What is THE most powerful handgun?

[88E30M50]

If you look at a handgun in terms of how much energy it has on board with one load, what is the most powerful handgun out there?

For instance, a hi capacity 9mm with 18+1 rounds of +P ammo (420 ft/lbs) has 7980 ft/lbs of energy at it's disposal. A Glock 21 with 13+1 .45acp +P (595 ft/lbs) has got 8330 ft/lbs of energy on tap. A Glock 20 with 15+1 of +P 10mm (1600 fps 135g @ 767 ft/lbs) is carrying close to 13,000 ft/lbs (12,272) of energy.

What's the most powerful handgun out there? The qualifier is that it's limited to the factory magazine it comes with, so drum or 33 round mags don't count. Any commercially available ammo counts. The 10mm round above is quoted with the Underwood ammo.

 

[mrjarrell]

Get a .50 calibre pistol if you want overwhelming power.

 

[Redskinsfan]

S&W 500 Magnum.

 

[Chewie]

How about the S&W 500 magnum? I would say that currently that is king.

 

[HoughMade]

point missed

 

[gunman41mag]

 

[HenryWallace]

point missed

Yes, I do believe that when power is to be considered in this thread, it's overall capacity of apply-able force in a standard round or standard carry able, possibly concealable handgun.

I really couldn't begin to know without studying the ballistics of the guns... Way too many variables stick out in my mind.

But I would think that a Glock with it's capacity and reliability would rank among the top.

 

[GunnerDan]

My vote is for the 45/70 Government pistol...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D83tzCMeLPo[/ame]

Gunner

 

[SaintsNSinners]

None of you are correct... there is a .950 JDJ pistol out there.... as far as I know that takes the cake

 

[HoughMade]

This has actually turned into an interesting study of who reads the OP and who just reads the title.

 

[Car Ramrod]

88 Magnum.

/thread

 

[HenryWallace]

This has actually turned into an interesting study of who reads the OP and who just reads the title.

That is something that I've been noticing.

Some people listen some people talk I guess.

 

[Rob377]

Comes out of the box from CZ with a 27rd big stick, tuned for 9mm Major (124gr @ 1370fps) 516ft/lbs x 28 = 14,470 ft/lbs on board.

 

[Racechase1]

Possibly a desert Eagle .50, just not sure how many rounds in the magazine.

 

[gunman41mag]

A 50 BMG has over 13,000 FPE, so the 3 shot revolver would have over 39,000 FPE

 

[gunman41mag]

I have a AR-15 pistol with a 100 round c-mag

 

[HenryWallace]

Comes out of the box from CZ with a 27rd big stick, tuned for 9mm Major (124gr @ 1370fps) 516ft/lbs x 28 = 14,470 ft/lbs on board.

'I need one of them dealies!'

 

[HenryWallace]

A 50 BMG has over 13,000 FPE, so the 3 shot revolver would have over 39,000 FPE

Good point. Numbers make the difference, but Finding you're zero afterwards could be a little timely.

 

[Rob377]

'I need one of them dealies!'

Me too.

Tanfoglio make a version as well. It's pretty awesome.

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlCJZlDLWcM[/ame]

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

has about 8000 ft/lbs at the muzzle x 6 = 48,000 ft/lbs. cc is going to be difficult on this one.