What is the strongest legal firearm in the USA?

Question

Shotgun, Rifle, Handgun or whatever. Whats the gun that make the most impact to targets that's legal to have/purchase?

Answer 1

Any of the dozens of different brands of rifles chambered for the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) round. This is by far the most powerful round avalible for general civilian use. These rifles are generally used for the purpose of long range target shooting, as well as countersniper and antimaterial work by police and military. Gun owners in the vast majority of the non-leftist U.S. States can legally buy, own, and shoot these. They transfer like any other rifle. You could drop one or two of the most powerful rifle "magnum" rounds into one of it's massive empty cases, and they'd have enough room to rattle around.  

Answer 2

Shoulder fired, probably the 50 BMG

M107, 82a1 or any of the single shot 50's

Answer 3

There is the 50 caliber Barret long range rifle that is the most common

$8000+ and $5 a shot. It is not the "Most Powerful" There are some anti-tank rifles floating around from the era from WWI to the early years of WWII (Tanks got better and the anti tank rifle became obsolete) These rifles weigh in the 20-30 pound range and are always fired from a bipod. Their caliber ranged from 8-20 mm. (The 8mm was a necked down 13.7mm case that pushed a 200 grain bullet at 4000 fps). All of these are rather scarce collector items and ammo is very expensive when you can find it.

In terms of hunting rifle every few years someone creates "the most powerful" It is either the 577 T-Rex or the 700 Nitro Express currently.

Once you go beyond what is needed to kill an Elephant rifles are really an exercise in the esoteric. These guns are custom made and are in the $25,000+ range. Ammo is $10+ a shot.  From my perspective they are for people with more money than sense who can brag "I survived shooting the most powerful rifle in the world"  The people I know who actually go to Africa and go hunting use the boring catridges like the 375 H&H or the 416 Rigby or the 9.3x62 mm. Stuff that has been successfully taking African Game for the last 75 years.  

Answer 4

the Barrett .50 cal.

Answer 5

20mm

Answer 6

The largest legal shotgun that you can hunt with in the USA is the 10 gauge.  Hunting rifle, the .700 Nitro Express (double).  Handgun, the .500 S&W Magnum.  

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Answer 7

There are many guns that are more powerful than a 12 guage shotgun; however, the most powerful commonly available and AFFORDABLE gun would be a 12 guage with a chamber that could accept 3.5 inch shells.

Answer 8

20mm

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