Guns and Hunting

You Don't Know Recoil Until You Fire This Handgun

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A handgun is any firearm that is small and light enough to be held one-handed when fired, although both hands may be used to help with aim and accuracy. Handguns were revolutionized in the 1830s when Samuel Colt invented the Colt Revolver, a gun popularly used by the Texas Rangers. Today, handguns have come a long way from the original Colt Revolver. If you’re thinking about purchasing a handgun, remember to check the law for carrying firearms in public in every state

24/7 Wall St. identified the most powerful handguns by using ballistics data compiled by outdoor gear retailer Sportsman’s Warehouse. All 25 calibers with available data on the foot-pounds of energy delivered at 50 yards were ranked here. We selected the bullet weight, or grain, for each caliber, that delivers the most force at 50 yards. This ranking does not account for variations in barrel length and is based on a limited, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of available bullet weights.

Why This Matters

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Americans love guns. In fact, at times, these weapons are synonymous with personal identity. Furthermore, the United States has seen an increase in gun sales in recent years. When it comes to purchasing a gun, 24/7 Wall St. wants to help you spend your money wisely. We’re covering the most powerful handguns you can buy to help you know if the handgun you are considering gives you the most bang for your buck.

Scroll below to see the most powerful handgun you can buy, and it’s not even close:

25. 25 Auto

Black semi-automatic pistol isolated on white
Kondor83 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 51 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 813 ft.
  • Grain: 35 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

24. 22 WMR

James Case / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 85 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 920 ft.
  • Grain: 45 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

23. 32 Auto

  • Pounds of energy: 105 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 905 ft.
  • Grain: 60 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

22. 32 NAA

Arisara_Tongdonnoi / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 155 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 933 ft.
  • Grain: 80 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

21. 380 Auto

artas / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 166 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 912 ft.
  • Grain: 90 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

20. 9X18mm Makarov

  • Pounds of energy: 176 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 913 ft.
  • Grain: 95 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

19. 32 H&R

Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 192 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,039 ft.
  • Grain: 80 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

18. 38 Special

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 215 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,037 ft.
  • Grain: 90 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

17. 44-40 Cowboy

John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 216 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 689 ft.
  • Grain: 205 grain bullet
  • Use: varmint hunting and target shooting

16. 9mm Luger

storem / Flickr
  • Pounds of energy: 290 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,027 ft.
  • Grain: 124 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and varmint hunting

15. 45 Auto

GBlakeley / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 341 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 911 ft.
  • Grain: 185 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

14. 44 Special

M62 / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 349 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 934 ft.
  • Grain: 180 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium game hunting

13. 40 S&W

Slantsixx / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 387 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,060 ft.
  • Grain: 155 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and varmint hunting

12. 45 Colt

Hmaag / Wikipedia
  • Pounds of energy: 407 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 903 ft.
  • Grain: 225 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium game hunting

11. 357 Sig

TexasWarhawk / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 418 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,132 ft.
  • Grain: 147 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and varmint hunting

10. 10mm Auto

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 463 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,077 ft.
  • Grain: 180 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium game hunting

9. 357 Magnum

szuppo / Flickr
  • Pounds of energy: 510 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,281 ft.
  • Grain: 140 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense, varmint hunting, and medium game hunting

8. 44 Rem Mag

simonov / Flickr
  • Pounds of energy: 806 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,230 ft.
  • Grain: 240 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium/large game hunting

7. 41 Rem Mag

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 892 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,383 ft.
  • Grain: 210 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium game hunting

6. 480 Ruger

TDC / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 1,024 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,191 ft.
  • Grain: 325 grain bullet
  • Use: medium and large game hunting

5. 50 AE

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Pounds of energy: 1,043 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,251 ft.
  • Grain: 300 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium game hunting

4. 475 Linebaugh

Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 1,229 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,176 ft.
  • Grain: 400 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense

3. 454 Casull

A 454 casull revolver with an opened loaded cylinder
Althom / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 1,500 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,678 ft.
  • Grain: 240 grain bullet
  • Use: personal defense and medium/large game hunting

2. 460 S&W Mag

TPAP8228 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 1,673 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,941 ft.
  • Grain: 200 grain bullet
  • Use: medium and large game hunting

1. 500 S&W Mag

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2018 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Pounds of energy: 2,600 ft/lbs.
  • Maximum effective velocity: 1,653 ft.
  • Grain: 300 grain bullet
  • Use: medium and large game hunting

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