# That's not a handgun, this is a handgun. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 20, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393 "2008-02-20T17:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/1 "2008-02-20T17:37:46Z")
My dad sent [this](http://www.vincelewis.net/60magnum.html) to me this morning and I feel comforted to know that if I ever have to stop a speeding train, or maybe an enraged pack of blue whales I now have the ability to possess a hand gun for those exact situations. I totally intend to get one once I save up the $16k and find a holster big enough. I can’t imagine what shooting that thing is like. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/2 "2008-02-20T17:41:57Z")
Good grief, that looks like ammo for something like a .303. I wonder if it can be fired from a catcher’s mitt? ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/3 "2008-02-20T17:46:15Z")
If you scroll down, there’s a clip of a guy firing a single-shot version. Well, he gets to pull the trigger, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/4 "2008-02-20T17:47:59Z")
\*Nitro Express in firearms terms applies to a cartridges charge or powder that in this instance is made by mixing nitroglycerine with the already explosive gunpowder to make a nitrocellulose compound which is then dried and becomes many times more explosive than the original gunpowder. With a Bullet Weight of 900 grains and a Muzzle Velocity 1950 fps, it produces Muzzle Energy of 7591 ft/lbs or 3½ tons !! the Pfeifer- Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Magnum is 8 times more powerful than a Smith and Wesson.44 magnum and 3 times more powerful than the Smith and Wesson .50 Magnum.\* Gee, all that for only $40 a cartridge! ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/5 "2008-02-20T17:48:50Z")
As handguns are primarily used for self defense, I wonder what one would need a weapon like that to defend against. It looks like it could stop pretty much anything up to and including light trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/6 "2008-02-20T18:01:56Z")
[QUOTE=rhythmonly] If you scroll down, there’s a clip of a guy firing a single-shot version. Well, he gets to pull the trigger, anyway. [/QUOTE] Actually that’s the same gun. It’s a five shot revolver being fired single action. I’d think that once would be enough. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/7 "2008-02-20T18:38:36Z")
No, the gun in the video is the Thomson Contender. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/8 "2008-02-20T19:31:00Z")
Looks almost as big as the one the Joker used in the first Batman flick. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/9 "2008-02-20T19:50:38Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] As handguns are primarily used for self defense, I wonder what one would need a weapon like that to defend against… [/QUOTE] a rogue Transformer? ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/10 "2008-02-20T20:00:49Z")
I guess you could use it to defend against that enraged maneating elephant. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/11 "2008-02-20T20:12:13Z")
If you pay extra, can you have [“Jesus Christ is in Heaven Now”](http://www.advfilms.co.uk/titles/hellsing/image.php?file=images/recon/weapons/sheet17.jpg) inscribed on the side? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/12 "2008-02-20T20:16:47Z")
[QUOTE=peekercpa] I guess you could use it to defend against that enraged maneating elephant. [/QUOTE] A speeding train, two blue whales, a light truck _and_ an enraged maneating elephant. Then you could reload. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/13 "2008-02-20T20:20:49Z")
Let’s not forget that in the USA at least, anything over .50 caliber requires special paperwork from the BATF and all that is involved with that! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/14 "2008-02-20T20:31:30Z")
As a gun-disliker (not quite a hater, but a strong dislike), all I can say is…I want one! I would never buy any rounds, but just the sight of that thing would be enough of a threat deterrent against home invasion. And I’m sure it makes an impressive club, if needed. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/15 "2008-02-20T20:38:02Z")
Me personally, the only practical use I can think of for this thing is self-defense on hikes in bear country. That’s the general use for most large-frame revolvers anymore. That and big game hunting for people who prefer tracking/movement skill to shooting skill (the latter use rifles from longer ranges). I’d give at least a 30% chance, given the stories I’ve heard from North American big game hunters, that a grizzly or Kodiak bear would still take more than one shot to stop. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/16 "2008-02-20T20:41:47Z")
If you can afford the gun, you can afford the ammo. Just the thing to have if you need to vaporize an annoying, yapping mutt. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/17 "2008-02-20T21:01:32Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] a rogue Transformer? [/QUOTE] Has no one figured out that the giant gun _IS_ a transformer? It’s obviously Megatron!! ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/18 "2008-02-20T21:02:47Z")
[QUOTE=GaryM] Let’s not forget that in the USA at least, anything over .50 caliber requires special paperwork from the BATF and all that is involved with that! [/QUOTE] Slight nitpick, but it’s not everything over 50 cal, historical stuff is excepted. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/19 "2008-02-20T21:11:15Z")
As long as such things exist, the world is still a wonderful place. 13 pounds? My [DEL]sniper[/DEL] varmint rifle is barely 13 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393/20 "2008-02-20T22:34:11Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] My dad sent [this](http://www.vincelewis.net/60magnum.html) to me this morning and I feel comforted to know that if I ever have to stop a speeding train, or maybe an enraged pack of blue whales I now have the ability to possess a hand gun for those exact situations. I totally intend to get one once I save up the $16k and find a holster big enough. I can’t imagine what shooting that thing is like. [/QUOTE] That’s child toy. [That’s](http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/airborne_combat_engineer/2005/01/the_thunder_50_.html) what real men carry 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-not-a-handgun-this-is-a-handgun/438393.md?page=2)