Post by waterboy on Sept 22, 2010 23:42:11 GMT -5
I have gone to the SCI North American Handgun Hunter's shoot at the Y-O for the last few years and visited with Bob Baker each time. I've also watched the prototype of the FA 2008 be developed like some of you guys. I got one, but with the intention of hopping it up with a powerful rimmed ctg. (forgive me Bob I know you did all your homework on the rimless extraction system). I got a .375 Win. with the 15" barrel just in time for an AK Bear trip. I got found a good load using the Hornady 220 gr. FP at 1950 fps, perfect fot Black Bear. But.....the place was overrun with very agressive Grizzlies! The FA was a surgical tack driver but those GRIZZLIES! Even with my 5-shot .510 revolver on my chest at literally all times, on the Bear stands I usually wished for my .440 Magnum Single shot rather than the FA .375.
I also observed a couple items. I needed the sling swivels. Just too handy not to use. The barrel seemed one inch too long too, kept whacking it on stuff. I'm clumsy anyway.
My O'l Buddy Gary Reeder had already modified one of our other friend's FA's (Dr. Bill Firman - adorned it with African critters too). Off to GNR for a "big block" motor swap. I had Gary shorten the barrel 3" and add one of his muzzle brakes (14" total barrel). Since the .378 GNR ammo I usually shoot from CPE and Andy Rowe usually clocks lots (!) more than the .375 Win. stuff (260 gr. @ 2350 fps) recoil was a bit of a concern. It was a little snappy with the little .375 Win. A metal and wood SA grip on a gun that produces 3,000 ft. lbs muzzle energy?
I got it back the other day and shot it some. Perfect! The barrel reduction lost about 100 fps and the brake reduced recoil to a level only a bit more than the stocker .375 Win. when shot with factory Win. 250 gr. loads. Comes out to 48 ft. lbs recoil at 25 fps. Kinda flippy but not too bad to handle. Literally stacks bullets! THe 260 Gr. Nosler Accu-bonds are expanding very consistantly and nicely. So easy to shoot anyone could hit with it. I had mine personalized with a Brown Bear scene, two more bears and my name on the backstrap and scroll adornments. Hey It's mine after all.
I have not had too much luck with bi-pods on a handgun so I positioned the front swivel stud on the forend flat to allow a smooth bottom forend. It works great.
There is a Youtube clip of me shooting a round to check recoil in slow-mo if you want to hunt it up.
Just FYI!
I also observed a couple items. I needed the sling swivels. Just too handy not to use. The barrel seemed one inch too long too, kept whacking it on stuff. I'm clumsy anyway.
My O'l Buddy Gary Reeder had already modified one of our other friend's FA's (Dr. Bill Firman - adorned it with African critters too). Off to GNR for a "big block" motor swap. I had Gary shorten the barrel 3" and add one of his muzzle brakes (14" total barrel). Since the .378 GNR ammo I usually shoot from CPE and Andy Rowe usually clocks lots (!) more than the .375 Win. stuff (260 gr. @ 2350 fps) recoil was a bit of a concern. It was a little snappy with the little .375 Win. A metal and wood SA grip on a gun that produces 3,000 ft. lbs muzzle energy?
I got it back the other day and shot it some. Perfect! The barrel reduction lost about 100 fps and the brake reduced recoil to a level only a bit more than the stocker .375 Win. when shot with factory Win. 250 gr. loads. Comes out to 48 ft. lbs recoil at 25 fps. Kinda flippy but not too bad to handle. Literally stacks bullets! THe 260 Gr. Nosler Accu-bonds are expanding very consistantly and nicely. So easy to shoot anyone could hit with it. I had mine personalized with a Brown Bear scene, two more bears and my name on the backstrap and scroll adornments. Hey It's mine after all.
I have not had too much luck with bi-pods on a handgun so I positioned the front swivel stud on the forend flat to allow a smooth bottom forend. It works great.
There is a Youtube clip of me shooting a round to check recoil in slow-mo if you want to hunt it up.
Just FYI!
