Disclaimer!  Unlike everyone at gun shows and shooting matches, I am not a pistol expert.  To find a handgun expert to advise you on the most accurate semi-automatic handguns, just go to any gun show.  Everyone there will claim to be a handgun expert.

It's not new, taking a rifle and chopping it down into a high-powered pistol.  Here is an 1856 Tower rifle, chopped-down into a high powered pistol:

The problem is accuracy with the shorter barrel, an issue that has been overcome in the 21st century. 

High-powered single shot pistols

When hunting big game at under 500 yards, you only get one shot, so a single shot handgun will be more accurate than any semi-automatic pistol.  Also see my  notes on the most accurate semi-automatic handguns.

My pick for the most accurate single shot handgun is the Thompson Center Contender (TC) Armor Alloy Pistol:

It has interchangeable barrels and it can shoot anything from a 22 rimfire bullet up to a 60 caliber elephant load. 

Watch this fellow shoot a 60 caliber Thompson Contender, the most powerful handgun in the world.  It’s hilarious!

Watch this fellow shoot a 60 caliber Thompson Contender, the most powerful handgun in the world.  It’s hilarious! The Thompson pistol has a switch that allow it to shoot rimfire and centerfire cartridges:

Gun accuracy is not always about the length of the barrel.  Packing a pistol makes sense of you are tracking a mountain lion over hill and dale for 15 miles, with a pistol that has far less weight and just as deadly.

My Thompson Contender has a 30/30 barrel, and in test at 100 yards, it shot a tighter patters than my Marlin 30/30 rifle with iron sights. 

I cannot find a holster for this Thompson dog leg, but you can slip it under your belt.

 Unfortunately, the barrel tickles your nads and it makes you look like you have a woodie:

Does length matter?

Barrel length does not always compensate for quality.  I tested the 30/30 rifle (with iron sights) against the Thompson pistol (with a Leupold pistol scope), at 100 yards.

While all or our shots were “kill” shots, the pistol shot a tighter group than the rifle!

Janet and I tested the 30/30 rifle (with iron sights) against the Thompson pistol (with a Leupold pistol scope), at 100 yards. While all or our shots were “kill” shots, the pistol shot a tighter group than the rifle!

Here is more proof that the Thompson centerfire Contender is among the most accurate pistols in the whole world.

Check out this Thompson center pistol hitting balloon at 300 yards: