the .50 cal handgun....?

Question

does it actually have more knockdown power than a .44mag, .45, or 357mag?

is it practical in any way or just a showpiece?

back in the day, would dirty harry have preferred it to his .44mag?

Answer 1

The .50 caliber handguns lack practicality (as a self-defense tool) primarily due to their huge size and outrageous recoil. (It better stop them in one shot, because it'll take you a nurse, a jacuzzi bath, a deep muscle massage, and what seems like an hour for the shooter to recover and take a second one). As a hunting handgun, many swear by them for large game (who never tend to shoot back). For carrying one concealed on one's person (for those who can legally do so), I suggest wearing a clown outfit and putting it in the pants, next to the giant foam rubber sledgehammer.

Seriously though, they are really nice showpieces, practical for large game handgun hunting and even some sport shooting, and look great while being held by a hollywood action hero. (I thorougly enjoyed watching Bronson running around with his .475 Wildey. I bet his whole body was sore after filming those sequences, even with low-powder blank cartridges).

I wish there was an easy answer regarding "knockdown power", but this topic has been debated past the point of exhaustion by many with much more physics and wound dynamics expertise than I will ever have. Practical thinkers like to ask what's worse to get hit by, a speeding yugo or a slow-rolling freight train? Both will kill you, just by different kinetics.

Many rely on what is referred to as "One-Stop Shot" statistics. The links below will give you some numbers on that. You will notice that the .50's aren't included in the studies, primarily because they aren't common enough or considered to be 'practical' for comparison.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/tacticalbriefs/volume3/number1/TABLE2-1.PDF

http://www.firearmstactical.com/tacticalbriefs/volume3/number1/TABLE2-2.PDF

Answer 2

The only thing that matters is where you hit. A 50 means a heck of recoil, so better a hit with a .32 than a miss with a .50.

IMO they are simply showpieces. all you get is small magazine capacity and a sprained wrist. The 50 will not penetrate a vest, so it is not more versatile or anything.
The only use it might have is against a grizzly or a puma- that is where the extra knock down power might have any use.

My preference is a 9 mm pistol with a standard 16 round magazine and the option of a 25 round magazine- although you can get a 70 round mag if you really want to. Not easy to carry though.

Answer 3

The desert eagle has the most knockdown power or any 50 cal but the sheer size of it makes it impractical for carry purpose. It would be considered just a showpiece. Dirty Harry would have probably wanted it.

Answer 4

Even for hunting, the humongous thing are just a showpiece. The recoil is way too much for the average man to handle.The price per bullet is aound $4-$5 each. I have seen these guns , and they just seem impractical for the price they are asking for them, which is over a $1000 plus.(This is in reference to the S&W revolvers)

Answer 5

I assume you are referring to the desert eagle .50 cal. although there are others ...It has more power than the calibers you mentioned however there are more powerful handgun cartridges as well . Its practicality depends on its purpose..for hunting or a bear protection gun it is very good but for self defense against people it is a bit much plus it has a small magazine capacity. Its is quite huge so would've mad a great prop for dirty harry onscreen.