[gvaldeg1]

When Dirty Harry said he said he had a 44 magnum and the most powerful handgun in the world he was right. He didn't fully qualify his statement but it was true at that time until the 454 Casull was put into production. T/C and others had rifle calibers in handguns but they weren't standard production handguns with specific handgun calibers. I believe the 500 mag is the current champ with the same qualifiers.

The 45/70 is more powerful but it's a rifle caliber. Although you can put it in a handgun it doesn't qualify as a standard production handgun chambered for a handgun cartridge.

If you want to ask what designates a cartridge a handgun or rifle caliber that's a hole-nudder topic.

As a sidelight, I went to the same high school in Salt Lake City as Dick Casull who developed the 454 Casull. His original guns had 5-shot cylinders and used duplex and triplex powders.

 

[gvaldeg1]

That is a very promising prospect. My brother and I have both been eyeballing one. I see no point in 2x 500 mags. A 460 seems like the next best solution.

With some loads pushing almost 3,000 ft-lbs, I really can't visualize going farther in a handgun. Also, it will chamber a bunch of lesser cartridges which are quite powerful in their own right.

 

[gvaldeg1]

I had a Thompson Center Super 16 chambered for .411 JDJ. It had about 2,400 ft-lbs muzzle energy.

 

[gvaldeg1]

444 Marlin_
View attachment 135263

My .411 JDJ used full length .444 Marlin brass necked to 41 caliber.

 

[gvaldeg1]

My 358X444 Improved used to be a 35 Rem.
Had David White (RIP) rechamber and add a 'maximizer' to the super 14 for rifle application and uses shortened 35 Whelen Imp. dies to reload.
Shoots like a thunderbolt!
View attachment 135288

I said that my T/C Contender was a Super 16. It was, like yours, a Super 14.