2007-10-13 22:52:22 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
General speaking, any handgun in calibers .44 Magnum on up.This includes the .454 Casull,.460 S&W magnum,.480 Ruger, and the .500 S&W magnum.
2007-10-14 05:31:44 · answer #1 · answered by WC 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the 17th Century, a hand Cannon was what it implies. They consisted of a barrel with a metal tang attached so it could be held with the shooters left hand. They were usually large bore and measured 18-24" approximately in length, weighing 8-20lbs. and used Black Powder as the projectile propellant. A lit reed or smoldering piece of hemp were used to touch off/fire the cannon, by having it's operator place the lit object into a small "touch hole" which in turn set off the charge and "fired" the cannon. A bit unwieldy, but that was the beginning of a new era in firearms combat, and firearms role in warfare. They were somewhat inaccurate as you would guess, but effective at close range......
Today the term is used as a slang term to describe any Magnum Pistol of great power , Examples:357 Magnum, 44 Magnum,Smith & Wesson 500 & 460 caliber are considerd to be "Hand Cannons"......
2007-10-14 05:15:12 · answer #2 · answered by JD 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Most commonly it is a euphemism for any high caliber handgun. What might be considered a handcannon for one person might not be for another. For someome who has never shot a handgun larger than a .22 rimfire, something like a .38 Specal might constitute a handcannon for them. For an experienced marksman, the point at which the term handcannon might come into use might be for anything as large as a .44 magnum or larger. Different strokes for different folks.
2007-10-14 00:33:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
.50 cal dessert eagles or Smith and Wesson 460 or 500. Just big hunkin handguns. Yes hunkin is a technical term.
2007-10-14 06:25:39 · answer #4 · answered by bobbo342 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big mean looking pistols. Another term in the list of things people call hand guns; Gats, Roscoe's, Heaters, Pieces, Equalizers, Insurance, Thundersticks (hand held), etc. Sort of like for money there are all sorts of names; long green, geetus, greenbacks, dollars, heavy sugar, persuasion, frogskins, coin of the realm, etc.
2007-10-15 05:15:15 · answer #5 · answered by acmeraven 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hand cannons were the first handguns. They were literally smaller cannons designed to be fired by being held manually and aimed at the target. Refinements resulted in subsequent early shoulder supported firearms and handguns.
Today the word 'hand-cannon' is used to describe any handgun the speaker considers enormous.
Best.
H
2007-10-14 05:48:57 · answer #6 · answered by H 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Historically speaking....since the modern usage has been well covered by the other experts....a hand cannon was a small 12" cannon barrel, sometimes on a short stock, sometimes not, that was held in one hand and fired by igniting the touch hole with a burning string (called a match).
These are examples of hand cannons.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Lgenorth_3guns.jpg
2007-10-14 05:10:25 · answer #7 · answered by randkl 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'd say a hand cannon is a 450 Marlin,45/70,500 S&W,460 S&W and there are a few others out there.
2007-10-14 07:18:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The S&W Model 500 .500 Magnum is the standard by which all others are judged!
2007-10-14 02:35:27 · answer #9 · answered by Answer Master Dude 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is a generic term given to large bore handguns usually anything over a 44 mag or 45LC like the S&W 460 and the S&W 500
also magnum reserch makes a BFR line that i will give you link to they make some handcannons
http://www.magnumresearch.com/BFR.asp
2007-10-14 02:30:13 · answer #10 · answered by crazy_devil_dan 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋