What's the most powerful handgun caliber?

[FallenAngel]

How true, how true. Why anyone would need a handcannon bigger than the 500 SW is beyond me. I guess there is always bragging rights of the manufacturer...

I am sure they said that about the .44 mag....

 

[osteodoc08]

I see what you guys mean, especially performance wise, but why? Backup for grizzlies or Africa's dangerous 5? Who knows, maybe I'll pick one up, just not in the near future.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Yeah, I know it's a rifle round, but I saw pix floating around of a .50 BMG handgun being shown off @ a gunshow somewhere.

There where pictures of it being fired on the wall behind it, apparently a dozen feet of flame is involved.

Reading the description, it was said that the recoil wasn't nearly what you'd expect, mostly because something like 90% of the combustion happened outside the gun, after the bullet had left the barrel.

 

[owsi26]

You said handgun caliber so I say 10mm in pistol and .44 magnum in revolver.

 

[BluesBear]

There are .44 Magnum automatic pistols too ya know.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but in commercially available chamberings/loadings, the .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .480 Ruger, .475 Linbaugh and .500 S&W leave the .44 Magnum in the dust.

As much as I'd love to have a Super Redhawk Alaskan (mainly for use as a .45 Colt snubby), I personally feel that, based on where I live and my lifestyle, if my .44 Magnum or .45 Auto won't do the job I need a rifle or a shotgun.

However, if I were a handgun hunter I'd simply have to have a.460.
I think that cartridge in a Contender will be awesome.

You see I don't think for normal use you need to have the newest/biggest/most powerful gun available.
I've never seen a deer hunter with a .460 Weatherby.