Hey guys, I just �pulled the trigger� recently and ordered my next new Contender barrel. I decided to go w/ a Contender muzzleloader barrel so I can use a handgun to hunt the expanded muzzleloader only deer seasons. (It always broke my heart to have to use my muzzleloader RIFLE during muzzleloader season instead of a handgun�.) My options were Gonic, Virgin Valley, Bullberry, and Van Horn. I couldn�t ever find the Gonic folks at home, just their answering machine. VVCG and Bullberry have done quality work w/ the barrels I bought from them. I�ve read some good comments about Van Horn�s work on this site and haven�t witnessed any of his work personally, so decided I�d give him a try. In addition, since VH�s shop time is only running 3-5 weeks, I should have the barrel in time for the early muzzleloader only deer season. I found Mr. Van Horn to be friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to share his time and experience w/ me. The full bull barrel will be blued (he didn�t have any s/s blanks available at the time and didn�t expect any real soon), 50 cal, 1:28 twist, and 16 �� long. He will tap both the barrel and a Weaver base for six screws. It will use 209 primers and will have a removable breech plug. I plan on using 3 Burris Signature Z-rings to install a Tasco 3X scope. Honestly, I�m not sure how this scope will hold up, but thought I�d try it. It came in a trade and is not being used now anyway. Doubt I could get much $$ for it if I sold it. I�ve always used conical bullets in my 50 cal ml rifle, but thinking about sabots/handgun bullets for this one. If any of you have any suggestions for bullets/loads, let me know. I�m really looking forward to muzzleloader season this year! Gary T.

Gary,

You're lucky, here in VA you can't hunt with a ML pistol. The law specifies a single barrel rifle of .45 cal or larger using 60 grains or more of powder. Can't even use my Brown Bess (a smoothbore).

I would recommend that you use 80-100 grains of Pyrodex with the lightest Buffalo Bullet, 385 grain Hollow Point/Hollow Base. You can use sabots of course, I'm just not a fan of sabots and am sure that you'll get lots of recommendations.

Definitely let us know how that ML barrel shoots!
I have been interested in a blackpowder Contender barrel for some time now, but had not heard any results from anybody that had one. I know there are a few guys that make these things, but I like to hear feedback from the people that actually shoot them rather than a salesperson.

Hobie,
The barrel he mentioned is 16 1/4 inches so could be used with a carbine stock in VA.
Just a thought! It would still be a TC!
I think the law in VA is stupid also about ML handguns. Do they not think an Encore 209x50 pistol capable of handling 100 gr of blackpowder is not sufficient for the small Whitetails we have around here? At the same time the handgun regulations for general firearms season have a minimum power requirement of 350 ft-lbs of muzzle energy!

Hey Gary just wondering if you ever got a chance to fire that BP barrrel that you had made up a while ago? If so how did it work out?
Rich Jake

Rich,
I've been "derelict from duty" in that I've not done any further work w/ the ML barrel in question. I may upset a few folks in saying this, but BP shooting doesn't really "thrill" me that much--I just do it in order to have the opportunity for more time in the field deer hunting. Probably won't do anymore work w/ this barrel for a few more months. Thanks for asking! Gary T.

GRAY T --- HERE'S A WEB SITE YOU MIGHT LIKE TO LOOK AT. IT'S CALLED PRECISION RIFLE ( http://prbullet.com ). THEY MAKE CUSTOM MUZZLELOADER BULLETS. THEY GOT EVERYTHING FROM PLINKERS, CONICALS, TO SABOTS WITH POLYMER TIPPED SPITZER BULLETS. I JUST GOT A ENCORE FRAME AND I PLAN ON GETTING A M/L BARREL FOR IT BEFORE HUNTING SEASON. I HAVE NO PERSONAL EXPERANCE WITH THEIR PRODUCTS BUT,WHEN I GET MY BARREL I PLAN ON TRYING SOME. THE ONE I LIKE IS ONE THEY CALL THE " DEAD CENTER ". ANYWAY, I THINK IT'S WORTH A LOOK. THEY HAVE A LOT OF INFO ON THEIR SITE.