The Barrett XM109 – The OSW

By

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December 12, 2024

The weapon’s development period between the Gulf War and the Global War on Terror isn’t discussed enough. It was an era of radical experiments and weapon design. As the era of peace ended after 9/11, a lot of these experiments faded away in favor of what troops on the ground needed immediately. Some of these experiments made it overseas, but most did not. The Barrett XM109 is one of those oft-forgotten experiments that got stuck in development hell.

There was an era of weapon design when bigger was better. I don’t just mean bullet size. In fact, the Army had the idea that the weapons of war didn’t just need to be bullets. The future would be grenades—namely, small grenades fired from various infantry weapons. Things like air burst and computer implementation were big. The most well-known of these weapons was the OICW.

The Barrett XM109 comes from that era of weapon development.

The Barrett XM109 – Why

Everyone knows Barrett. They are an unfathomably based company known for producing the first successful .50 BMG rifles. Ronnie Barrett is an absolute genius. The company now produces a variety of rifles, including some smaller caliber and extremely long-range options. A variety of their long-range rifles have been adopted by the military, including numerous .50 caliber rifles.

The Barrett XM109 was developed after the military adopted .50-caliber rifles. Barrett wanted to produce a sniper rifle that complimented the OICW and would fire 25x59mm grenades. The idea was to create an infantry, man-portable weapon that could engage light armored vehicles and shut them down.

Typical anti-armor weapons rely on rather large launchers and recoilless rifles. While they are man-portable, they do have some downsides. They have a range limited to 1,000 meters. When fired, they generate backblast, which means they can’t be used inside a building or near most of the cover. It’s also easy to locate and spot a guy firing a recoilless rifle. Also, you get one shot before you ditch a disposable tube, or you take the time to reload something like a Carl Gustav or SMAW.

An anti-armor sniper rifle allows the shooter to hide and engage an armored vehicle from up to 2,000 meters with ease, with a maximum range of 3,600 meters. The XM109 could also be used against entrenched positions to decimate numerous forms of cover and more. Plus, it was semi-automatic, which gives the shooter faster follow-up shots and magazine-fed reloading.

Breaking Down the Barrett XM109

Barrett didn’t produce an entirely new rifle. Rather, they produced an upper that could be mated to M82 rifles. The M82 rifles were already in military service and used for anti-material purposes. In theory, the user could swap uppers to convert a .50 cal M82 into an XM109 with its 25mm grenade. That’s handy for troops and simplifies logistics.

Like the M82, the system uses a short recoil operation to feed the massive cartridges reliably. The weapon featured a fairly short 17.6-inch barrel. The total weight was 33.2 pounds and was 46 inches long. It’s certainly a big weapon, and a heavy one, but could still be transported by a single troop, with one other helping carry ammo.

The AXM109 would use the BORS or Barrett Optical Ranging System. The XM7 wasn’t the first gun to include a computer in the optic. The BORS was a bit simpler than the current option. The BORS is a tool added to an optic. It mounts to the top of the optic and provides tons of data to the man holding the weapon.

This made it easy to account for temperature, barometric pressure, and range. The computer gave the shooter that information. The BORS system would be programmed to the XM109 round to allow for it to account for the cartridge’s likely unique ballistic profile.

The XM109 series came with a bipod, carry handle, Picatinny rail, and similar standard Barrett goodies. It also had a massive muzzle brake with hopes of reducing recoil.

The Problem

The XM109 suffered from a serious case of recoil. In fact, it had almost double the recoil of the M82 in .50 caliber. The term unbearable is used to describe it fairly frequently. Barrett produced 10 prototypes of the rifle, but by 2004, they pulled the guns to work on the recoil problem. As far as I can tell, they haven’t canceled the program, but they just kind of forgot about it.

It’s a neat idea, but it seems as if the idea behind grenades as projectiles has faded from the military market. Still, a grenade launching sniper rifle sounds rad.

Podavach AK/AR U-Loader Review

By

Tim Stetzer

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December 11, 2024

I hate loading magazines. I like to shoot, but hate loading. Although I appreciate full capacity magazines, I often would only load 10 rounds at a time just for convenience. That’s all changed since I picked up a Podavach U-Loader a few months back.

The Podavach U-Loader

The Podavach U-Loader came about back in 2015 as a tool to help Ukrainian troops fighting the first Russian invasion in 2014. The company founders, Alexey, Ivan, and Andriy went through a bunch of versions of the loader before settling on the one you see now. By 2016 the loaders were available in the US, and in 2017 they opened up a US warehouse.

The U-Loader is a pretty ingenious system. It looks simple, and it is, but it obviously took some tinkering to get it right. It consists of a tray like platform with a slot that takes either AR or AK mags. In front of that slot you can see the long arched feed chute for rounds, and a dump tray area. A separate pusher is provided which is used to load the rounds into the magazine.

The U-Loader is very nicely made from wood, with a variety of finishes available, including some fancier grades of wood. It’s fitted with cork bedding, and has 6 non slip rubber feet on the bottom to keep it place during use. The feed chute has quantity markers engraved in it so you know exactly how many rounds you have.

The U-Loader works with a pretty wide variety of rounds. It’ll feed 5.56×45, 7.62×39, 6.5 Grendel, .300 BLK, 5.45×39, .223, 204 Ruger, .224 Valkyrie, 25-45 Sharps, and 6.8 SPC. Basically, if the rounds fit in the channel, it will load them. Generally this means bottlenecked, spitzer type bullets. Straight wall rounds like the .350 Legend or similar do not work.

Loading Made Easy

Using the Podavach U-Loader is simple. First, insert whatever magazine you want to load into the slot on the left side of the loader. It will accept just about any AR/STANAG pattern magazine or AK magazine. Then dump the rounds you want to load into the the U-Loader top tray.

From there you slide the rounds into the feed chute bullet end up. The shape of the chute guides the rounds and orients them correctly. The quantity markers indicate when you’ve hit 10, 20 and 30 rounds, for the various calibers.

Once everything is lined up, you use the pusher block to simply push the rounds into the magazine. It takes longer to sort the rounds than it does to load the magazines. It’s literally a matter of seconds to fully load a 30 round magazine. It’s also way easier on the thumbs since you have the big loading block to grab hold of to insert the rounds rather than thumbing them in one round at a time.

Podavich has a good video that shows how easy it is to do.

Picking up My Own U-Loader

I picked up my U-Loader after a buddy suggested it to me. The loader has an MSRP starting at $89.95 and goes up from there depending on wood type and finish. I grabbed mine on sale earlier this year, though, and saved a bit off of that. Shipping is from Podavach’s US warehouse in Pennsylvania, so it got me in just a couple of days.

They do run occasional sales, so if you’re looking, it’s worth signing up for their e-mails. Even at full price, though, this is a tool that I wish I would have discovered years ago.

I used it through the end of summer and fall and have been amazed at how effortless it makes loading a mag. Mine has loaded 5.56 and .300 Blackout with Magpul 10 and 30 round mags, Amend2 20 and 30 round mags, as well as GI 20 and 30 round mags. I also used it with my 6.5 Grendel and 15 round Duramags.

I don’t shoot my AK a lot but I did try that as well and loading polymer and steel AK mags was just as easy as loading the AR mags.

A Must Have Tool?

After using the U-Loader the past few months I can’t believe I lived without out it all these years. Thumbing rounds in by hand is for chumps after using this thing. While I guess I can’t say it’s a “must” have, since you can obviously load mags other ways, it is the easiest and fastest loader that I’ve tried.

The full retail of $89.95 doesn’t sound cheap compared to some other AR or AK mag loaders on the market, but once you’ve used one you’ll realize that the time and effort you save makes it well worth it. It’s even better if you manage to grab one on sale.

About the only downside to it is the size. It isn’t something you’re really going to throw in your pack and take with you. It works best laying flat on the shooting bench or your work table at home, although you can use it in your lap as well. However, it works on the hood of my Jeep too, and the rubber feet protect the paint.

Podavach has a CZ Scorpion loader as well that I’ll probably grab when they come back in stock. I’d love to see one that worked on Colt SMG mags as well if anyone from Podavach is listening. If you’re like me and like to shoot, but hate spending the time loading mags, then it’s well worth checking out the U-Loader.

U-Loader Specs:

Supported Calibers: 5.56×45, 7.62×39, 6.5 Grendel, .300 BLK, 5.45×39, .223, 204 Ruger, .224 Valkyrie, 25-45 Sharps, and 6.8 SPC.
Capacity: Loads up to 30 rounds per session
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Dimensions: 19.3×7.9×1.6
Material: Hardwood, cork, rubber
MSRP: Starting at $89.95

For more information check out the Podavach website.

Tactical Barbell – Conditioning Overview

By

Travis Pike

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December 11, 2024

I’ve followed a variety of fitness plans and protocols but have never achieved the goals I wanted. First, because I suck at changing my diet. Second, because I never found a program that met the goals I had set in my mind. That was until I found Tactical Barbell Volume 2. (I now also own Volume 3.) In my mind, I wanted something functional, but when I looked for functional fitness, I quickly found out that functional wasn’t descriptive enough.

Tactical Barbell Provides Clarification

Tactical Barbell offered my definition of functional. Functional is useful for soldiers, Marines, Cops, EMTs, and other physical professionals. I wanted to be strong, but I also wanted to be able to run fast and for a long period of time. I wanted to be able to fight, shoot, and move fluidly. So, I started Tactical Barbell with that goal in mind. I have a long way to go, but I’m eight weeks closer now.

Stereotypes exist for a reason. The stereotype of dudes getting out of the military and immediately gaining weight is real. It turns out that yes, you can binge drink and eat pizza five times a week when you’re 21 years old and never gain a pound…as long as you exercise 30 hours a week and spend weeks in the field training. That’s the Marine Corps experience. Turns out you can’t do that when you get out of the Marine Corps—and I did.

Tactical Barbell – Conditioning

I researched the Tactical Barbell program before hitting the buy button. I knew nothing about it, what it was, or even where to start. When I read that the second volume offered a Building Blocks Program, I knew I had a place to start. Conditioning sounded like a great way for me to start the program. I’m fairly out of shape.

I haven’t completed eight weeks of Tactical Barbell; I merely finished the eight weeks of base building. It’s an eight-week program that took me 10 weeks. I hurt my back in an incident unrelated to working out, and Hurricane Helene also slowed me down by a week. Base building, or BB, sounds easy but proved to be mentally and physically taxing.

Tactical Barbell isn’t your typical follow-along program. It doesn’t say do these exercises this day. Instead, it’s more or less teaching you how to create a program based on your goals, equipment, and schedule. For someone like me, that sounds terrifying, but the program has suggestions and workouts you can use.

Workout Suggestions

For example, the book provides a Base-Building template for eight weeks that lists what you should do. The program uses lots of acronyms—things like SE, E, MS, HIC, etc. They each stand for a particular type of workout.

Each has guidelines, and things like E mean endurance. It doesn’t say you have to run, ruck, or swim; you can pick what you do. SE stands for strength endurance and its low-weight, high-rep resistance workouts.

Lance Cpl. Ronald Hinson from Heath Springs, South Carolina, competes in the push up challenge portion of the Shanghai Commanders’ Cup Nov. 14 at Camp Schwab. The meet tested the Marines in nine categories, ranging from fun events like softball and sumo wrestling to pull-up and push-up competitions. Every event was performed in a team setting further reinforcing camaraderie and cohesion. Hinson is a cyber-network operator with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen D. Himes/Released)

You can use the guidance to design your own cluster of exercises or one of the many suggested clusters. Ultimately, you can design your own or use a premade solution.

Putting In Work

Week one seems easy, but as you look at the template, it continually escalates, and by week four, you’re doing at least an hour of long-state cardio, like running three times a week. I did three types of cardio. Every week, I ran, hit a punching bag, and rucked. The running was my only real challenge, and I didn’t think I could do it for an hour.

In reality, I didn’t have to. Tactical Barbell wants you to put out as hard as you can, but if you need to walk, walk. I didn’t just need to walk because my fat ass couldn’t run that far, but because my heart rate needed to come down. I needed to keep it within certain parameters, and when it exceeded those parameters, I took a break.

By week three, I didn’t think I could do 50 reps of my SE or strength endurance cluster. Mine consisted of six exercises using just the barbell: overhead presses, squats, rows, bench presses, shrugs, and deadlifts. Doing 30 reps felt like it killed me. Doing 50? Impossible.

Yet I was wrong. By the time I got to the days I had to do three sets of 50, I powered right through it. It didn’t even feel that hard, or at least as hard as my mind made it. After five weeks of strength endurance, my weighted lifts in the Maximal Strength days were much easier.

I didn’t get nearly as tired, and I could rest less and push through. My endurance has steadily improved, and I’m running faster and faster every week.

End Results

Oh, and I lost ten pounds without adjusting my diet. I increased my protein intake but didn’t count calories. My musculature has improved noticeably in my chest and shoulders, and I have no injuries. My form has improved drastically in everything. Now, I’m starting the Operator program, which is three days of weight training, and I can program cardio, endurance, and rest days in between the strength days.

My end goal is to be stronger, faster, and more healthy. My diet has changed a ton, and I am getting used to less Reeses and more broccoli. I’ll report again in six weeks after my first Tactical Barbell Operator block is complete, but for now, I’m loving Tactical Barbell.

For more information, please visit TacticalBarbell.com.

Killer Instinct Burner 415

By

Reuben Bolieu

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December 10, 2024

GAT_killer_crossbow — The Killer Instinct Burner 415 Crossbow is a powerful and highly efficient hunting tool designed for both seasoned hunters and beginners.

Meet the Killer Instinct Burner 415, a powerful and highly efficient crossbow designed for both seasoned hunters and beginners. The 6-position AR-style buttstock shortens the crossbow’s overall length for smaller-frame hunters but extends comfortably to fit a variety of medium to taller shooters as well.

The Killer Instinct Burner 415 has a sleek and compact design, making it easy to handle, while the advanced technology packed into it enhances performance and accuracy.

Why a Crossbow

Using a crossbow for hunting offers some advantages. Crossbows are designed for stability, making them easier to aim, and the addition of optical scopes enhances precision at longer distances. They deliver higher draw weights and faster arrow speeds than a conventional bow, resulting in better penetration and stopping power for larger game.

Crossbows are also more accessible, allowing beginners and those with physical limitations to participate comfortably. Many models feature noise-reduction technology, minimizing the risk of spooking nearby game. Their versatility makes them suitable for hunting various species, while adjustable stocks ensure a customizable fit for different shooters.

The adjustable six-position AR-style buttstock shortens the crossbow’s length for smaller-frame hunters but also extends to fit medium to taller shooters comfortably.

Killer Instinct Burner 415 Benefits

Power and Speed: One of the standout features of the Burner 415 is its impressive speed, boasting a firing velocity of up to 415 feet per second. Its high kinetic energy translates to greater penetration and stopping power.

This rapid speed allows for quick and precise targeting, making it easier to take down game effectively. The crossbow also features a high-grade aluminum rail that improves durability and maintains stability during shots.

The lightweight design, comfortable grip, and maneuvering of the crossbow in various environments add to the overall user experience.

Accuracy and Control: The adjustable stock allows for a customized fit for different shooters, enhancing comfort and accuracy. The micro-lite aluminum barrel provides a lightweight yet durable construction for improved handling and stability.

Improved accuracy is achieved by using a quality optical scope, which offers clear sighting and aids in precision shooting—even over longer distances. The KillerTech adjustable trigger system provides a customizable shooting experience, allowing users to find the ideal pull weight that fits their shooting style.

Additional Features

The Burner 415 is compact and easily transported. It is also durable and built to withstand the rigors of outdoor use. Its versatile design makes it suitable for both hunting and target shooting.

Killer Instinct Burner 415 Crossbow Dead Silent Kit effectively reduces noise and vibration, lowering the chances of spooking game.

Quiet Operation: The integrated Dead Silent Kit reduces noise and vibration, minimizing the risk of spooking game.

The Burner 415 is a great option for enhancing your hunting experience with a dependable and powerful crossbow.

For more information, check out Killer Instinct.

SPECS

Speed	415 Feet Per Second
Kinetic Energy	141-FT-LB
Trigger	3.5-LB
Width	14.75″ Cocked//18.75″ Uncocked
Length	34.5″-37″
Weight	6.7-LB
Draw Wt	220-LB
Power Stroke	14.5″
MSRP	$399.99

Kahr Arms Introduces the New X9 Compact

By

Tim Stetzer

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December 10, 2024

Kahr Arms just introduced a new subcompact 9mm pistol, the Kahr X9. This new double stack, polymer frame pistol is chock full of features that are sure to please folks who carry concealed on a regular basis.

The Kahr X9

Kahr has listened to what its customers have been asking for and put its engineers to work to design a pistol that meets those needs. The X9 is a polymer frame 9mm with a double stack magazine. It has a 3.54-inch barrel and a blackened stainless slide with both front and rear serrations.

The black polymer fame has a deep inset backstrap to enhance the shooter’s grip and draw. The frame also has front and rear stippling as well as textured side panels. An accessory rail is provided on the dust cover to accept compact lasers or lights, like the Streamlight TLR-7X.

The Kahr X9 is optics-ready and will accept Holosun K footprint sights. It comes with steel White Bar-Dot combat sights. The frame and slide have minimal protrusions or sharp edges to make the X9 more comfortable for close-body carry. The pistol features a new lever-based take-down system and maintains Kahr’s popular double-action-only safe cam trigger system.

The X9 is just over 6 inches long, just under four and a half inches high, and only an inch wide. Weight is under 18 ounces. The X9 ships with a lockable hard case and two 10-round magazines. One flush fit mag, and one with an extended finger rest.

The MSRP is $549.00. If you’re in the market for a new CCW piece, the X9 has a lot to offer at a price that’s very competitive.

Kahr X9 Specifications:

Barrel	3.54-inch Stainless Steel Barrel
Overall Length	6.125 inches
Height	4.375 inches (with KX910)
Slide Width	1 inch
Weight	17.6 ounces (Unloaded)
Finish	Blackened Matte Stainless
Sights	White Bar-Dot Combat Sights
Optics Cut	Holosun® K Footprint
Magazines	One 10 Rd Stainless (KX910), One 10 Rd Stainless with Grip Extension (KX910-EXT)
Warranty	Limited Lifetime Warranty
MSRP	$549.00

For more information on the X9 or other Kahr products, check out their website at Kahr.com.

Severe Weather Preps – Getting Ready for Storms

By

Jim Cobb

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December 9, 2024

Growing up in the upper Midwest, severe weather preps were just a fact of life. We learned at an early age what to do when storms threatened, whether it was a bad thunderstorm in the summer or a blizzard in the winter.

The thing is, bad storms don’t typically pop up out of nowhere. If you pay attention to forecasts, you should have a heads up that something is on the way.

Here are some things we do when we know a storm is coming.

General Severe Weather Preps

One of the biggest hazards with severe weather is a power outage. So, a lot of our severe weather preps seem to center around mitigating that risk.

One of the first things we do is charge all of our devices. These include:

Cell phones
Tablets
Flashlights (many of them use USB rechargeable batteries)
Battery banks
Solar generator

This way, we can keep abreast of the news as well as communicate with others if the power goes out. Not to mention provide limited power for appliances and such. Are all of these absolutely critical to survival? Of course not, but they can help make life easier.

Doing laundry is also a good idea. This way, there’s less chance of running out of socks or undies. If the power goes out, I don’t want to have to wash all that stuff by hand.

During summer and fall, we try to stay on top of keeping the gutters and downspouts cleared, but I’ll usually grab the ladder and check them before the storm hits. We’ll also make a run through the yard and patio to make sure everything is secured. The last thing we want is to have something take flight and hit a window.

It’s a good habit to not let your vehicles dip below a half tank of gas, just as a general rule. If we have time to do so, we’ll usually fill up our vehicles ahead of a bad storm. We do this because a power outage isn’t likely to be limited to just our home. If the town loses power, then gas stations won’t be operating.

While we’re out and about, we might swing in to a store and pick up some extra snacks. We’re always pretty well stocked with food, but the good junk food never seems to last.

Winter-Specific Severe Weather Preps

Snow, ice, and cold weather present a few unique challenges that we prep for as well. Ahead of the first significant snowfall of the season, we’ll dig out the snowblower from the shed and start it up to make sure it’s working properly.

Snow shovels are put into position near the front door and garage door, along with buckets of salt to handle icy conditions. I also double-check to make sure snow brushes and ice scrapers are in each vehicle.

We have a standard gas furnace that heats our home, but we also have a small wood stove in the living room. If the storm looks like it might be particularly nasty, I’ll make sure we have plenty of firewood stacked in the garage, so I don’t have to dig it out from the snow.

Severe weather preps can go a long way toward making bad storms merely an inconvenience.

The Blunderbuss – The Pilgrim’s Blaster?

By

Travis Pike

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December 9, 2024

It’s fall, y’all. With Thanksgiving so close behind us, I thought it would be a great time to visit the blunderbuss. If you were to go into a search engine, type in pilgrim gun, and go to images, you’d see a catalog of cartoon pilgrims with exaggerated blunderbuss shotguns.

Somehow, the blunderbuss became the defacto pilgrim gun. The exaggerated bell-shaped muzzle and wood stock give the stereotypical cartoon pilgrim a recognizable gun. It’s the gun of Thanksgiving, if you will. Pilgrims and blunderbusses are so intertwined that the Pilgrims must have carried them and must have used them extensively…Right?

The Big Blunderbuss

The Blunderbuss is an early ancestor to the shotgun. They are a type of Dutch design that originated in the mid-17th century. The name blunder is derived from the Dutch word donderbus. Donderbus means thunder box. That’s an awesome name for a shotgun.

The Blunderbuss typically has a wide bell bore. This allows users to shove loads of shot down the barrel, including larger shot, known as buckshot. The blunderbuss is often much shorter than a musket and designed for close-range use. Barrels were as short as 11 inches, but they tended to be closer to 16 to 24 inches. In this era, muskets had barrels that were in excess of three feet.

These guns were typically used for military purposes. They were popular with ship boarding parties due to their short length and how, much like a shotgun, they were devastating close-range weapons. Mounted troops also used them. I’d imagine a spread of shot made it easier to hit an enemy while riding a horse.

They weren’t all that common with hunters. They tended to arm people who intended to fight with them. So, why did they get attached to the very pious Pilgrims?

The Blunderbuss and Pilgrims

Did the Pilgrims use a blunderbuss? Let’s make this short and sweet. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and the blunderbuss seemed to make its first concrete appearance in the mid-1600s. The gun originated in Germany or the Netherlands. The Pilgrims came from England. It seems highly unlikely the blunderbuss would have made its way to England and into the Pilgrim’s hands.

The Pilgrims didn’t have a blunderbuss, but you can thanks to Traditions.

Possible? Sure, but unlikely. In fact, historian Harold L. Peterson, who wrote Arms and Armor of the Pilgrims from 1620 to 1692, specifically states that the Pilgrims had no Blunderbuss weapons with them. If they had blunderbuss guns, they likely would not have needed them.

The land the Pilgrims landed in was wide open. It wasn’t the swampy south full of thickets and brush. Instead, it was an area better suited to the world of muskets and big projectiles. The blunderbuss was a tool for shooting larger projectiles, like buckshot, and was better used for defensive applications than hunting.

Why The Myth?

The closest thing I can figure out is that the Pilgrims brought various fowling pieces with them. Fowling pieces were also early shotguns that used much smaller shot to kill birds. Fowling pieces had extremely long barrels and were not fighting weapons by any metric.

The Old Colony Historical Society Museum in Massachusetts houses a fowling piece with a 73.5-inch barrel! The idea was that a longer barrel offered more range and a tighter spread. The Pilgrims fired these guns from standards and birds, which were important meat for the new settlers.

The Pilgrim’s relation to the blunderbuss is likely due to the larger bore fowling pieces. Somewhere, the two got confused, and someone associated a fowling piece with a blunderbuss, and it stuck.

Bear Creek Arsenal Announces the BC-15 Bolt Action AR Upper

By

Tim Stetzer

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December 8, 2024

Bear Creek Arsenal just announced a new AR upper on its social media feed and blog. That isn’t shocking in and of itself, but the style of upper is one that might surprise folks. The new upper is the BC-15 Bolt Action model, and it’s just what it sounds like.

The BC-15 Bolt Action

A lot of folks might be scratching their heads and wondering what a bolt action AR is good for. Being from Pennsylvania, a state where you can’t hunt with semi-automatics, I’ve actually looked for something like this on more than one occasion.

A bolt action upper like the BC-15 gives you the option to use your AR lower in situations where you may not be able to use a semi-auto rifle. It’s an option for folks behind enemy lines in ban states to take advantage of AR ergonomics and parts, too, with a state-compliant upper.

A lot of folks feel that bolt actions are inherently more accurate than semi-automatics. So, the BC-15 Bolt Action may appeal to that crowd as well. It’d also be great for use with a suppressor.

Bear Creek points out that the AR platform’s modularity allows you to easily add accessories like bipods, optics, your choice of grips, and rail covers. You can much more easily customize an AR than you can a traditional bolt action rifle.

Bear Creek has a video on the X and Instagram feed that shows the upper in action. It has an ultra-short 23-degree throw bolt. It looks fast to operate, and I initially thought it might even be a straight pull action. You can see a pretty massive muzzle brake on the gun in the video, but hopefully, they offer versions with just a threaded muzzle and thread protector as well.

Coming Soon

BCA will offer both bolt action style uppers and complete rifles. The drop isn’t until tomorrow (December 9th), so we don’t have full details yet. They did announce, though, that they’re going to start with the .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster, which should be popular in all of the states that have recently approved straight wall cartridges for hunting. They’ll expand to other hunting and precision calibers after that.

Personally, I like the idea of having options, and a bolt action upper that I can run a suppressor on for one of my existing AR lowers is kind of intriguing.

For more details, keep an eye on Bear Creek Arsenal’s social media pages or sign up for their newsletter on their website at Bearcreekarsenal.com.

ESEE Essentials Kit

By

Reuben Bolieu

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December 7, 2024

GAT_Essentials (1) — The Essentials Kit is a compact and multifunctional survival kit designed to provide you with the essential tools needed for diverse emergencies.

Mastering Emergency Preparedness with the ESEE Essentials Kit. Being prepared for emergencies isn’t just for extreme adventurers or survivalists; it’s necessary for anyone who wants to be ready for the unexpected. This is where the ESEE Essentials Kit shines.

The Essentials Kit is a compact, versatile, and highly functional survival kit designed to equip you with the necessary tools for various emergencies. This article dives into the stand-out features, benefits, and the specific audience that can make the most of this kit, highlighting the Churp Folding Knife.

Who Is the ESEE Essentials Kit For?

Ready to equip yourself with the ESEE Essentials Kit? Mastering emergency preparedness is essential to ensure you’re never caught off guard.

The ESEE Essentials Kit is designed to cater to a broad audience, including outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, campers, and adventurers who require reliable gear that can withstand various elements. It is also attractive to city residents who wish to be ready for urban emergencies, including natural disasters and unforeseen crises. Frequent travelers will find the kit beneficial, as it ensures they have essential tools for any situation that may arise during their journeys.

Additionally, the kit serves general preparedness advocates, individuals who prioritize being ready for any emergency and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having the right tools readily available.

The ESEE Essentials Kit is a powerful kit, featuring carefully selected tools and items in a durable mesh pouch in safety orange and black.

Key Features and Benefits

The ESEE Essentials Kit packs a punch with its range of carefully selected tools and items, all housed in a durable safety orange and black mesh pouch. Here’s a closer look at what makes this kit exceptional:

1. Churp Folding Knife

The Churp is an impressive tool featuring a sturdy blade made from high-quality steel that guarantees durability and exceptional cutting performance.

2. Potable Aqua Tablets

Water purification tablets are essential for ensuring that water is safe to drink in emergencies. They effectively eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens, making the water safe for consumption.

3. Suunto Compass

When you’re trekking through unfamiliar terrain, it’s crucial to have reliable navigation. The Suunto compass ensures you stay on the right path, whether exploring the great outdoors or finding your way in an urban environment.

4. Waterproof Matches and Fire Steel

Dependable Fire Starters: Both tools are designed to work in wet conditions, ensuring you can start a fire when needed. The UCO Stormproof Matches are windproof and waterproof. They ignite easily and burn for up to 15 seconds, even after being submerged in water.

The Ferro rod works with reliable tinder and functions well at any altitude, whether wet or cold. This tool takes some skill to master but is a lifesaver.

5. Emergency Duct Tape
Duct tape is a versatile repair tool. You can use it to patch up gear and provide temporary solutions for first aid. This multi-functional item is something you can’t overlook.

6. Emergency Water Bags

Water storage is convenient for carrying or storing water, a critical resource in survival scenarios. This capability is essential for ensuring access to water when it is most needed.

Signaling and Shelter

7. Rapid Rescue Whistle

The emergency signaling whistle is loud and clear, making it crucial for drawing attention during emergencies. It plays a vital role in aiding rescue efforts.

8. Cordage (30’)

The Kevlar cordage is perfect for constructing shelters. You can also use it to secure gear. Additionally, it is suitable for any other tasks requiring a sturdy and reliable cord.

The Kit is packaged with waterproof plastic and is neatly packed in a sturdy mesh pouch, featuring a vibrant safety orange and black color scheme.

9. Signaling Mirror
A signaling mirror is a crucial piece of gear for signaling for help or examining abrasions on your face. You can also use it to inspect hard-to-see areas of your body for ticks.

10. Rescue Blanket

Protection from the Elements is important. The Rescue Blanket offers wind protection and retains essential body heat. The mylar blanket can also be set up as a tarp to shield you from cold and adverse weather conditions. Finally, it serves as a signaling device that can assist you in case you become lost.

The Churp Folding Knife

The Folding Knife is a Randall’s Adventure &Training design made overseas to quality specs. It’s a compact, lightweight, and versatile everyday carry (EDC) knife. The design prioritizes comfort and ease of use, fitting perfectly in your hand to reduce fatigue during extended use.

The Churp has a 2.68-inch D2 blade, G-10 handle, weighs 2.18 ounces and measures 6.25 inches overall.

The Churp features a 2.68-inch D2 tool steel blade with a spear point design and a satin finish. The handle is made from durable G-10 material and is available in various colors. Weighing just 2.18 ounces, the knife has an overall length of 6.25 inches.

More than just a cutting tool, the ESEE Churp Folding Knife is a reliable companion capable of tackling various tasks. Call it a gentleman’s survival knife!

Conclusion

The ESEE Essentials Kit is a testament to thoughtful design and functionality, offering a comprehensive solution for emergency preparedness. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, urban dweller, traveler, or someone who values preparedness, this kit ensures you have the essential tools to navigate any situation.

With standout items like the ESEE Churp Folding Knife, potable aqua tablets, and a range of fire-starting tools, the ESEE Essentials Kit is an investment in safety, reliability, and peace of mind.

For More Information, please contact 5Col Survival Supply.

SPECS

Duct tape
Mylar blanket
Signal mirror
Cordage
Any Weather Paper Notebook
Compass
Waterproof matches
Fire steel and striker
Fibrous Tinder
Water purification tablets
ESEE Churp Linerlock Folding Knife
Whistle
Pencil
Assembled in the US with foreign and domestic components.
Bag Dimensions: 8 in. x 4.5 in.
Weight: 11 oz.
MSRP: $84.99

The Designated Shotgunner – The Drone Problem

By

Travis Pike

-

December 7, 2024

Is the designated shotgunner making a return to the infantry squad to solve the drone problem? As far as I can tell, the first serious force to use commercial UAVs as weapons was ISIS. ISIS used cheap Chinese-made drones to carry bombs to their enemy.

The ISIS efforts were crude, and we’ve seen refinement come in the Ukraine-Russian war. Both sides are using FPV drones to drop grenades and mortar rounds and act as suicide bombers. Iran has produced dedicated suicide drones that are explosive-packed and stacked.

I watch way too much combat footage from various wars, and the drone footage is horrid. It looks like a nightmare. It’s the new world of IEDs, but even worse because pilots control them and can follow you. It’s the lamest version of Terminator. This isn’t a threat that’s going anywhere anytime soon. So, what’s a military force to do?

Well, it’s time for shotguns to shine! It seems like every new war brings a new niche use case for the shotgun. From trenches to door-busting and now drone killing, the shotgun can be a workable option. I’ve said this before, and I’ve heard that the idea was crazy, but I think the world is proving me right.

The Designated Shotgunner in 2024

Benelli recently released a drone configuration of the M4. The Belgians adopted the Benelli M4 specifically for a designated shotgunner and drone control, and the French adopted the Benelli Supernova in both tactical and sporting configurations for drone warfare. Ukraine purchased several thousand bullpup shotguns from Hatsan, which are an interesting option. Russia has also been using Vepr shotguns to shoot down drones.

I’ve watched a ton of videos of Russians and Ukrainians shooting down drones. My favorite video is a pair of Ukrainian soldiers with what looks like a Winchester 1300 Defender shooting down an FPV drone. Shotguns can do the job. They can do the job and are a commercial, off-the-shelf option already in most military inventories.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Childs)

The shotgun is an infantry squad-friendly weapon for defeating drones until dedicated jammers and other high-tech measures become foolproof. The designated shotgunner is a simple way to solve a complex problem.

Killing Drones

Drones are fragile little things. It doesn’t take much to take one down. They use thin propellers, and a single birdshot pellet could damage a propeller and create control and direction issues for the pilot. It doesn’t take much to take one out of commission. Their main advantage is speed, quick directional changes, and a relatively small size.

Hitting a drone with any weapon is a challenge, but shotguns make it a little easier by throwing a net of shot at the target. Shotguns are the weapons used by bird hunters, and for the same reason, a designated shotgunner will use them. Shotguns being used for drones would likely benefit from either a heavy-duty birdshot or even a No. 4 buckshot.

Birdshot makes it easier to hit, but buckshot offers a better range. If the drone is carrying explosives, you want as much range as possible. I think some hefty experimenting is due and required before a decision can be made ultimately.

Which Shotgun?

This is the hard one. I do like the idea of a 3.5-inch chamber. That allows the gun to throw more shot per trigger pull. Bird hunters use the 3.5-inch chamber extensively to take birds, specifically big birds. I’d also want something semi-automatic. You need fast follow-up shots in case of a miss or multiple drones. Semi-auto shotguns also tend to have less recoil.

We also need a shotgun capable of withstanding combat conditions. I’m fairly partial to magazine-fed design because drones are cheap and plentiful. Magazine-fed shotguns have their challenges, but I think the quicker reloads and less training time required to teach a designated shotgunner are worth it.

In my mind, the Genesis 12 would be perfect, depending on how it performs in the hands of 18-year-old Marines in the world’s worst places. It would be perfect if the chamber could be extended to 3.5 inches. I’d also equip it with a red dot for instinctive target-focused shooting.

Obviously, this is entirely theoretical, and real-time testing would show what’s best. However, I think the shotgun will be kept out of military retirement for the time being. It seems to be the best weapon available for dealing with drones.

Magpul MOE 1911 Grips

By

Tim Stetzer

-

December 6, 2024

Magpul has certainly become a mainstay in when it comes to AR furniture, or really any gun that accepts AR grips and stocks. They also support a number of bolt action rifles, Ruger 10/22s, and various shotguns. I think one line of guns they service that doesn’t see a lot of attention is the venerable 1911. Magpul has that covered too with its line of MOE 1911 Grips.

MOE 1911 Grips

Magpul’s MOE line is known for offering good quality and features at a reasonable price point, and the 1911 MOE grips live up to that reputation. Magpul has two versions of its 1911 grips, a base set and a TSP version.

All MOE grips are made from a heavy-duty reinforced polymer, and have a diamond shaped cross section. This helps keep the grip from twisting in the hand, whether from recoil or adverse environmental conditions. The grips feature an aggressive magazine release cut out on the left grip panel. They have an anti-slip texture and will work with ambidextrous safeties.

So far, they are only available for full-sized 1911s with standard grip screw bushings.

The basic grip has a pebbled grip pattern and the TSP (Trapezoidal Surface Projections) version has a more aggressive texture for enhanced grip. The MOE grips are available in Black, FDE, Stealth Gray, or Olive Drab Green. The weight is 1.1 ounces and they’re only a quarter inch thick, so they aren’t adding much weight or bulk to your old slab side pistol. MSRP is a very reasonable $19.95 regardless of which grip you choose.

Grip in Hand

Since I hadn’t really seen much on Magpul’s 1911 grips, I added a set to a recent Magpul order. I picked up a standard set in Olive Drab Green. I don’t have a lot of 1911s—two original Remington Rand models that I got through the CMP, and an older Springfield Armory Mil-Spec 1911 that I got back in the early 90’s. The Springfield is in basic GI trim with a parkerized finish. I thought it was a good candidate for the MOE grips.

I swapped out my old wood grips with the MOE grips with no issues. It’s a grip swap, not anything too complicated. Still, it’s always good to see that the new grips drop into place and fit well, and the MOE 1911’s did. They fit snugly over the grip bushings and locked down with the Springfield Armory factory slot head screws. The grips mated up well to the frame with no gaps or overhang.

My first impressions of the MOE grips were very positive. They’re comfortable in hand and have a solid feel. I like the basic texture and didn’t feel the need for the more aggressive TSP version.

The grip cross-section gives plenty of purchase but isn’t too thick for me like I’ve seen with some rubber 1911 grips in the past. The magazine release cut out does make it easier to access the mag release button, although this is obviously set up for right-handed use.

The thinner grip profile works well for concealed carry, too. There isn’t any unnecessary bulk, and the material, while textured, doesn’t grab clothing like rubber grips can sometimes do. I don’t know how many folks are still packing a full-sized 1911 as their CCW piece, but the grips work well if you do.

Range work with the MOE 1911 grips didn’t present any surprises. The shape and texture helped with a positive grip, and the cutaway on the left grip panel helped access the mag release button for reloads. Basically, they’re just a simple but solid grip solution.

Wrap Up

If you’re looking for an update to an old 1911 or want something a little better than your current factory grips, the Magpul MOE 1911 Grips are worth a look. They’re a solid design with some nice features and are extremely affordable.

They aren’t fancy barbecue gun grips, but you do get some color options to pick from. Like the rest of Magpul’s MOE line, they offer practical functionality and solid construction at a great price.

For more information on the MOE 1911 grips or other Magpul products, check out their website at Magpul.com.

The Pelican Vault Five Pistol Case

By

Travis Pike

-

December 6, 2024

Pelican Case is the Kleenex of gear cases. They were the originator, and they’ve crafted a long legacy of success. They’ve been a favorite of a wide variety of people. They are everywhere in the military and amongst police forces. They are favorites for folks flying with guns and beyond. In fact, they are so eponymous that they are used far and wide. They carry cameras, sensitive materials, and basically anything expensive and requires protection. Pelican cases rule, and today, we are looking at the Pelican Vault five pistol case, also known as the V300PF5.

The Vault five pistol case is a medium-sized case with all the fancy features you expect from a Pelican case. The outside is constructed of crushproof, high-impact polymer. Inside, we get custom-cut foam.

Between the two, a waterproof and dustproof seal keeps the outside outside. We get big, super tough, oversized handles, large latches with push buttons, and an automatic purge valve. The case is lockable and capable of utilizing 5/16th diameter padlocks. It’s what we expect from a Pelican case inside and out. Speaking of inside.

Inside the Vault Five Pistol Case

When opened, the medium-density polyethylene closed-cell foam reveals itself. That’s a really fancy way to describe the hard internal foam. It’s not your typical squishy stuff. It’s a dense, hardened foam that seems easier to cut and tougher than most other foam alternatives. This is a five-pistol case, but when you first pop it open, there are only four slots.

The fifth slot is covered by foam. You can easily pluck the foam from the case and make a fifth spot. Alternatively, you can keep plucking and make a great big admin case for optics, lights, cleaning kits, ear pro, shot timers, and all that fun stuff. You can also pluck the foam out a block at a time to make room for spare magazines.

In total, the Vault can hold five pistols and 19 spare magazines! Nineteen mags! That’s nuts. Of course, those mag-sized slots can be used for a number of different accessories. Anything roughly the size and length of a double-stack duty magazine will fit in these slots.

The Pelican Vault five pistol case provides plenty of room for accessories and goodies. Each individual slot can be customized to fit various pistols. The individual slots have foam blocks that are removable, and this makes it easy to customize the slots for each handgun and it’s size.

I’ve fit an S&W Model 10 with a 4-inch barrel, an Arex Delta with a Steiner MPS, a subcompact pistol, a CZ P10C, and a Taurus TX22. Each gun fits without a problem. This wouldn’t be the case for a Desert Eagle, but for duty-sized to concealed carry-sized guns, the Vault is perfect.

Protect What’s Yours

With the Vault Five Pistol Case loaded with guns, I put it through the ringer. Over the last few months, it’s been my go-to case for traveling with guns. It’s been tossed in and out of trunks and truck beds. Brought to the range and put in the dirt or tucked under a table. It’s been in the sun and the rain. In fact, to give it a real test, I even locked it on my porch during Hurricane Helene. The thing was soaked with rain and hit with wind, and it’s as hurricane-proof as it gets! (I took the guns out for this experiment.)

To finish the testing, I rolled it down my porch stairs. I let it rotate at varying angles and flip on its sides, front, and back. I sprayed it with a hose directly to see how the waterproof seal held up, and boom, not a single drop entered the Pelican Vault. My guns didn’t move or seem to be abused or defeated. The case does what we all know Pelican cases to do—they protect.

The Pelican Vault five pistol case provides an excellent level of protection for your handguns and accessories. The slots fit modern accessories like lights and optics, as well as varying-sized guns. The case is extremely durable and capable. It’s perfect for traveling by car, plane, train, or hell, even a boat.

Like all Pelican cases, it stands up to the roughest abuse. Anything short of a blowtorch isn’t going to get to your guns and accessories.

For more information, please visit Pelican.com.

Nano II – Streamlight’s Newest Keychain Light

By

Jim Cobb

-

December 5, 2024

Streamlight just announced its newest light, the Nano II. It’s an ultra-compact LED keychain flashlight. Powered by a single AAAA alkaline battery, it fits easily on a keychain or zipper pull. This keeps it with you everywhere you go.

The Streamlight Nano II

The Nano II is 2.2 inches from end to end and just a bit more than a half-inch wide. It weighs just 0.6 ounces. In other words, it’s so small you might forget you have it, until you need it.

It provides 20 lumens and a beam distance of about 22 meters. This isn’t a spotlight by any means, but it’ll definitely be an asset in a power outage at the office or when you’re out shopping. It has a runtime of one hour. That doesn’t sound like much, but think about how long you actually have your light turned on when you’re using it. It’s typically more than a few minutes at best, right?

Why a Dedicated Flashlight?

While many people rely on the flashlight app on their phone, it’s nice to have an actual flashlight for a few reasons. For starters, how many times have you left the house and realized that you had forgotten to charge your phone? It’d be just my luck that I’d be in the middle of a big box store when the power goes out, and then see that my phone is down to about 8% battery.

Not to mention, a flashlight provides a more directional light source, which can be handy in many situations, such as inspecting a car engine.

“Having a high-performance, reliable flashlight that fits easily on a keychain offers law enforcement, tactical, military personnel, and outdoor enthusiasts a perfect light for a wide variety of uses,” said Michael F. Dineen, Streamlight’s Chief Revenue Officer. “It’s an ideal complement to our larger, task-oriented flashlights, while also useful for everyday tasks such as guiding your key into a lock at night, lighting your way in a dark parking lot, or when walking the dog after dark.”

The Nano II has a non-rotating snap hook for one-handed operation. It turns on/off via twisting the rotating head switch. It’s constructed of machined aircraft-grade aluminum and it has an anodized black finish. The white LED is shockproof and has a 50,000-hour lifetime.

A Compact Design

I love the compactness of the Nano II. I had one of the original Nano models for a while. It worked well enough, but it was so small it was a little awkward to use, especially for someone with large hands. The Nano II is a little bigger, and thus there’s more real estate for a good grip. Yet it’s still small enough to all but disappear in your pocket.

Perhaps the best part of the whole thing is the price. The Nano II retails for just $17.00. Of course, it also comes with Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

I’ve been a fan of Streamlight for quite a long time. I’ve owned several of their lights, from keychain size all the way up to spotlights. I haven’t had any issues with any of them. The Nano II is definitely worth grabbing when you see it. You should be able to find it soon on Amazon and elsewhere.

The TF24 From Montana Knife Company

By

Travis Pike

-

December 5, 2024

I’m betting there are a lot of big legacy knife companies that pay attention to the Montana Knife Company. They have slowly invaded the knife space and become a bit of a modern knife zeitgeist. Montana Knife Company is led by the youngest master bladesmith ever, Josh Smith, who designed the latest knife, the TF24. The knife companies currently sweating are the tactical knife companies because that’s the space that MKC has recently invaded.

The first tactical knife was the WarGoat, a small, self-defense blade designed for a fairly niche use case. The TF24 offers users a more generalized tactical knife. The WarGoat is for dealing with emergency hand-to-hand fights and creating distance. The TF24 is for just about everything you need a knife for.

Digging Into The TF24

The TF stands for Task Force, and 24 stands for the year the knife was produced. Easy enough to figure out. It tries hard to balance use, ergonomics, size, and weight. The blade is four and ⅛ inches long, and the knife’s overall length is nine and ⅛ inches. The knife weighs 5.73 ounces and has a thick .158 of an inch blade.

Offering a secure grip, the TF24 features textured and well-crafted G10 grip scales. The blade slightly overhangs the grip panels at the end of the handle, which allows the knife to break glass and be used as an impact tool.

MKC includes a polymer sheath with passive retention. The retention can be adjusted via a single screw much like many passive retention holsters. It comes with a Utiliclip pocket clip or a Bladeteck Tek-Lok or MOLLE-Lok attachment.

The TF24 In Hand

MKC made one hell of an ergonomic grip setup. It’s brilliant. The grip panels are big and broad and offer texturing in the right spots. The middle of the grips has a slight hollowness that allows your fingers to sit comfortably against the grip. Your whole hand can fit on the handle, and the slight curve at either end helps keep your hand there while working.

In practice, the grip is extremely comfortable. It doesn’t rub your hand, and the texturing is strategically placed to help avoid hotspots. I’ve been using the TF24 to slice open my normal allotment of boxes and cut those boxes into tiny little pieces. In chopping, cutting, and slicing, the TF24 glides through tens of feet of cardboard without creating a hotspot or discomfort.

They cut a bit of jimping into the back of the blade for the fine cuts, and it’s appreciated. The grip allows for a wide variety of grip types. Hammer, reverse, or a more fine-tuned grip that lets you choke up on the blade for those refined cuts.

The Blade

MKC uses Magnacut stainless steel for the blade. A literal knife steel nerd designed Magnacut and it has become one of the more famed premium-grade knife steels. The TF24 is tough as nails, holds an excellent edge, and has good corrosion resistance. It’s also fairly easy to sharpen. It’s easy to understand why MKC pivoted to Magnacut as of late.

The blade on this knife is extremely sharp and well-made. It glides through whatever I put in front of it. The MKC TF24 will cut through rope, thin metal, paper, and meat—be it steak, chicken, or two-legged vermin. The blade has a drop point, which is one of the most versatile options for a knife.

The knife has a nice belly for deep cuts and a long, straight portion for scraping-style cuts. The blade design comes off as versatile and easy to use for a wide variety of purposes. As much as we like to think of tactical knives as fighting tools, they are more utility tools than weapons. The TF24 can be used for a great many tasks, from chopping up rope to skinning deer.

It’s impressively capable, hot damn, is it thick. The TF24 is clearly meant to be an extremely durable knife designed to be a workhorse. MKC stated their reasoning for producing the knife was that it is supposed to be able to deploy anywhere, at any time, and handle anything. That’s a claim I think they’ll keep heartily.

The Rest of the Knife

The TF24 features a cerakoted blade to provide another level of corrosion resistance and reduce potential glare. It is available in a few color options, including cerakoted coyote OD green grip panels. The TF24 series has an MSRP of $425, which brings it well into the premium section of the knife world.

Like most of MKC’s knives, availability is tough. They are in high demand, and after using the TF24 for these past few weeks, it’s easy to see why.

For more information, please visit MontanaKnifeCompany.com.

The Taurus Expedition Rifle

By

P.E. Fitch

-

December 4, 2024

Taurus Expedition Bolt Action Rifle Hunting

Taurus launching a bolt-action hunting rifle in 2024 was something I did not expect to see, let alone shoot and review.

Awesome revolvers?

Sure.

I’ve had the privilege to both shoot and write some of these models, with my most recent work covering the Taurus 692 Executive Grade revolver. That Taurus launches different revolver and pistol models every calendar year is no surprise to anyone. They are, after all, primarily focused on handguns and revolvers in our North American market.

Close-up of the front right side of the Taurus Expedition Rifle’s receiver.

But a bolt-action hunting rifle? That certainly wasn’t what I was expecting to see on opening day of SHOT Show 2024—the Tuesday morning after everyone’s favorite crowd pleaser, SHOT Media Range Day, when I strolled over to the Taurus booth to pester Caleb.

But there it was, the Taurus Expedition Rifle. The first things that caught my eye were its distinctive granite-gray stock and its spiraled barrel.

Taurus Bolt Action Expedition Rifle Overview

The Taurus Expedition Rifle certainly predicates itself on modern universal bolt-action rifle design language, such as the use of AICS pattern detachable magazines or a Remington 700-derived action. However, this new rifle from Taurus is also not merely a generic product that simply checks off boxes, either.

The Expedition Rifle is also not the most expensive rifle on the rack, but it’s certainly not the cheapest either. All in all, it shows a considerable amount of effort on behalf of the Taurus team and their goal of fielding a practical hunting rifle with much to offer for value for its street-price of $800 (give-or-take).

Expedition rifles were originally launched with 18-inch barrels and a .308 Winchester chambering, and that’s what my rifle consists of. Alternatively, Taurus does offer a 20-inch version chambered for everyone’s favorite middlebore cartridge, the 6.5mm Creedmoor.

Receiver And Action

Much the same way that the tilting Browning delayed blowback mechanism is the lingua franca of modern semi-automatic handguns, the Remington 700 action is the same for the majority of bolt-action rifles built these days. It provides shooters with a straightforward push-feed action and a convenient thumb-accessible safety lever above the rifle’s wrist, behind the receiver.

This cosmopolitan configuration also places a handy latch on the left side to release the bolt from the receiver’s raceway. The top of the Expedition’s receiver is pre-drilled and tapped for 6/48 screws and accepts any short-action Remington-700 bases, which makes finding rings and installing scope bases on the Expedition easy.

The Expedition’s bolt is fluted and uses a tri-lug design. It also employs a pair of dual ejectors—something I’ve come to appreciate when cycling empty brass. Because the ejectors work in tandem, it doesn’t matter how swiftly or softly the shooter cycles the bolt. Spent casings will pop out with vigor regardless.

The bolt’s knob and stem are low-profile so as to not interfere with the shooter or their gear in the field. The bolt’s shroud also has a “rifle-cocked” indicator that protrudes when the action is ready to fire.

Trigger

The Taurus Expedition Rifle is outfitted with an adjustable single-stage trigger. From the factory, my rifle’s trigger breaks at an average of 2-lbs, 12-ounces—according to my electronic trigger-pull scale. Prior to breaking, the slack before the wall is virtually imperceptible, and it won’t be noticed in the field or on the range. The trigger is satisfactory as it arrived out of the box, and I didn’t feel the need to mess with it.

The Expedition’s Stock

The Expedition’s weatherproof synthetic stock, molded fully in-house by Taurus, is perhaps the most interesting feature about the entire rifle (despite the fact that I’m quite fond of its cold hammer-forged barrel). With the aim of keeping costs down, the Expedition’s stock is not some fancy monocoque affair with a rigid exoskeleton. But it also isn’t a generic molding either.

Even though this stock won’t win any beauty pageants, it is definitely feature-rich from butt to fore-end. Internally, it is aluminum pillar bedded and free-floats the action. To secure the barreled action onto the stock, the Expedition rifle uses T-27 Torx action screws. On my rifle, I can slip an index card all the way to the juncture between the barrel and receiver. Externally, the Expedition’s granite-colored stock has very mild pebbling strewn about.

Beginning from rear to front, Expedition stocks include a generous soft rubber recoil pad whose dampening effects are welcomed. The butt itself doesn’t have the “traditional triangular shape” with that long length of pull, long curving wrist, and long comb. Instead, the butt takes on the contemporary profile seen on more “precision-oriented” rifles. So, the Expedition’s butt is shorter, and its wrist is more vertical with a wider palm swell.

This “newer” lends itself better when taking shots from a slew of different positions, something that is handy in the field, no doubt. To facilitate shooting with a riflescope, the Expedition’s stock incorporates an elevated comb that lends itself to pairing up perfectly with most medium-height scope rings. Finally, the bottom portion of the butt ahead of the toe is squared-off to better ride a rear-bag while shooting; a single sling-swivel stud can also be found here.

The Expedition Fore-End

The Expedition’s fore-end can be likened to a Swiss Army knife because it serves hunters in many different ways. The portion ahead of the receiver is pared down in order to fit with gripping-style tripods or gun saddles. Furthermore, the bottom part of the fore-end includes two M-LOK slots, a QD slot for Spartan Precision bipods, and the traditional front sling-swivel stud.

In short, the Expedition’s stock is designed to facilitate all popular hunting styles, from blinds and stands to using the natural scenery while taking the shot.

To Be Continued In Part 2