History Main / HandCannon

** Skull Face of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' uses a Mare's Leg as his personal sidearm. Ingame, the Diamond Dogs can develop a number of different hand cannons of their own, ranging from .44 Magnum revolvers to shotgun revolvers to grenade pistols.

* In ''VideoGame/SniperElite'': ''VideoGame/ZombieArmyTrilogy'', the British-made Webley Mk. VI revolver has downright stupid stopping power - the Colt and the Luger both need a headshot to be really effective against a zombie, whereas the Webley can one-shot a zombie with a torso shot, blow arms and legs clean off, and penetrate through and kill any other zombie who happens to be standing behind. This makes the Webley an amazing panic weapon, although it's balanced out by a very slow reload, slightly slower firing rate, and miniscule ammo count.

It's big. It's bulky. It's heavy, [[AwesomeButImpractical sometimes impractical]], and loud. It looks really, really cool. Sometimes, [[BlingBlingBang it has a nickel finish, or better yet, gold.]] It may even [[ICallItVera have a name.]] It's the '''Hand Cannon'''. And its power goes ''way beyond'' the standard sidearm.

Back in TheSeventies, a hand cannon was a [[RevolversAreJustBetter .357 or .44 Magnum revolver]], like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Python Colt Python]] or the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_29 Smith & Wesson Model 29.]] In modern times, bigger and more powerful revolvers like the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.454_Casull Raging Bull .454 Casull]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_500 .500 S&W Magnum]] reign supreme. Eventually, semi-automatics firing high power rounds were introduced to compete with magnum revolvers. The modern successor to the crown of most ridiculously oversized handgun is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Eagle Desert Eagle]] in .50 Action Express. Other Magnum semi-automatics also exist, but they are [[RuleOfCool not as cool]].[[note]]In VideoGames, the Desert Eagle is used as a symbol of just how badass the military is, never minding the fact that a huge gun like a Desert Eagle would never be realistically used by any unit, Special Ops or otherwise, because they're just [[AwesomeButImpractical too heavy and loud]] - the number of real units that actually issue the Desert Eagle can be counted on one hand, with fingers left over.[[/note]]

** Although not quite as impressive as the above examples, Luke Valentine wields a sawed-off M1 Garand as his weapon of choice which he fires with one hand. While not quite as absurd as the solid slabs of steel that Alucard uses as handguns, the Garand is chambered for .30-06 Springfield which is more powerful than the vast majority of handgun calibers.

* ''Film/DirtyHarry'' is arguably the TropeCodifier of the Hand Cannon with Inspector [[Creator/ClintEastwood Harry Callahan]] using his famous .44 Magnum, ''[[OneLiner "the most powerful handgun in the world."]]'', to kill criminals with in San Francisco, including the serial killer Scorpio. The movie popularized the concept of powerful handguns with the general public.

* Driver in ''Film/{{Faster}}'' wields a Super Redhawk Alaskan .454 Casull, a snub nose revolver intended for protection against dangerous game. The Casull displays its' massive power when Driver decimates a wall that his opponent is using for cover.

** In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'', Leon gets the .50 caliber Desert Eagle, which is a one-hit kill to zombies and lickers, and a two-hit kill to anything else short of a boss. Apparently unsatisfied with this level of death, however, it's eventually customized with a ten-inch barrel that, in addition to one-hit killing ''everything'' short of a boss, damn near [[BlownAcrossTheRoom knocks Leon off his feet]] with each shot. On top of this, if you have enemies lined up and shoot them, you can hit ''all'' of them with one bullet due to the custom Magnum having piercing effects.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' The Handcannon is a .50 caliber revolver unlocked by beating all Mercenary stages with every character. It boasts higher damage than the two other magnums and can pierce through multiple targets[[note]]and no, shields don't stop them[[/note]]. Once it is fully upgraded it gains ''infinite ammo and max firepower'', turning it into a complete GameBreaker. Its recoil is absolutely ridiculous which Leon has a hard time controlling.

** The Sniper vs. Spy update brings us the Ambassador, an alternate revolver for the Spy which is wide and long enough to fit [[YourMom an engraving of Scout's mother on the side]]. In gameplay, though, the Ambassador is marginally weaker and slower than the standard revolver, its true power comes from its near-perfect accuracy and ability to always crit with a headshot with 102 damage.

The character with the giant handgun is sometimes [[StockSuperpowersIndex superhuman]], [[OurMonstersAreDifferent supernatural]] or [[{{Cyborg}} cybernetically enhanced]] in order to compensate for the weapon's weight and recoil. In series where the heroes battle supernatural or cybernetically enhanced beings, weapons like these may well be necessary to take down their MadeOfIron[=/=]NighInvulnerable enemies.

A subtrope of BiggerIsBetter. Differs from {{BFG}} in that the Hand Cannon is large ''for a handgun'', while the BFG pushes the limit of what a single person can wield at all. The {{BFS}} counterpart is the OneHandedZweihander. Not to be confused with ArmCannon, which is literally a cannon on the arm.

* In ''Film/AlienNation'', Sykes upgrades from his police-issue sidearm to a Freedom Arms Model 83, a 5-round .454 Casull revolver, to combat the Newcomer gang that killed his partner. He demonstrates its effectiveness by blowing large holes in a bulletproof vest at the firing range. At the time the film was made (1988), this was the most powerful handgun/cartridge commercially available.

* ''Film/DirtyHarry'' is arguably the TropeCodifier of the Hand Cannon with Inspector [[Creator/ClintEastwood Harry Callahan]] using his famous .44 Magnum, [[OneLiner ''"the most powerful handgun in the world."'']] to kill criminals with, including the serial killer Scorpio. The movie popularized the concept of powerful handguns with the general public.

* Hammer's .44 Magnum in ''Series/SledgeHammer'' is not only a blatant phallic symbol, it's the only thing keeping Hammer sane... well when he isn't talking to it... or sleeping with it.

* Parodied on ''Series/{{SCTV}}'' with "Harry Filth," a Film/DirtyHarry-esque cop played by John Candy, who at one point carries a revolver that's much bigger than ''Harry himself''.

Back in TheSeventies, a hand cannon was a [[RevolversAreJustBetter .357 or .44 Magnum revolver]], like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Python Colt Python]] or the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_29 Smith & Wesson Model 29.]] In modern times, bigger and more powerful revolvers like the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.454_Casull Raging Bull .454 Casull]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_500 .500 S&W Magnum]] reign supreme. Eventually, semi-automatics firing high power rounds were introduced to compete with magnum revolvers. The modern successor to the crown of most ridiculously oversized handgun is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Eagle Desert Eagle]] in .50 Action Express.[[note]]In VideoGames, the Desert Eagle is used as a symbol of just how badass the military is, never minding the fact that a huge gun like a Desert Eagle would never be realistically used by any unit, Special Ops or otherwise, because they're just [[AwesomeButImpractical too heavy and loud]] - the number of real units that actually issue the Desert Eagle can be counted on one hand, with fingers left over.[[/note]] Other Magnum semi-automatics also exist, but they are [[RuleOfCool not as cool]].

You know you're dealing with this if a character says something along the lines of, "Wow, that's a really big gun," or "He's CompensatingForSomething". Sometimes, the user's hands are barely big enough to support the weapon. In particularly JustForFun/{{egregious}} cases they're fired [[FiringOneHanded one-handed]] or even [[GunsAkimbo dual-wielded]] -- try this in RealLife and you'll end up with a broken wrist and/or nose, a gun that's probably on the floor after launching itself out of your hand, and [[ATeamFiring a bullet going nowhere near where it's supposed to]].

A subtrope of BiggerIsBetter. Differs from {{BFG}} in that the Hand Cannon is large ''for a handgun'', while the BFG pushes the limit of what a single person can wield at all. The {{BFS}} counterpart is the OneHandedZweihander. Not to be confused with ArmCannon, which is literally a cannon on the arm. Compare PunchPackingPistol, where a more standard handgun holds the power of one of these.

* ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'': {{Human alien|s}} Vash the Stampede's sidearm is a [[http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Revolvers/Mateba_Model_6.jpg Mateba Model 6 Unica]]-like semi-auto revolver with a shiny, nickel-plated finish. In keeping with the western theme of the series, it is chambered for old-fashioned .45 Colt cartridges. While .45 Colt is a pretty anemic round, it can be loaded up to .44 Magnum power levels. Vash's gun also contains a piece of AppliedPhlebotinum that allows the gun to merge with his arm and form the [[ArmCannon Angel Arm]], a [[WaveMotionGun beam weapon]] of [[SphereOfDestruction monstrous destructive power]] that can annihilate entire cities.

* ''Film/DirtyHarry'' is arguably the TropeCodifier of the Hand Cannon (at least in fiction) with his [[BadassBoast famous line]] ''".44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world."'' , which popularized the concept of powerful handguns with the general public.

** The DL-44 prop itself is based on the Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" pistol, with extra bits like a cone attached to the muzzle make it look like a space-age gun.

** The gun in the movie is actually a Colt Walker, an earlier and slightly bigger version of the Dragoon. Both revolvers use .44 caliber bullets and were considered the most powerful handguns of their day.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'': ''"I have THIS!"'' Barry Burton's beloved Magnum in the Remake can OneHitKill the Tyrant's first form. The regular Magnum only takes a bit more than that.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'': The Handcannon is a .50 caliber revolver unlocked by beating all Mercenary stages with every character. It boasts higher damage than the two other magnums and can pierce through multiple targets[[note]]and no, shields don't stop them[[/note]]. Once it is fully upgraded it gains ''infinite ammo and max firepower'', turning it into a complete GameBreaker. Its recoil is absolutely ridiculous which Leon has a hard time controlling.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'': The Handcannon returns in [=RE5=] under its real life name which is S&W Model 500. Its power was slightly lowered compared to the last time, but nonetheless is still very strong.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'' During the game's finale, Ethan is tossed a special handgun called the Albert-01 to kill the house-sized final boss. The Albert-01 is in-fact Wesker's Samurai Edge handgun, [[EquipmentUpgrade customized to use]] [[AbnormalAmmo Anti-B.O.W. RAMRODS rounds]], thus transforming the gun from a 9mm peashooter into a true magnum.

** The Deus Ex promotion gave players the Diamondback, a revolver that deals 15% less damage than the stock revolver, but gains crits with each successful backstab and building sap, which could turn it into a potential GameBreaker.

->''"You see the size of that gun he fired at us? It was bigger than him!"''
-->-- '''Jules Winnfield''', ''Film/PulpFiction''

Back in TheSeventies, a hand cannon was a [[RevolversAreJustBetter .357 or .44 Magnum revolver]], like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Python Colt Python]] or the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_29 Smith & Wesson Model 29.]] In modern times, bigger and more powerful revolvers like the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.454_Casull Raging Bull .454 Casull]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_500 .500 S&W Magnum]] reign supreme. Eventually, semi-automatics firing high power rounds were introduced to compete with magnum revolvers. The modern successor to the crown of most ridiculously oversized handgun is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Eagle Desert Eagle]] in .50 Action Express. Other Magnum semi-automatics also exist, but they are [[RuleOfCool not as cool]].

* ''Film/DirtyHarry'' arguably started the whole trend with his famous .44 Magnum, "the most powerful handgun in the world" (in 1971). While handgun hunters knew about magnum pistols before, Clint Eastwood's movie popularized the concept of powerful handguns with the general public. In-fact, the sales of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_29 Smith & Wesson Model 29]] [[TheRedStapler went up after the movie came out]], and it was hard to get for a number of years. They're apparently relatively easy to find on the secondhand market now, as most people only shoot them a few times before deciding to never do that again.

* Colonel Douglas Mortimer in the {{Western}} ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore'' wields a Buntline Special that may be cumbersome on the draw, but can pack one hell of a punch with deadly accuracy. He unfolds a pack on his horse to reveal that among his many weapons, he carries an even longer-barreled pistol as well.

** The gun in the movie is actually a Colt Walker, an earlier and slightly bigger version of the Dragoon. Both revolvers use .44 caliber bullets and were considered the most powerful handguns of their day.

* Often, in VideoGames, the Desert Eagle is used as a symbol of just how badass the military is, never minding the fact that a huge gun like a Desert Eagle would never be realistically used by any unit, Special Ops or otherwise, because they're just [[AwesomeButImpractical too heavy and loud]] - the number of real units that actually issue the Desert Eagle can be counted on one hand, with fingers left over.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'': The one that Barry is packing in the Remake can OneHitKill the Tyrant's first form. The regular Magnum only takes a bit more than that.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'': The Handcannon is a .50 caliber revolver unlocked by beating all Mercenary stages with every character. It boasts higher damage than the two other magnums and can pierce through multiple targets[[note]]and no, shields don't stop them[[/note]]. Once it is fully upgraded it gains ''infinite ammo and max firepower'', turning it into a complete GameBreaker. Its recoil is absolutely ridiculous which even Leon has a hard time controlling. Fun fact: it is one of the first appearances of the Smith & Wesson Model 500 in any video game.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'' During the game's finale, Ethan is tossed a special handgun called the Albert-01 to kill the house-sized final boss. The Albert-01 is in-fact Wesker's Samurai Edge handgun, [[EquipmentUpgrade customized to use Anti-B.O.W. RAMRODS rounds]], thus transforming the gun from a 9mm peashooter into a true magnum.

** The Sniper vs. Spy update brings us the Ambassador, an alternate revolver for the Spy which is wide and long enough to fit [[YourMom an engraving of Scout's mother on the side]]. In gameplay, though, the Ambassador is marginally weaker and slower than the standard revolver, its true power comes from its near-perfect accuracy and ability to always crit with a headshot.

* ''Literature/ArifuretaFromCommonplaceToWorldsStrongest'': After being left for dead inside a dungeon, Hajime created a magical railgun revolver using his knowledge of technology, which he uses to terminate monsters ''and'' humans with extreme prejudice.

* In ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'', Butlers SIG Sauer is described as so big, Butlers the only one able to handle it.

* In the Literature/DocSavage novels, Patricia Savage's signature weapon is an old six-shooter handed down from her grandfather - a Colt Frontier Single Action .44 with the trigger filed off and a fanning spur welded on the hammer, which she carries in her purse.

* High powered handguns in real life have two primary real-world applications, handgun hunting and predator defense. With proper ammo, magnum pistols are basically sawed-off rifles that are easier to handle (except once they are recoiling). That said, many are sold for "range warriors" to show off to their buddy.

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfeifer_Zeliska_.600_Nitro_Express_revolver Pfeifer Zeliska]] revolver: a gun chambered for the .600 Nitro Express, traditionally an elephant-gun round. It's not a production model, being hand-made indvidually; purchasing one will cost over $16,000 and the .600 Nitro Express rounds alone go for $40 each. (If you don't want that, it can also chamber the .460 Win. Mag. round.) It weighs 13 pounds unloaded and is over 21 inches long in total. Oddly, the sheer weight of the beast is in fact what makes it anywhere near practical as a weapon: the recoil of even a .600 round isn't enough to make something that massive fly around. Also, it's the gun in the page picture.

* The vampire [[{{Dracula}} Alucard]] in ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'': he carries an awesomely huge pistol (39 cm/16" long, 6kg unloaded) stylized after an old-fashioned Colt that can fire the mighty .454 Casull cartridge (which is only ''slightly'' smaller than a AA battery); in fact, this ammo gives the gun its common name, "The Casull." Later on he is given another, ''bigger'' pistol (though it's more like a huge block of metal with a trigger) called "The Jackal" (also 39 cm/16" long, 16kg unloaded, 13mm Mercury core rounds with [[DepletedPhlebotinumShells blessed Macedonian silver jackets]]), which he uses together with the first one [[GunsAkimbo akimbo-style]]. Both guns are ridiculously heavy for their size. For comparison, the US Army's standard-issue platoon machine gun, the [=M240B=], weighs in at 12kg. Neither are weapons any human could hope to wield, the former for its recoil and the latter for its insane weight, but they are the perfect sidearms for an insanely powerful vampire like Alucard. The latter is also so heavy because [[spoiler:it has a bomb inside it, intended for use against Alucard by Millennium]].

** Although not quite as impressive as the above examples, Luke Valentine can single-handedly wield a cut-down M1 Garand as his weapon of choice. While not quite as absurd as the solid slabs of steel that Alucard uses as handguns, the Garand is chambered for high-powered rifle ammunition that is actually superior to the Casull in most respects. Or at least would be if not for Alucard's Casull firing [[SilverHasMysticPowers silver]] [[SilverBullet bullets]] [[DepletedPhlebotinumShells made from melted-down holy relics]], giving it superior power against undead targets.

* [[LovableRogue Han Solo]] in ''Franchise/StarWars'' carries the DL-44 [[EnergyWeapon heavy blaster pistol]], a hand cannon that carries more punch than other blaster pistols in the series. It is shown ripping out chunks of concrete when Han fires it at stormtroopers inside the Mos Eisley spaceport.

** It's actually pointed out in-universe to be a highly impractical weapon; Randel, being over seven feet tall and built completely out of muscle, is one of the few people who's able to make good use of it.

It's big. It's bulky. It's heavy, [[AwesomeButImpractical sometimes impractical]], and loud. It looks really, really cool. Sometimes, [[BlingBlingBang it has a nickel finish, or better yet, gold.]] It may even [[ICallItVera have a name.]] It's the '''Hand Cannon'''. And its power goes ''way beyond'' the standard [[Handguns sidearm]].

It's big. It's bulky. It's heavy, [[AwesomeButImpractical sometimes impractical]], and loud. It looks really, really cool. Sometimes, [[BlingBlingBang it has a nickel finish, or better yet, gold.]] It may even [[ICallItVera have a name.]] It's the '''Hand Cannon'''. And its power goes ''way beyond'' the standard sidearm.

* The antagonists of the ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' series seem to favour this kind of pistol; Imran Zakhaev in ''Call of Duty 4'' used a .50AE Desert Eagle, while General Shepherd in ''Modern Warfare 2'' had a .44 Colt Anaconda.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'' During the game's finale, Ethan is tossed a special handgun called the Albert to kill the house-sized final boss. The Albert is in-fact Wesker's Samurai Edge handgun, [[EquipmentUpgrade customized to use Anti-B.O.W. RAMRODS rounds]], thus transforming the gun from a 9mm peashooter into a true magnum.

Magnum-caliber handguns or pistols that use rifle cartridges comprise most of the Hand Cannon trope, due to their superior ballistics. SawedOffShotguns & rifles, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M79_grenade_launcher grenade launchers]], and fictional pistols that fire [[EnergyWeapon powerful laser beams]] are also considered. A large pistol may not be a hand cannon if it's chambered for a weak caliber, or simply not that strong.

Back in TheSeventies, a hand cannon was a [[RevolversAreJustBetter .357 or .44 Magnum revolver]], like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Python Colt Python]] or the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_29 Smith & Wesson Model 29.]] In modern times, more powerful revolver cartridges like the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.454_Casull .454 Casull]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_500 .500 Magnum]] reign supreme. Eventually, semi-automatics firing the same rounds were introduced. The modern successor to the crown of most ridiculously oversized handgun is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Eagle Desert Eagle]] in .50 Action Express. Other Magnum semi-automatics also exist, but they are [[RuleOfCool not as cool]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Carnivores}}'': The mobile version introduced a powerful revolver, a Smith & Wesson Model 500. It has the highest damage of any weapon in-game, capable of killing dinosaurs within 1-3 shots (depending on the species, and excludes the T-Rex which can only be killed via a shot in the eye). However, its damage decreases over range, restricting it as a close quarters weapon.

* ''VideoGame/FarCry3'' has in the base game the ".44 Magnum" and "[=D50=]" ([[AKA47 aka Smith & Wesson Model 629 and IMI Desert Eagle Mark XIX]]) as the strongest handguns and of course the [=D50=] is the last one you can unlock. The "Cannon" pistol, the Signature version of the .44 Magnum, comes with a scope, longer barrel, and a [[SniperPistol sight]] and is unlocked with Creator/{{Ubisoft}}'s [=uPlay=] service. A PreOrderBonus for multiplayer is the IJN Type 10 flare gun, a very rare flare gun that was converted to shoot shotgun shells. The shells are ''35mm'', which is close to the size that a ''small [[{{BFG}} punt gun]]'' would fire. And you shoot it one-handed. Despite it's immense size it somehow does ''even less'' damage then the [=D50=]. [[ArbitraryGunPower Because reasons?]]

* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' games usually have a Magnum serving as one of the more powerful weapons. Ammo's rare and it's usually slow to fire, but they typically kill zombies, Hunters, Lickers, et cetera in one hit. Players often reserve their ammunition entirely for the boss fights, as they tend to be the best weapons.

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'': The Handcannon is an unlockable weapon whose rounds can kill nearly any normal enemy in 1 shot and can pierce through multiple targets[[note]]and no, shields don't stop them[[/note]]. What's better, the Merchant has an upgrade for it which gives it ''infinite ammo and zero reload time'', turning it into a complete GameBreaker... or it would be, if you didn't have to achieve OneHundredPercentCompletion on the Mercenaries minigame, which is only available after you beat the game once, and you didn't have to go through multiple playthroughs to amass the cash required to upgrade it to its max potential.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' introduces the Elephant Killer which is loosely based on the Smith & Wesson Model 500. For the first time in the series it gets to chamber the correct ammunition, .500 S&W, rather than the generic magnum ammo from ''[=RE5=]'' and the misnamed .5 caliber ammo from ''[=RE4=]''. As an interesting side note, it is depicted as being a hinge-opening revolver, as opposed to having a swing out cylinder as its real life counterpart. It does, however, feature the correct five-round capacity of the real revolver. Jake and Sherry hold it together and use it to finish off the final boss of their scenario.

** In ''Film/Hellboy2004'' it is shown that HB's "Samaritan" holds four rounds each about the size of a thumb.

* ''Film/Batman1989'' has ComicBook/TheJoker pulling out a revolver with a ''telescopic'' 36-inch barrel... out of his pants... which he uses to shoot down the Batwing in ''one shot''. Make of that what you will.

* The title character of ''Film/BadLieutenantPortOfCallNewOrleans'' walks around with a massive .44 magnum revolver sticking out of his waistband at all times.

* When ComicBook/NickFury makes his return to the mainstream MarvelUniverse during the Skrull invasion of New York in ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'', he does so wielding a gun that's about as big as he is.

** A later variant is the larger and longer Taurus Raging Judge, which can load the more powerful.454 Casull rounds as well as the .45 Colt and .410.

* ''Literature/AriaTheScarletAmmo'': While Kinji's Desert Eagle is certainly counts, the one who takes the cake is [[TheOjou Urara Takachiho]] from ''AA'' spinoff with her Ruger Super Redhawk chambered in .454 Casull. The gun is as long as a rifle, powerful enough to ''konock out'' a bicycle out from its rack lock with just a single shot, and yet she has enough strength to [[FiringOneHanded fire it one-handed]] in an almost casual manner.

* ''Literature/AriaTheScarletAmmo'': While Kinji's Desert Eagle is certainly counts, the one who takes the cake is [[TheOjou Urara Takachiho]] from ''AA'' spinoff with her Ruger Super Redhawk chambered in .454 Casull. The gun is as long as a rifle, powerful enough to ''throw'' a bicycle out from its rack lock with just a single shot, and yet she has enough strength to [[FiringOneHanded fire it one-handed]] in an almost casual manner.

*** The Lex Prime's Incarnon form takes this trope to it's logical conclusion by being, essentially, a handheld[[WaveMotionGun Tenet Arca Plasmor]], with similar performance

*** The Lex Prime's Incarnon form takes this trope to it's logical conclusion by being a handheld {{WaveMotionGun}}

* Maxima of ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'' has SuperStrength and SuperSpeed so she gets to carry [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-888-supervillain-ping-pong/ Machina Rex]] around, a single round custom-made pistol that fires [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.577_Tyrannosaur .577 Tyrannosaur (aka T-Rex)]] rounds, one of the largest, most powerful calibers available (excluding those used in heavy machine guns). Since she can fire particle beams from her fingers she [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-327-ask-a-self-evident-question/ mostly]] uses it as a WeaponOfIntimidation but it's still powerful enough to hurt most supers with damage resistance.

* Maxima of Webcomic/GrrlPower has SuperStrength so she gets to carry [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-888-supervillain-ping-pong/ Machina Rex]] around, a single round custom-made pistol that fires [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.577_Tyrannosaur .577 Tyrannosaur (aka T-Rex)]] rounds, one of the largest, most powerful calibers available (excluding those used in heavy machine guns).

* Any and all guns in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'''s [[TheVerse Ivalice]], which more accurately resemble shotguns in size but can be [[FiringOneHanded fired one-handed]]. Particularly noticeable in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics: [[UpdatedRerelease War of the Lions]]'', where [[{{Cameo}} Balthier's]] Ras Algheti is the size of his torso.

* Leslie Nielsen briefly wields a ridiculously over-sized Magnum at the end of, ''[[Film/TwoThousandAndOneASpaceTravesty 2001: A Space Travesty]]''.

* In the TabletopGame/WorldOfDarkness games (especially the TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness game ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''), the impracticality of the hand cannon - and especially the Desert Eagle .50 - actually became a plot point, explained by [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]] influencing gun manufacturers to produce weapons suitable for supernatural combat.