WB
The .378 GNR Encore is about the ultimate rig
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 06:32

I have the FA mainly because I promised Baker I'd support him and buy one. I like the cartridge, it goes against convention a bit with the narrow and long powder column. Trendy is short and fat, catch as much on fire as fast as possible. I think, maybe even by accident, the long tube of .378 powder can be matched with a burn rate that well suits it's consumption in 10-12" of actual rifled tube. Provided the bullet is sufficient to give it some resistance to perform. Long to short, it just works. A really fine cast FNGC loading is 50 grs. of IMR4895 and it mimics a .375 Win. rifle. In the hunting handgun the 250-300 gr. bullet is a performance copy of the 9.3x62 "rifle" with a larger diameter and tougher bullet. Trajectory is such a skilled shooter could connect at 300 yds. if they truly needed.

Previous to the FA2008 I shot an Encore in .378 and last took a nice Whitetail at the Y-O Ranch using the 270 gr. Hornady Spire point ahead of a full case of IMR4064. I was sick as a dog but living an adventure so when my time came I rose up and took the animal with one shot at 100 yds. The guide was spotting through binoculars and elated "not tracking that one" at the shot. That was good that in a weak moment I used it to perform.

A good Reeder massaged Encore chassis with a 13+2" braked tapered or bull .378 tube is a real crowd pleaser. All you need is a DDT set of rings and a quality variable optic to handgun hunt anything anywhere. It will work when you need it to. Get clever and have a 14+2" tapered barrel done and it can legally serve as a carbine when you get old or desire to make a run across the border to the north.