What is the most energetic hand gun caliber you own?

[.452]

.45
1813 Foot-Pounds

 

[mavracer]

BFR in 475 Linebaugh although I only shoot 480 Ruger from it I've got some 412gr Keith hard cast I think I can get 1250 out of. I cut and crowned the barrel to 5 1/4"

And I think I've about mastered the recoil this is 25 yards offhand

 

[illinoisburt]

Personally I really enjoy shooting my old Herters 44 mag. 23 grains of h110 with plated 240's make for a fun boomer. Have a bunch of cast trail boss loads for the kids to blast water bottles.

 

[Rodentman]

I have a pair of S&W 500's and 460's. I don't them often, but enjoy them when I do, which I prefer to do outside. The concussive blast is a bit much indoors. I reload them and use the "reduced recoil" loads. If I owned only what was "practical" I'd have a lot less than I do.

 

[cfullgraf]

460 S&W Magnum. I got no real use for one unless I need to bust the engine block of the vehicle of someone that intrudes on my farm.

I may not get to hunt cape buffalos or grizzly bears, so hunting SUVs will have to suffice.

Besides, I found it on sale and could not resist.

460 mag, because I recreate in big bear country, and shooting it puts a smile on my face.

But it is damned expensive to shoot. Hoping to remedy that very soon by taking up reloading.

At 45 or so grains of H110, 460 S&W Magnum is expensive to reload as well.

I found a powder puff load that still uses the 460 case. Pleasant to shoot and does not carbon up the chambers like 45 Colt cartridges would.

 

[Cheesemaker]

460 S&W Magnum. I got no real use for one unless I need to bust the engine block of the vehicle of someone that intrudes on my farm.

Now that, my friend, is what the 50 BMG is for...

 

[Drop45]

.454 casull for me, very energetic when loaded as it was intended to be.

 

[ChiefTJS]

Been through bigger over the years but settled on the 41 Mag as my "big" gun now. Mostly it's .357's though. Covers all my needs.

 

[gwalchmai]

My .44 mag Virginian Dragoon is robust enough for me.

I have a stainless 7.5" Dragoon that will shoot any .44 Mag load manufactured and most reasonable +Ps. They're essentially a SuperDeeOoper Blackhawk. (fits fine in a Super Blackhawk holster. Heavy enough to soak up any recoil generated by heavy loads, too. When you explain to people how "Dragoons" were originally "horse pistols" these things make the explanations believable.

Lock time of about a week but with practice they're tack drivers.

 

[gwalchmai]

I think my favorite big bore SA is a 4&5/8" .45 convertible. Robust enough for your manliest handloads and then you can shoot standard hardball through the ACP cylinder and they're like .22s. Mine never has liked .45ACP SWCs, though. The band is too wide and it hangs on the headspace ring. Ball is fine, though, and they all fall to it.

 

[Haxby]

44 mag. 250 to 1000 ft-lb of ke, however you want to load it. Used to shoot silhouette competition with it, so I know it's accurate to at least 200 meters.

 

[gbran]

My 2 most energetic, 454 SRH, but a 12 oz 357 feels worse.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I have a .357. I may one day step it up, but I kind of doubt it. I'm wondering who has gone larger and why. Do the modern magnums, like .500's and 460's justify their cost and are they practical?

But above all else, what is your most powerful hand gun chambered in?

I own a 460 performance center and a 500. Never shoot them anymore and thinking about selling them both. The 460 has gotten shot more since it will also shoot 454 and 45 colt.

The 500 is just not really practical and the 460 is too loud to shoot with 460 or 454 loads without ear protection even one or two shots when hunting so that eliminates that one as well.

I carry either a 44 mag or 480 Ruger Redhawk when hunting. Either of those are much more practical for a side arm hunting.

If you want to hunt or carry a 460 or 500 you just as well leave the rifle in the truck because they are a pretty big handful and not something you can easily slip out of your coat for a close shot on a deer or something. I used to do some handgun only hunting but now just carry a handgun for closer shots.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have ran the spectrum from 22 short up to 44 mag in revolvers, 22 lr to 10mm in semiauto, with .45acp in the mix. In single shot handgun I have ran from 22lr to 44 mag, with the 7-30 waters being a notable under-rated cartridge. I will aquire more TC barrels in "energetic" chamberings. I know I want .223, 35 rem, and 30 herret.

To the second part of your question...no the modern big bores are not suitable for most things. They are expensive to buy, expensive to feed, and uncomfortable to carry. These downsides don't come close to the huge recoil that prevents much needed practice with these pieces of handheld artillery. They are purpose built tools. They keep people at the top of the food chain when in other situations they may be on the dinner menu for a bear, lion, tiger, etc.

 

[Old Sims]

My hottest is my Alaskan. My regret is that it is difficult to conceal carry. It is not for want of trying, though.





I have found the best way to CC my Alaskan and avoid the brite eye of an astute sheeple is with the Voodoo Tactical fanny pack.

 

[22-rimfire]

BFR in 475 Linebaugh although I only shoot 480 Ruger from it I've got some 412gr Keith hard cast I think I can get 1250 out of. I cut and crowned the barrel to 5 1/4"

And I think I've about mastered the recoil this is 25 yards offhand

Oh, that cut down BFR is a beauty.

I carry either a 44 mag or 480 Ruger Redhawk when hunting. Either of those are much more practical for a side arm hunting.

I agree. That's why I generally only shoot 480's in my 475. It's enough for me. I substitute a 41 mag for your 44.

 

[satexas]

My.41 Mag Blackhawk

 

[Manny]

Freedom Arms Model 83 .475 Linebaugh, but only fired with .480 Ruger's and .454 Ruger Alaskan, fired with Winchester's attenuated Super-X loads, 250gr @ 1300 fps. I like big bores, but don't feel the need to push them for high velocity. Big bullets of sufficient weight at moderate velocity work quite well.

 

[sgt127]

Uh, the one on top. Wound up with it in a trade. .460 XVR. It's....impressive.

 

[dawei]

41 Remington® Magnum

 

[Old Sims]

But then, there is the Ultralite in .44 magnum. Truly, it is light. But talk about a sore hand afterward.









Edit: Depending on what I feed the UL, I can't run more than six through it. Now, with the Alaskan I have shot a box of 320 grain Grizzly and it's not a big deal. But I would not shoot a 320 grain through the titanium snubbie. It can handle it, I have no doubt about it, but my hand can't. I ran a cylinder of six rounds shooting I think American Eagle 240 grain, but I'm not sure. But my hand was very, very sore afterward.

 

[Master Blaster]

.44 Magnum, Beyond that it is time for a shotgun or a rifle.
My 7.5" inch super black hawk is the platform for launching nuclear loads.
I have Smiths as well but they shoot toned down loads. A 240 grain bullet at 1000 FPS does most of what I need a handgun to do, and can be shot accurately by me. Beyond that its time for a shotgun with slugs or a .308 or 30.06 rifle.

 

[Clark]

40 S&W 200 gr triple powder charge 800x.
One shot and the hand hurts for 5 minutes.
Completely impractical, due to recoil.

 

[gspn]

.460 S&W mag is the biggest at the moment. I got a good deal on it from a friend, and it filled out the higher end of the range for my collection. I already have .357's, .44 spcls, 41's, and .44's, and .45 Colts. The .460 adds 454 casual and 460 S&W mag as well.

I hand load for it and it's very practical in that it will do what I want it to do...kill deer.

As far as "justifying their cost" I'll borrow a line from a friend of mine who built, ran, and sold a very profitable investment firm. He used to say "If a man pays cash he doesn't have to justify a thing."

In all seriousness though, it's a great gun and a lot of fun to learn to shoot it well.

 

[Fishslayer]

Ruger Bisley SBH in .454 Casull. About as energetic as I care for...