LF info on a Gonic 50 cal black powder Contender Carbine Barrel...

[Camp Cook]

I have the opportunity to purchase a Gonic 50 cal black powder Contender carbine barrel up until seeing this barrel I had no knowledge of this company or the barrels they made and on searching the net I can only find very limited info on them.

Does anyone here know anything about these barrels and the loads for them if so I would appreciate any/all info you care to share.







Thanks
CC

[Hopalong7]

     Gonic has been out of business for....I'm thinkin' at least 10yrs....maybe more.  they had the only black powder option(that I knew of anyway)for us Contender addicts.  Never had one but came close a time or two.  The pistol barrel was more common than the carbine length.  Seems like they came and went a time or two...or were sold out .  Fading memory also tells me they were known for having unusually tight bores and you had to have a special sabot....or something like that...not sure.
Walt

[Camp Cook]

Thanks for the thoughts especially this one

they were known for having unusually tight bores and you had to have a special sabot

got me to do a search on Gonic sabots and I lucked out.

I came up with this info the company is http://www.prbullet.com/ located in Manitoba, Canada which works for me considering I'm in BC, Canada...   

Now I just need some load data I have boxes of .429" bullets I sold off my 44mag so their just sitting taking up space.

Gonic Sabots

Gonic made some pretty good muzzleloaders. The biggest problem with the Gonic was the fact they intentionally built the gun with an undersized barrel. I assume they did this so Gonic owners had to shoot Gonic bullets. Sounds like a great idea until several years down the road, the company goes out of business and Gonic owners are stuck with guns that they can no longer get bullets to fit down the barrel.

Although most of their bullets were very heavy cast bore sized bullets, they did offer a 44x50 undersized sabot for those who did not wish to shoot 500-600 grain bullets. The sabots were undersized to take a standard .429"-.430" bullet to their undersized bore diameter.

We managed to locate the current owner of the tooling required to mold these sabots and made a deal with him to do a run for us. They are here and ready to ship.

Gonic sabots can be purchased two ways. Packages of 50 sabots only for $10. We will also be offering our .44 caliber Dead Center 300 grain and QT .44 caliber 300 grain bullets packaged in Gonic sabots ready to remove from the package and push down the bore for the same price as our regular packages. All quantity discounts also apply.

Questions, call Cecil on the toll free order / information line.

Toll Free Information & Order Line

1-8778-BULLET
Posted 11/07/2007

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[Hopalong7]

      Good Deal....Cecil Epps is good people with good info.  Since I stated using his bullets in my Encore 'bout 10 years ago, I've used nothing else.
Walt

[Camp Cook]

I just called I was told that the Gonic barrels do take a specialized sabot and the only sabots available are the .429" - .430" X 50 cal they do have stock on the sabots = 50 for $10.00

Thanks again for the heads up...

Now I just need load data for this barrel...

If I can find some I will make an offer...   

[jjvw]

When I had a 16" Gonic 45 barrel, I used a lead bullet sized to bore, no sabot. A 400 gr. Whitworth slug and 90 gr Pyodex made it's impact felt at both ends. No deer or the tree he hid behind remained standing.

[Camp Cook]

I made an offer yesterday morning, last night he said "no I'll keep it for that", this morning he countered and this evening I've now countered again...

Hopefully he just says yes this time...    

[Camp Cook]

The deal is now done and the ML/stock package is on its way also ordered some sabots designed for the Gonic barrels so will be good to go in just over a week...

I'm hearing I need to find some Blackhorn 209 powder now...

As of now I am a happy guy.   

CC