This was probably true in the early years of mass production handguns. Things like revolver forcing cones, double action and other technological advances have largely solved these issues.
I killed an Elk with a 44 magnum handgun in 1983. We got nearly 1100 pounds of cookable meat off that bad boy. I made that shot with a (IIRC) 240gr FMJ slug at approx 30 meters. Heavy brush in Washington State. Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 7.5 inch barrel. One shot right thru the shoulder/heart lungs. Dropped right where he took it. I always felt it was a nice easy (technically speaking) shot.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but that was NOT an elk you shot. They just don't come that big.
Some unfortunate rancher is missing a VERY large bull.
This was probably true in the early years of mass production handguns. Things like revolver forcing cones, double action and other technological advances have largely solved these issues.
I made that shot with a (IIRC) 240gr FMJ slug at approx 30 meters. Heavy brush in Washington State. Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 7.5 inch barrel. One shot right thru the shoulder/heart lungs. Dropped right where he took it. I always felt it was a nice easy (technically speaking) shot.
When I was a kid I used to shoot flying birds with my Ruger 22 semi (Mark IV ?, it has been a long time) at a hundred feet. I didn't know until I was older that I was supposed to shoot pheasants with a shotgun. (Before I get flamed, it was a remote area and I was always sure of the backdrop, Safety, Safety, Safety. Swinging the barrel of an empty gun past someone was cause to lose shooting privileges.)
My comparison was with longer barrel guns, rifles. I don't think that anyone will disagree that the barrel length makes all the difference. I am a reasonably good shot with a pistol but I wouldn't dream of trying to match a rifle at any range, for power or accuracy.
True or false: The best handgun in a given caliber is less powerful and accurate than the best rifle firing the same round.
A handgun is more powerful and accurate than a thrown rock,a thrown spear or an arrow, but they have inherent structural limitations, most notably the short barrel, that make them less powerful than a rifle.
It's relative; "not very powerful or accurate" doesn't mean I want one fired at me, or that I'd fire anyone or anything I don't intend to kill deader than Caesar.