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Author Topic: Black powder handguns  (Read 579 times)

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Offline billjoe

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Black powder handguns
« on: December 03, 2005, 05:04:57 AM »
I am a Contender shooter now for a number of years and a black powder rifle shooter as well.  I've all but given up on centerfire rifles.  I love the handguns too much.  What I want to do is replace my black powder rifle with a black powder pistol so I can have the best of both worlds.  We have a black powder season here in Wisconsin and I'd like to hunt it with a pistol.  I know the 209x50 is available for the Encore.  Is there anything for the Contender that is safe and shoots well?  I'm hoping for a 14" barrel or so.  I don't want to lay out the cash to get into a whole new Encore setup.
Any insight would be great.

BTW, I took a nice 5 pointer with my 10" 357Max at 60 yrds.  Shot him through the heart.  He jumped about 20', turned around to look back as if to say what the he** was that, and dropped over dead.  Gotta love it.

Thanks guys for the input.
bj :grin:
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Offline spinafish

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« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2005, 11:37:28 AM »
I think Bulberry has made a .45 muzzleloader for the Contender for years, but I don't know about a pistol length barrel..look him on the net..
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Offline Keith L

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« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2005, 01:06:11 PM »
I was about to warn you that Wisconsin doesn't allow ML pistols during deer season, and went to the DNR page to make sure.  To my surprise they now allow hunting with large muzzle loading pistols!  My .54 Scout pistol complies with the regs.  Thanks for posting this.  I may have never known.  Now to get an appropriate hunting load cooked up for next season.

I also thought you could get a Contender pistol in 209X.45 but see that I am wrong on that score also.  Good luck finding a Contender barrel for this.

You will want a hot primer, and keep your shots close.  A short barrel won't eat as much powder as a long one, so velocity won't be as high.  I plan on using by Brother in Law's cronograph to work up a sufficient load.

Let us know how you make out.
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Offline billjoe

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« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2005, 05:41:21 PM »
Keith I knew they had changed the rules I believe 2 yrs ago.  You bring up a great point though about the velocity of shorter barrels.  If anyone has any insight into this, it'd be nice to know.   What are the 209x50 barrels doing?
bj
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Offline Jeff Vicars

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« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2005, 06:01:25 PM »
100 grains of fff Triple 7 will push a 300 grain Barnes Expander about 1660 fps out of my 15" Encore 209 X 50 barrel.
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« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2005, 03:23:13 AM »
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Offline T.J. McSuds

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« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2005, 01:00:02 AM »
I'm just getting started with a BP comparison. Will be using a 10" Contender in 45 Colt for uniformity. Will be trying different powders and bullets. If you are interested, let me know.
 I realize this is not a ML but BPC is fun.
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Offline EdK

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« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2005, 01:34:45 AM »
Quote from: T.J. McSuds
I'm just getting started with a BP comparison ... If you are interested, let me know.


I'm interested in hearing your results. 45 Colt is my favorite Contender woods round. I'm also interested in getting a muzzleloading pistol barrel for my Contender. I'm amazed at how many folks frown on it as being underpowered without having the facts. Members on this very forum are achieving 44mag/ heavy 45 Colt power levels from their TC pistols!
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Offline T.J. McSuds

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« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2005, 01:32:10 AM »
My regular Contender 45 Colt load is a 350gr hard cast Keith bullet at 1050fps from my 10".
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Offline EdK

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« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2005, 01:59:59 AM »
Quote from: Keith L
I also thought you could get a Contender pistol in 209X.45 ...


As did I!!! Did TC withdraw that offering? I know there was a long-standing issue where Gonic Arms held a patent on the BP barrel for the original Contender and TC got around that by introducing the G2. While I never owned one I know I saw them catalogued and even spoke with a Fox Ridge counter person about it. What happened? Does anyone know?
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Offline rickyp

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« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2005, 01:11:28 PM »
I will tell you from first hand experience that bullberry does make a 209x50 CONTENDER barrel. I had a 14 inch S.S. one that i have taken several deer with. The bad things about the bullberry barrel are
1) the price up to $429.00 for a S.S one
2) the wait several months
3) no place to put a ramrod you will have to Carry it with you.
I sold mine off and bought an encore 15 inch 209x50 for the sole reason that it has the ramrod holder. you can buy a used encore and 209x50 for about the same price of a bullberry barrel.

with my 15 inch 209x50 I consider it a smokey 454. you need to watch what bullets you use.
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Offline T.J. McSuds

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« Reply #11 on: December 08, 2005, 01:38:22 PM »
EDK,

  I've been trying to PM you and it won't go. E-mail me at

 tjking@eritter.net
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Offline Hunter Mann

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« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2005, 03:58:33 PM »
Ricky,

What's the recoil like from that 209x50 15" Encore barrel? I've never shot a black powder pistol or any black powder gun before. But as I own an Encore and have entertained the idea of lengthening my rifle season, it sounds like a great way to go.

Can you compare it to a center fire pistol for me? I've shot plenty of 357 and 44 mags before.
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Offline rickyp

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« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2005, 04:03:16 PM »
for me it is not that bad. I have the rubber grips on my encore.
I shoot a unported 15 inch 45-70 compared to that the 209x50 is nothing.
I would put it on the level of a 44 magnum
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