With .44 mag revolver, as well as with 1911.
This bull was taken with a 305 grain hard cast right behind the shoulder. Complete penetration. Just a shade past 100 yards.
The gun is my old 29-2 that I had cut back 2 5" and a few other things done to it.
It is that "one end of the spectrum to the other" handgun.
My first handgun elk (while hunting) was with a 1911, and was a big cow. She was bedded down on the edge of this finger ridge, with the other side being heavy timber. I was only 25 yards or so. My rifle was slung across my back as I had been grabbing at sagebrush trying to pull myself up in slippery, half melting mid morning snow. She stood up and only had to take about 4-5 steps and could have been gone in a flash. When she stood up I knew there was no way could get to my rifle in time, so I just drew my pistol and popped her in the head with my 1911. She dropped right back down into her bed and did the straight leg squirm kick death dance. The whole thing from the time I saw her, to the time I shot was probably 4-5 seconds.
Popped a few others since then with handguns, but not nearly as fun as the first one.