What are the biggest guns (largest ammunition and muzzle velocity) you
can legally own and operate in (the most lenient state of) the USA?

Please answer for 3 separate categories:

Handgun:

Sniper Rifle:

Automatic Machine Gun:

Need links to pics and manufacturer info.

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Clarification of Question by tanukitzu-ga on 26 Dec 2002 16:51 PST

Please consider accuracy and range for the sniper rifle, and rate of
fire for the machine gun.

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Clarification of Question by tanukitzu-ga on 26 Dec 2002 17:03 PST

Specific make and models are unnecessary.

I only need the general style/category of the guns and one of the manufucturers.

And the winner for the most powerful ammunition / firearm which can be
legally owned and used by the public in the US ( without any special
permits or transfer taxes ) is
Cartridge
.50 BMG
800 grain LRS solid projectile (Similar to Barnes 800 grain borerider)
ballistic coefficient=1.095
muzzle velocity=2650 fps
rifle zeroed @ 200 yards
@ 1000 yards
velocity=2015 fps
energy=7200 ft. lbs.
drop=236 inches
wind drift=2.93 inches
time of flight=1.298 seconds
@1750 yards
velocity=1630 fps
energy=4720 ft. lbs.
drop=892 inches
wind drift=9.39 inches
time of flight=2.458 seconds
@2000 yards
velocity=1482 fps
energy=3900 ft. lbs.
drop=1355 inches
wind drift=13.6 inches
time of flight=3.037 seconds
@2500 yards
velocity=1266 fps
energy=2849 ft. lbs.
drop=2460 inches
wind drift=23 inches
time of flight=4.135 seconds
@2800 yards
velocity=1159 fps (projectile becomes sub-sonic)
energy=2387 ft. lbs.
drop=3375 inches
wind drift=30.15 inches
time of flight=4.88 seconds