The colt walker was the most powerful hand gun the us military have ever issued?

[Jamescg]

I read the colt walker 44 caliber with 60 grains of black powder is the most powerful hand gun ever issued to the us military. Is this true?

 

[41mag]

In for answer !

 

[steviesterno]

No. It got a 141gn lead ball to around 1000 FPS. Pretty good at the time but surpassed by even modern 9mm.

 

[Hayata]

I think I was at the Ranger museum in Waco where I read the WB was the most powerful handgun until the .357 magnum was introduced.

In for answer.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Colt's Walker pistol was rated to handle 60 grains of Black powder with a round ball or conical bullet load. However Colt recommend it to the Army that they not use this maximum load as standard, because it would cause excessive wear on the gun--and in practice it often caused the ramrod/packing lever to come loose from under the barrel.


When the gun was loaded with the maximum acceptable powder charge it would generate about 1130 ft./s velocity, and the ball would strike with 400 foot pounds of energy (at the muzzle).

That means it was more powerful than most 115 grain 9 mm ammo and on par with 124 grain NATO spec ammo.

 

[basstracker89]

It was the power house of the day. Large and heavy though. The ballistics of the old cap and balls are impressive