The most powerful handheld rifle in terms of muzzle energy (11,000+ ft lbs) is the .577 Tyrannosaur, a caliber designed by orthopedic surgeons to increase business in the lucrative field of shoulder reconstruction/replacement.

I would say the M82 Barrett rifle. The M82 rifle is a heavy sniper rifle developed by the American Barrett Firearms Company. It is currently used by many units and armies around the world, including the American Special Forces. Cartridge: 12.7 x 99 mm NATO, Caliber: 12.7 mm (.510 in) Rate of fire: semi-automatic Effective range: 2010m Read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M82_Barrett_rifle

There are a great many categories of guns that one might look at in answering this question. The most most powerful commonly available sporting rifle cartridge was, for many years, the .458 Winchester Magnum at 4,871 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. The most powerful proprietary cartridge was the .460 Weatherby Magnum, at 8,250 foot-pounds of energy; it is available only from Weatherby. The most powerful wildcat cartridge- that is, one not offered in any commerical loadings- is the .577 Tyranosaurous, which can be loaded up to over 11,000 foot-pounds of energy. The most powerful rifles legal for civilian ownership would be one of the many custom rifles designed around the military .50 BMG, which produces nearly 13,000 foot pounds of energy. All .50 BMG firing guns are generally fired from a bipod or tripod, so this does stretch the defintiion of "rifle" as normally thought of.

50 caliber rifle

if it kills you it is powerful enough. :-(

One is the 50cal sniper rifle... It is used to take out thin skinned vehicles... for other Rifle ideas you could check out: discovery channel future weapons... or possible Mail call...

there is also the 600 nitro express. will u pull the trigger for me?

The one that I am holding.

Out of the ones i've fired? Berreta CX4 storm 45 acp. Powerful mofo.

It might kill you, but can it kill an elephant or a TANK? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahti_L-39

There is also the relatively new .700 nitro express developed in 1988 by Jim Bell and William Feldstein and built by H&H. In many respects this cartridge parallels the .600 Nitro Express, in that it is essentially a scaled-up version of that cartridge but is somewhat more powerful, and fires a heavier 1000-grain (64.8 g) bullet. The .700 Nitro Express develops an approximate average of 8900 foot pounds (12 kJ) of muzzle energy with a 1000-gr bullet at 2,000 ft/s (610 m/s). However handloaders can push the cartridge to generate as much as 15,000 ft·lbf (20.3 kJ) in a modern bolt action, by using a 1000-gr bullet fired at 2,600 ft/s (792 m/s). However, doing so makes the action of the rifle used nearly inoperable (especially in the case of a boxlock or sidelock rifle), while at the same time rupturing the cartridge casing and the primer cap. What about cost? Single factory loaded .700 Nitro cartridges are available, typically at $100 each which will hurt your wallet almost as much as the recoil will hurt your shoulder. Have fun.

as far as i know its the 4bore

In answering this question you must consider what type of rifle it is (anti-personnel, anti-materiel, hunting...) as different types of rifles have highly varying calibres and configurations which would acutely effect its killing potential or armour piercing capabilities. With that said the most powerful (current production), anti-materiel rifles which I know of include; - MECHEM NTW-20 (by Denel from South Africa) - 20mm TAKE-DOWN Rifle (by Anzio Ironworks from North America) These two rifles are both chambered for the 20mm round (20x80mm and/or 20x110mm) which is exclusive used by various military and police bodies for anti-materiel purpose only. Anti-materiel rifles primarily used to hinder enemy activities by damaging or destroying their resources and defense systems. These resources and defense systems includes (but is not limited to); - fortified bunkers, - light armoured vehicles, - machine gun placements, - military installations (communication systems and ordnance stores) as well as, - stationary aircraft. It must been noted that these 20mm anti-materiel rifles are also classified as cannon/artillery weapon systems. In terms of anti-personnel rifles, one of the most noted is the Arctic Warfare Super Magnum (also known as the AWSM or AWM) produced by British Accuracy International. This particular rifle is chambered for the .308 Lapua Magnum round. The .416 Barrett round which can be used in various Barrett rifles can be seen as challenger to the .308 Lapua Magnum round. The .50BMG round is primarily designated to anti-materiel rifles with a secondary anti-personnel classification. In terms of hunting, especially big game or large animals, the .700 Nitro Express round is definitely one of the most deadly commercially available. Apart from having a very large and heavy projectile, the unique explosive compound mix used to propel the projectile is more explosive and volitile when compared to conventional mixes, and thus is more powerful. There are custom order rifles from several manufacturers that produce hunting rifles which handle the .700 Nitro Express round. The 4-Bore round previously spoken about would definitely be more powerful than the .700 Nitro Express. It must be noted that any calibre greater than the .50BMG (12.7mm) which is used in rifles such as the Barrett M82 Series, would be widely argued as overkill (easily) against enemy soldiers, let alone the 20mm anti-materiel rifles stated above. 20.00 milimetres = 0.787 inch (20mm) 17.78 milimetres = 0.700 inch (.700NE) 12.70 milimetres = 0.500 inch (.50BMG) 10.57 milimetres = 0.416 inch (.416 Barrett) 7.823 milimetres = 0.308 inch (.308 Lapua) Please research further for more information. Cheers, Gunn

.700 Nitro Express is a very powerful round, and is known worldwide by its reputation among serious big-game hunters. It's also referred to as the most powerful sporting cartridge in the world, and this may be accurate

A 105 mm recoilless rifle might carry that distinction if it were a true rifle.

I've heard of a rifle that uses .950 JDJ rounds.

Any one that hits the target.