Just for fun: what's the difference between. . .

. . . a big bore handgun and a handcannon? Or do you consider them the same thing? I've seen both terms used both on this website and off, but I don't know what meets the criteria for a big bore and what constitutes a handcannon.

Just a random question I've been meaning to ask.

I guess I'd consider a pistol chambered in something like 300 RUM or 7 STW a handcannon.

I associate big bores with revolvers and handcannons with Encores and Contenders, especially when they're chambered in things like .416 Rem, .470NE, or .458 Lott...

I believe JDJones had a lot to do with opening the world of " hand cannons", in contenders mostly. If I remember right they started with a 375JDJ, 411JDJ, and 45-70. I might be missing one. I believe I bought the #37 of the 45-70 barrels and I still have it. I asked JDJ how good would it be on whitetails and his only comment was "you will know when you hit them". Nothing could have been more true! In my experience the shock the animal receives is highly visible with 300gr HP and 400 gr SP!

My Uberti .45 schofield (low preasure) and 1911 are big bore hand guns. My .270 Encore is a hand cannon.
If the whole in the end is above .4" I would consider it a big bore. If you tell people 'Don't drop my gun' before they shoot it, it is a hand cannon.

db

or if you have to tell them "Hold on really tight....it will try to get away from you"

or "You had better put this helmet on first"

To me, in order to be classified as a handcannon, the gun should be at least .375 & have the powder capacity of a 444 Marlin. A true handcannon kicks like hell, but it is supposed to. That is what makes them great. I know that there are a lot that are stronger, but when you shoot my 416 Barnes or 475/350 Rem Mag, you dang sure have a tiger by the tail. Now, with that said, Whit's 50 Alaskan revolver is the exception to the rule. That my friends looks like Godzilla blowing out fire!!

I would love to see that 50 alaskan shot but I have no interest...zip...zero...nada...in shooting it myself.

Hey Whitworth, you hear that? I think we need another video in the member video forum, if you know what I mean.

Its funny to see these comments now, when a few years ago, "big bore" probably would have meant a .357 and "hand cannon" would have meant the 44mag. As the handguns and the bullets they shot got larger, the definitions on that scale got larger also.

At least I think so. Wonder where we will be 20 years from now.

This:

(44 mag, two 825 G&S Online Express Magnums, and a 357 mag)

So 44 maag is considered a big bore?

I'm just itching to hear some answers to this!

I would say yes. It is capable of taking all the North American large game. It is a formitable round. Dirty Harry used it. It is over .4", so yes. I consider it the 'gateway' drug into the big boys toys, but it counts. It has a nice history and respectable performance. Much of what 'youse guys' use is over kill. At least at the distance I see deer at, it is.
Think about it, anyone who has graduated from .22lr's into center fire rounds can shoot a .38 or 9mm. It takes some skill, time, and effort to master a .44mag. It is ethical to hunt with a .44mag. The fact that it has since been outdated a bit doesn't detract from it's capabilities.
Put it into a 2" snubbie and it is quite the handful too. ;-)

dogsbreath

Not according to my 45 ;-)

Overkill is underrated.

Overkill??? No such thing!!!

Oh crap! Here comes another, "Guys...I'm watching!!"

I must have been asleep awhile , since when is the 44 outdated? Hell I'm older than it is , what does that make me?

Old. But I wouldn't want to pick a fight with you either.

I feel the need to clarify. It seems that some of you took 'overkill' to be a bad thing. I did not say that. ;-)

db

Hey DB! We knew what ya meant, just had to get our thoughts out there too!

Overkill... That's like saying ya got to much money!!

Nearly expired.

Nearly expired NAW.

HAHA!!! 100 years old and still act like they are 20!

I have to vote for the .44mag as the beginning of the big bores and any handgun that uses a rifle cartridge 30 caliber or larger is a handcannon.
But I think of handcannon more of just a slang word for a hard kicking handgun then a perticular caliber. but that's just me.
Rupe

I concur.

The .44 was considered uncontrolable when it first came out by some writers and people of the day,and we all know that ain't true. It still kicks to much for some people,and that is fine as it shows they know there limitations and are not afraid to admit them. With the arthritis in my hands I may join them sooner than I want to. So my personel big bore hand cannons start at .44 special and go up. .44 special ain't a hand cannon to you, I will let you shoot my 19 oz Charter Arms Bulldog with skinny grips a few times.

I think I'd rather shoot Max's 50AK

It has that fast snappy bite the hand that feeds you recoil, not the I'll take a bite out of your head recoil.

I've a s/w 629 with slim grips and a 2" pipe. That's a punishing gun to shoot much. It is fun to shoot, but not an all day sucker. I load 180 grains up to max for it. Less than max out of the short pipe and I was getting the same energy as a .357 with a 4", so why bother? It is a nice shooter, but stout.

db

I think 'JD' noted that it has a minimum case capacity of the 444 to make it a handcannon. I can't recall if there was any caliber minimum.

JD says 35 caliber minimum on the 444 Marlin case to be considered a handcannon.

I have been shooting JD Jones hand cannons for over 30 years. Touching off a max load 358JDJ or a 45-70 500 grainer in an unported barrel Contender with iron sights is a rush! It makes a 44 mag seem like a pea shooter. 90 deg muzzle rise and 90 deg rotational twist. i.e. - Hand cannon.

The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we
could carry cannon by our sides.


;-)