times but never had the opportunity to take a deer with it.
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There's a Black Powder/Handgun deer hunting season where you live? That's neat! What state is that?
I'm guessing there are restrictions on what type of "handguns" can be used for deer hunting during the Black Powder/Handgun season. I mean, something like my scoped XP 100 7mm IHMSA (which is actually more like a one-hand-held rifle) probably wouldn't qualify.
For that matter, I also have a Shilou-Sharps (.45-110 Sharps) rifle that fires black powder filled cartridges. It probably wouldn't qualify in the Black Powder/Handgun deer hunting season either, would it? :)
 
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