45/70 Government The Magnum Research BFR in. The most powerful pistol and revolver cartridges listed in order of chamber pressure. You might be surprised which ones generate the most pressure and how that translates to power.

Based on pressure, here’s a look at 10 of the most powerful handguns and the cartridges they fire. By comparison, some of today’s bad-ass handguns work with cartridges generating more than three times that much pressure. 38 Special is a very popular handgun cartridge and standard loads generate 17,000 psi while +P loads produce 20,000 psi. What’s the best way to measure the power of a handgun? Muzzle velocity and energy are most commonly used, but the real power of a handgun is determined by the pressure-in pounds per square inch-that’s generated in the barrel’s chamber. The power of some of today’s handguns would make Sam Colt’s knees week.

We’re not talking about specialized single shots and bolt-action handguns either we’re talking about semi-automatics and revolvers. They’re also used for hunting the largest and most dangerous game in the world. Handguns today aren’t just concealed-carry firearms made to fend off bad guys. But the handgun has evolved over the years. They were originally thought of, and still are, as self-defense tools for close-quarters combat. Handguns are generally considered to be low in power and high in portability. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

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