Handcannon

The Handcannon is a unique magnum revolver that fires its own type of ammo in Resident Evil 4. It must be unlocked first and then bought in the maingame.

Unlocking
The Handcannon is unlocked by completing "The Mercenaries" mini-game and getting 5 stars on all 4 stages with all 5 characters. From there, the Handcannon may be purchased from the Merchant for 0₧ in the cleared game shop screen.

Gameplay
The Handcannon takes up 2x4 spaces in the invitory menu, 8 boxes total. The gun is essencially of its own class as it has its own type of ammunition. Ammo for it will only drop in the game when it is in the player's inventory. Using the gun can provide a new gameplay experience when playing through the game again.

It can also be used as a fun extra weapon as it's exclusive upgrade gives it infinite ammo. It will take 790,000₧ pesetas to fully upgrade which is cheaper than purchasing the 1,000,000₧ priced Chicago Typewriter or Infinite Rocket Launcher, but the effort put into it is similar as it will take nearly an entire playthrough of purchasing very little to aquire that much money. When fully upgraded, it is the only weapon in the game powerful enough to pierce zealot and militia helmets.

The Handcannon does not actually fire one powerful bullet; it actually shoots a burst of five individual bullets bunched extremely tightly. (You can actually see this by shooting water).

When equipped, in the inventory screen Leon changes his usual Magnum-holding stance to one where his back faces the player and he perches the gun on his left shoulder.

Strategy
Its Ultimate Mighty Z ammunition is scarce. Ammo drops for Handcannon ammo are quite sketchy; it is quite possible (with minimal usage of the Handcannon) to rack up 50 rounds in a chapter, at other times, barely 5 rounds can be found per chapter, though sometimes lucky players and professionals can rack up to 100 per chapter (ex: 65 in 1-1).

The ammo sells for 600₧ per round, so once fully upgraded the rounds can be a profitable source of income. The Handcannon must be upgraded to the max to fully utilize the power it harnesses. It will take at least 1 or 2 playthroughs (depending on how many Pesetas you spend, you can easily get 1,000,000₧ from one playthrough if you don't buy many things from the merchant) to fully upgrade the Handcannon. But if you have the Chicago Typewriter, you can sell all the other weapons and any ammo and treasure you find during the game, and it is possible to get 2 million Pesetas. But it is advisable to keep a rifle, because it is vital in the Castle chapters.

Tune up chart
Fire Speed and Reload Speed are given in seconds.

The exclusive firepower level and infinite ammo are awarerd at the same time.

It takes a total of 790,000₧ to fully upgrade the Handcannon or only 590,000₧ for everything but the exclusive upgrade if you want to do a normal playthrough with it.

Examine Description
"This is a .50 magnum. Need we say more?"

Examine Description fully upgraded
"This.50 magnum now fires infinite bullets! Gotta love it!"

Merchant Comment
"Stranger! *laughs* What d'you need that for? Goin' huntin' an elephant?"

Further notes

 * The Handcannon normally can only be sold for 0₧. However when fully upgraded It can be sold for 1,000,000₧ through means of a cheat device. (Action Replay, Codebreaker)