The world's most powerful pistol is the Thompson centerfire with a 60 caliber barrel and elephant load bullets, all condensed into a powerful handgun.

The Thompson pistol is not only the most powerful handgun in the world, the Thompson TC contender is also among the most accurate single shot pistol.  The Thompson is also versatile, with interchangeable barrels from .17 caliber to to 60 caliber.

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:

Also see my notes on the most accurate semi-automatic handguns.

The history of the most powerful handguns in the world

The idea of taking a high-powered rifle and converting it into a pistol is not a new idea.  Here is an 1856 Tower rifle, chopped-down into a high powered pistol:

Powerful handguns and accuracy

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

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.

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 not only the world's most powerful handgun, it is also among the most accurate high-powered pistols in the world.

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

 

I'm not a pistol expert, and if you know of a new "most powerful: handgun, please e-mail me at the address below and I will update this page.