History Main / Handguns

* The other real problem is power, especially in military contexts where armor is common and only full metal jacketed ammunition is legal, (but even in civilian contexts there is little comparing common long guns to common handguns in the so-called "stopping power"). And in the world of handgun power, once one reaches the realm between the 380ACP to the 10MMAuto, terminal effect pretty much evens out to the point where trauma surgeons cannot tell the difference between the wound tracts of a 9x18 Makarov (near the bottom end of this range) and a 45ACP (near the higher end of this range). All things being equal, a longer barrel will give far more room for powder to burn, allowing rifles to achieve much greater muzzle velocities and use more powerful ammunition to take advantage of this, as well as the far more stable platform a rifle's stock and staggered grip offer. For example, [[http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/05/chris-dumm/lever-action-ballistics-30-30-vs-357-magnum/ even when fired from a carbine]] or rifle barrel, the powerful (in terms of handgun rounds) .357 magnum round will have less energy than even the diminutive (in terms of military rifle rounds) 5.56x45mm fired from the same sized barrel. There is a reason armor to protect against rifle rounds is so much heavier and more expensive than those designed to protect only against handgun fire.

** In the later games, anyhow. In the first game the hand guns were useless after you got your shotgun because they were too weak to be of any use and the shotgun was fast enough to keep enemies at bay. The grenade launcher was even better. It helps that Dante never has to reload and can shoot so fast he can keep enemies floating on a cloud of hot lead.

* Every ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' game starts you off with a handgun. Usually, it's some type of 9mm Beretta. The STARS standard handgun is a custom version of the Beretta M92FS called the "Samurai Edge."

* Snake, from ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', consistently [[OnSiteProcurement "recovered"]] a variety of weapons, including assault rifles, light machine guns, and rocket launchers. However, in most cutscenes, he's shown using his (usually suppressed) handgun[[note]]A Mk. 23 SOCOM in the first game in the ''Solid'' series, then an M9 in the second game, an [=M1911=] in the third game, and an Operator (a highly customized [=M1911=] variant) in the fourth game[[/note]]. Which makes sense, considering he's on a sneaking mission and would prefer a single silent shot over a wall of lead. Subverted in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' however, where cutscenes tend to show him with the weapon most useful for the situation - sometimes it's his pistol, other times it's the M4 Custom, and in one situation it's [[{{BFG}} a massive railgun]].

* ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' has Sam Fisher and his trusty FN Five-Seven alongside his other two favourite weapons, the custom [[CoolGuns/AssaultRifles FN F2000]] and the Karambit.

** Subverted in the sequel, where during the final scenario [[spoiler:inside the Collector base]], all characters seem to carry assault rifles at some point, even those that can't, like biotic Jack (who typically uses a shotgun and a pistol), and even [[spoiler:[[NonActionGuy Joker]]]].

Exceptions apply for characters in the military, as rifles and other such military-grade weapons are standard-issue. Even then, such a character is frequently reduced to using his trusty sidearm when facing down the BigBad, or may carry a pistol if they are an officer or special forces.

* Mana's close range WeaponOfChoice in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' are a [[GunsAkimbo pair of handguns]]. Don't think you're safe just because you're too close to be shot by her SniperRifle.

* ''Franchise/DieHard''

* Although anti-hero Tony Montana in ''Film/{{Scarface 1983}}'' is best known for his M16+ M203, villain Alejandro Sosa uses a pistol in ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours''.

* In ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', the Winchesters use handguns with silver bullets to take down shapeshifters and a werewolf. They also have a Colt [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolver]] that can kill [[spoiler:almost]] anything.

* In ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', the Winchesters usually have shotguns and larger guns in the trunk of the Impala, but Dean is often only carrying his [=M1911A1=], while Sam is carrying his Taurus.

* Every Franchise/ResidentEvil game starts you off with a handgun. Usually, it's some type of 9mm Beretta. The STARS standard handgun is a custom version of the Beretta M92FS called the "Samurai Edge."

** Largely averted from ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' onward, as weapons like the Battle Rifle and DMR now fill in the role the ''CE'' pistol had as a medium-range weapon, with the [=M6C=], [=M6G=], and [=M6H=] pistols being significantly reduced in firepower, accuracy, and range compared to the [=M6D=] (though the [=M6H=] is no slouch itself). That said, ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' Warzone mode has plenty of pistol variants which are straight examples, including the original ''Combat Evolved'' HandCannon.

* [[ZigZaggingTrope Messed with]] in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}''. Handguns are usually excellent in the early game, since they have very low AP costs and use common ammo. By the time you encounter your first Super Mutant, though, they simply do too little damage at even the highest levels of Small Guns or Energy Weapons to justify carrying them... until you run into the Scoped .44 Magnum. Even ''that'' still does less damage than the rifles, though, with rarer ammunition. Then there's the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Alien Blaster]], but that has incredibly limited ammo.

** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'' has similar weapon progression. Due to the way the action point system works, though, some pistols make surprisingly good weapons because you can shoot them several more times per round than more cumbersome guns. In particular, the [[RevolversAreJustBetter .44 Magnum]] and the Gauss Pistol can put out 6 shots a turn with the right build, though it sacrifices the massive damage potential of called shots.

** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' continues the tradition of having good pistols early in the game, and with the weapon modding available they can be upgraded to remain potent for quite a long time. The Alien Blaster remains one of the best pistol type energy weapons, and unlike the previous games can be converted over to use common fusion cells once the Alien Blaster ammo starts to run out while losing only a couple points of damage. Another great gun is Deliverer, a 10mm pistol with the VATS Enhanced legendary effect, giving it improved accuracy and reduced Action Point cost in VATS mode. While it doesn't do that much damage to high level enemies, it can be used to deliver a ''lot'' of head shots in a row to stack with perks like Steady Aim or to quickly fill up the Critical gauge.

* Most of the ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}'' are armed with handguns of various kinds. The exceptions are MASK with [[GunsAkimbo twin]] [[{{BFG}} grenade launchers]], Kevin's [[KnifeNut throwing knives]], and [[spoiler: Harman]]'s high-powered rifle.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Area 51}}'' light gun game features you as part of some paramilitary unit. Unlike other shooting games where you were a cop with a pistol because cops don't normally tote rifles around, in this game you're a soldier who's got..still a pistol.

* In VideoGame/GoldeneyeWii this is inverted with the exception of the Wolf .44; most of the games handguns are close to useless in a firefight that in multiplayer melee attacks are almost invariably used over the handgun when the player's primary firearm is out of ammunition.

** In the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona 1}}'', both Maki Sonomura and Yuka Ayase carry handguns as sidearms.

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* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'', as the students don't really have a choice of what weapon they start with, and most of the firearms Danya assigns are handguns. Most students with handguns swap out their handgun the second they find something more powerful, as well.

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* ''VideoGame/SparkTheBattleDog'': [[PlayerCharacter Spark]] starts the game with a pistol that can hold eight bullets, and can kill a zombie in two hits.

* Treated with an in-universe sensibility in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest''. Although Frank uses a rifle to perform his transgression (which introduces his gang and supposedly bids farewell to the [=McBain=] family), this use is hidden in the bushes, and he hands the rifle to a waiting henchman immediately upon emerging. This must have been an in-film character requirement, as Henry Fonda certainly had no reluctance to appear in films handling a rifle. In the same film, Woody Strode's anonymous character has a rifle that has been chopped short and is carried in the manner of a handgun. (Recursive reference: Chopped short sounds cooler and more badass than bobbed).
* The most commonly seen, used, and carried firearms in ''Film/Strapped'' are handguns. Justified in that everyone is concealing them for their own protection.
* ''Film/{{Killersaurus}}'': Professor Peterson keeps a handgun in his desk. First, he tries to use it to shoot himself, then he uses it to keep the CorruptCorporateExecutive who funded his research from [[spoiler:putting Kayleigh through the process to turn someone into a human-dinosaur SuperSoldier]].
* ''Film/HalloweenAtAuntEthels'': Before the confrontation with Aunt Ethel, Mark reveals that he brought a gun with which he intended to kill her. [[spoiler:Ultimately, Aunt Ethel gets a hold of it, and shoots Mandy in the head.]]

* In ''Film/TheExpendables'', Barney Ross's primary weapons include [[GunsAkimbo a Kimber M1911 in each hand]].
** Barney's [=1911s=] are actually from Kimber, not Colt. Though popular culture thinks of the 1911 as the "Colt .45," which can also refer to four other pistols they have made, most 1911 pistols in the world today were ''not'' made by Colt (although they have made ''a lot'' of them and continue to do so today). Wartime GI production also included Ithaca, Remington, Remington-Rand (a typewriter manufacturer), Singer Sewing Machines, and Union Switch & Signal (who normally made train parts). Today, most of the firearm manufacturers out there have some kind of 1911 rolling off one of their assembly lines, including (but not limited to) Colt (USA), Kimber (USA), Smith & Wesson (USA), Springfield Armory (USA/Brazil), Remington (USA), Ruger (USA), SIG Sauer (USA/Germany), Para Ordnance (Canada), Chiappa (Italy), Armscor (Philippines), and Norinco (China). Lots of small, high-end gunsmiths are dedicated to turning out custom 1911s that are pretty much the Maserati of pistols.

* ''Film/MongolianDeathWorm'': Patrick is revealed to have a handgun, which he pulls on Mr. Bixler so he doesn't have to give up [[spoiler:the treasures that he took from Genghis Khan's Tomb]]. Eventually, Daniel and Alicia get one too in the oil plant.

* ''Film/Hayride2'': Steven and Corey grab some handguns to use against Ol' Pitchfork.
* The various ''Film/JamesBond'' movies almost always arm Bond with his trusty handgun, usually the iconic Walther PPK. Although he briefly used the bigger P99, he switched back to the tinier PPK. This makes more sense for a spy, who would want to use a subtle, concealable weapon when undercover or defending themselves. Of course, since when did James Bond [[OvertOperative care about subtlety?]]

* For the house fight in the movie ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005'', John Smith went with a simple handgun while Jane Smith dual wielded a submachine gun and a shotgun. Other than her ability to shoot through walls, he was able to keep up with her although this was partially due to the confined quarters being more beneficial for the light weight of a handgun letting him shoot around corners.

** In the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'', both Maki Sonomura and Yuka Ayase carry handguns as sidearms.

* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':

* You start out ''VideoGame/FeverCabin'' with a simple pistol. It can put down a regular zombie in four shots (two if you [[BoomHeadshot shoot them in the head]]).