Actually, not to highjack the thread or anything, (well, maybe just a little), 45s are probably the most popular handgun in America (I own two, myself), but ballistically are far from the most potent.
That honor goes to the new 500 Smith, I think.
However, Clint Eastwood popularized the M-29 Smith in Dirty Harriet when he said the 44 mag was "the most powerful handgun in the whole world and can blow your head clean off."
Before that movie, M-29s were selling for their retail price of about $260. After the movie, they were selling for $500. Hollyweird is amazing.
Good point, but I wouldn't be arguing the minutae of ballistics with Dirty Harry pointing his S&W at my head. 'Dead' is close enough to 'most poweful handgun in the world' at that point.
If it were me lying there, he could have just as well been saying "This is a .22 short, the weakest handgun in the world. It'll give you a really bad headache..." and I probably would have left the shotgun by my hand alone. :-)
Trust me, hijacking this thread is no big loss. We were just playing a late-night game of "bait the troll." Your comments about handguns were much more interesting, thanks for them - and for noticing the Dirty Harry reference. :)