WB
That's how I got a FA2008 too, he's Gary's friend from
Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 09:10

way back. I've never met his dad but I can see Bob must be a lot like him. He is highly regarded. Bob had the prototype FA2008 at the Y-O, it was .375 Win. and later 6.5X55 Imp. A fellow shot a young Eland with the .375 and factory ammo. I ordered one to as did Bill Firman, both in .375 Win. knowing full well what we'd do later.

I got mine the week before an AK Black Bear hunt, bone stock with 15" barrel and I handloaded some 230 gr. Hornady JSP with H332 to around 1950 fps. The case was full up with powder. It shot well but was sort of muzzle whippy and the Single Action grip was not the easiest to hold onto with 5 lbs. of gun jumping around. In AK I saw my first wild Grizzly from about 20 ft. actually two of them. Smaller adolescent 3 yr. old's but still a 7' Bear. I decided I wanted more gun right then! I carried my Encore in .440 GNR Magnum from then on. Back home I had Gary shorten the barrel to 12" and fit a 2" muzzle brake on it. That also effectively shortened the overall barrel length by 1" as I whacked it on everything close in AK. I also had GNR re-chamber it to .378 GNR. THAT was enough gun. I shoot the 260 gr. Accubond BTSP or Hornady 270 gr. JSP at 2300-2250 fps respectively. I shot a Sika deer and Red Stag with it so far. Recoil is almost more than I need, but I can manage it. I'd not let just anyone pop it off without due warning. Bill Firman was humorously quiet about that detail on the .378 GNR FA, I quickly found out. The trigger guard is oddly tiny too but I have small hands anyway. It's not a bad gun and unique.