Gun

What was the most powerful hand gun in WWII?

hand gun as small arms or pistol and anyway this should be in the genaral sec

Just a guess but I would have to say the Webley Mk VI Revolver and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webley_Revolver
Action Double Action revolver
Rate of fire 20-30 rounds/minute
Muzzle velocity 620 ft/s (190 m/s)

Colt 1911 45 for the stopping power if thats what you mean about powerful
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_1911
Caliber .45 in (11.43 mm)
Muzzle velocity 800 ft/s (244 m/s)

Stopping power ?

I can buy a cheapish .177 air rifle with nearly twice the Webley’s muzzle velocity. I know which one I’d rather be shot with. (I’ve actually been shot with neither of them and it was a piss-weak weapon, but for a fun experience I wouldn’t recommend even that.)

Projectile weight and a range of other factors affect the impact a round has on a human being.

As for stopping power, whatever that means, the average person copping any military round through a solid bit of body and surviving it tends to lose interest in their surroundings for a while.

I am moving this to WW2 general disc.