# Tried out a super-powerful handgun today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361 "2009-09-09T00:59:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/41 "2009-09-11T19:30:44Z")
Yes, actually. The shot shell is useless against anything but snakes. Good for them, though. Check out the Boxotruth, for a good review. [http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm](http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/42 "2009-09-13T02:53:43Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [8 3/8 inch](http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14777&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y) That looks more like 12 inches to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/43 "2009-09-13T03:01:13Z")
Fired Dad’s .44 mag Savage lever-action and it about tore my shoulder off. I had no interest in trying his Ruger .44 mag revolver, so something with twice the kick is completely uninteresting to me. Anyway, anybody who needs a round that kills just by shock to the system can’t shoot accurately. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/44 "2009-09-13T05:32:54Z")
Anyone see the recent Mythbusters ep with the .460 or .500? Turns out if you (stupidly) place your thumb across the cylinder gap, the expanding gasses with shred, if not completely sever, that thumb. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/45 "2009-09-13T05:35:09Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > That looks more like 12 inches to me. Your wife says it’s only 3 inches. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/46 "2009-09-13T07:50:03Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Fired Dad’s .44 mag Savage lever-action and it about tore my shoulder off. I had no interest in trying his Ruger .44 mag revolver, so something with twice the kick is completely uninteresting to me. That’s really interesting, because IME .44 Magnum rifles have very little felt recoil. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361/47 "2009-09-14T17:42:32Z")
I wasn’t prepared for what kick there was, having never shot anything bigger than a .22 before. As for dinky, little leopards as “big game,” they are the only ones on the list that regularly preyed on our ancestors. It’s payback time. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-out-a-super-powerful-handgun-today/509361.md?page=2)