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Field Ethos
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By Jace Bauserman
I love my FFL dealer, and had to chuckle when he set the Taurus-branded long box on the counter and asked, “Is this a joke?”
He wasn’t being mean or rude. He’s a bank of gun knowledge and knows the Taurus reputation for building excellent, budget-friendly handguns for defense and recreational shooting.
We both smiled when I cracked open the box.
“That’s short,” the dealer said, looking at the 18-inch barrel on the 308 Win.-chambered Taurus Expedition. “I like that. It’s threaded so you can add a suppressor, and you can add a suppressor and not carry a tree trunk around the woods.”
After thanking my buddy for writing the review for me, I closed the box, shook his hand, and waited for his classic, “Let me know how she bucks,” line. I got it and was out the door.
At a glance, it was obvious Taurus didn’t craft an entry-level bolt-action rifle. The injection-molded polymer stock melds a competition-style build with more standard features. I refer to it as a hybrid stock. A flat bottom fore-end ensures stability when shooting from a bench with sandbags. I also prefer a flat-bottom for shooting from sticks, prone, and when an off-hand shot is needed. Flat-bottom stocks provide more surface area in the palm, and make no mistake, there are times to sling lead when an animal is running.
The gray stock with white flecks is a nice touch—not a full solid but not a camo option. The raised cheek portion will help ensure alignment with the optic. The receiver is drilled and tapped to accept Remington 700 short-action scope mounts. Many of these mounts are one-piece rails. Rails are fine and simplify optic mounting, but naturally raise the scope’s height, and when a rifle is fitted with a low-profile cheekpiece, eye-to-scope alignment is rarely correct, which will cause accuracy issues.
Taurus includes a standard sling swivel stud, a rounded Spartan Precision QD mount port, and a screw-mounted M-Lok accessory plate with a pair of slots. The recoil pad measures a tick over 1-inch thick and should prove adequate, especially since the Expedition is currently available in .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor.
Taurus went the right route, going with Remington’s tried-and-true Model 700 action. I also tip my hat to the receiver, barrel, and bolt being treated with Taurus’ protective matte black Diamond-Like Coating. The only metal on the rifle not treated with the coating is the firing pin.
I do like the aesthetic appeal of the cold-hammer forging and clean look of the matte finish barrel. The six-grove rifling is cut to a 308 Win-friendly 1:10 right-hand twist. All signs point to this bolt-action being a tack driver.
After bore sighting a Leupold VX-6HD 3-18×44, the first shot was on paper. What pleased me more, and I guess what I expected to a degree, was the lack of post-shot recoil. The Expedition chambered in 308 Winchester produced very little.
I wasn’t thrilled with the first cycle. The bolt was stiff and required a bit of force to cycle. I hoped this would improve.
Knowing I was on paper, I stood, snapped the gun to the shoulder, and fired a pair of offhand shots from 100 yards. I’d made no adjustments to the Leupold scope, and my pair of offhand shots hit within three inches of bench-fired shots. Cycling was cleaner, but still not smooth.
The Expedition shoulders quickly, and the stock’s shape and flat fore-end make it a solid offhand shooter. Being able to shoot offhand is a must for any spot-and-stalk hunter. The lack of recoil and excellent ergonomics make the rifle an ideal choice for a smaller-framed shooter.
It took three more shots off the bench to walk in my elevation and windage. I previously noted the trigger felt heavy. Funny thing, it didn’t seem nearly as heavy when I was shooting the rifle. I tested it again and got the same four-plus-pound reading, but shots were breaking clean. The cycling also improved, becoming quicker and cleaner.
Accuracy testing was conducted off a bench from 100 yards using an MTM Sled. Taurus brands the Expedition chambered in 308 Win as a sub-MOA accuracy rifle. I shot two five-shot groups to find out. I must admit, I was a bit skeptical. The short 18-inch barrel would inherently reduce velocity. I could have easily added a suppressor, but wanted to see what the short, maneuverable, and reasonably light bolt-action could do without adding length.
Over two days, I shot Federal and Norma ammo off a bench, standing, sitting, using BOG shooting sticks, and prone. I shot the rifle at paper and steel targets to 500 yards, and with each trigger pull, the Expedition proved its mettle. Testing both Federal Terminal Ascent 175-grain (0.86 inch) and Norma BondStrike (.94 inch) measured less than an inch.
Frankly, I figured Taurus would have expanded the Expedition’s caliber offerings by now. It’s a solid, well-built bolt-action rifle. The lack of recoil and size make it a solid choice for small-framed shooters, but it’s an excellent choice for any bolt-action shooter. My only major complaint is the bolt’s initial stickiness. It did get cleaner and smoother over time, but for a 60-degree bolt, it’s by no means a fast cycler.
I did some research and found Expedition rifles—both 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win for less than $800. That’s silly cheap. Top your Expedition with a top-end optic, using quality ammo, and fill tags this season.
Cost: $1,053.99.
Pros: A straight-shooting, budget-friendly bolt-action rifle that reduces recoil, is easy to carry, and is shootable from any body position.
Cons: The bolt-action can be a bear to work. It does get smoother over time, but the break-in period for the action is real.
The post A Worthy Expedition appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
I love my FFL dealer, and had to chuckle when he set the Taurus-branded long box on the counter and asked, “Is this a joke?”
He wasn’t being mean or rude. He’s a bank of gun knowledge and knows the Taurus reputation for building excellent, budget-friendly handguns for defense and recreational shooting.
We both smiled when I cracked open the box.
“That’s short,” the dealer said, looking at the 18-inch barrel on the 308 Win.-chambered Taurus Expedition. “I like that. It’s threaded so you can add a suppressor, and you can add a suppressor and not carry a tree trunk around the woods.”
After thanking my buddy for writing the review for me, I closed the box, shook his hand, and waited for his classic, “Let me know how she bucks,” line. I got it and was out the door.
Taurus Expedition Details
At a glance, it was obvious Taurus didn’t craft an entry-level bolt-action rifle. The injection-molded polymer stock melds a competition-style build with more standard features. I refer to it as a hybrid stock. A flat bottom fore-end ensures stability when shooting from a bench with sandbags. I also prefer a flat-bottom for shooting from sticks, prone, and when an off-hand shot is needed. Flat-bottom stocks provide more surface area in the palm, and make no mistake, there are times to sling lead when an animal is running.
The gray stock with white flecks is a nice touch—not a full solid but not a camo option. The raised cheek portion will help ensure alignment with the optic. The receiver is drilled and tapped to accept Remington 700 short-action scope mounts. Many of these mounts are one-piece rails. Rails are fine and simplify optic mounting, but naturally raise the scope’s height, and when a rifle is fitted with a low-profile cheekpiece, eye-to-scope alignment is rarely correct, which will cause accuracy issues.
Taurus includes a standard sling swivel stud, a rounded Spartan Precision QD mount port, and a screw-mounted M-Lok accessory plate with a pair of slots. The recoil pad measures a tick over 1-inch thick and should prove adequate, especially since the Expedition is currently available in .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor.
Taurus went the right route, going with Remington’s tried-and-true Model 700 action. I also tip my hat to the receiver, barrel, and bolt being treated with Taurus’ protective matte black Diamond-Like Coating. The only metal on the rifle not treated with the coating is the firing pin.
I do like the aesthetic appeal of the cold-hammer forging and clean look of the matte finish barrel. The six-grove rifling is cut to a 308 Win-friendly 1:10 right-hand twist. All signs point to this bolt-action being a tack driver.
Range Time
After bore sighting a Leupold VX-6HD 3-18×44, the first shot was on paper. What pleased me more, and I guess what I expected to a degree, was the lack of post-shot recoil. The Expedition chambered in 308 Winchester produced very little.
I wasn’t thrilled with the first cycle. The bolt was stiff and required a bit of force to cycle. I hoped this would improve.
Knowing I was on paper, I stood, snapped the gun to the shoulder, and fired a pair of offhand shots from 100 yards. I’d made no adjustments to the Leupold scope, and my pair of offhand shots hit within three inches of bench-fired shots. Cycling was cleaner, but still not smooth.
The Expedition shoulders quickly, and the stock’s shape and flat fore-end make it a solid offhand shooter. Being able to shoot offhand is a must for any spot-and-stalk hunter. The lack of recoil and excellent ergonomics make the rifle an ideal choice for a smaller-framed shooter.
It took three more shots off the bench to walk in my elevation and windage. I previously noted the trigger felt heavy. Funny thing, it didn’t seem nearly as heavy when I was shooting the rifle. I tested it again and got the same four-plus-pound reading, but shots were breaking clean. The cycling also improved, becoming quicker and cleaner.
Accuracy testing was conducted off a bench from 100 yards using an MTM Sled. Taurus brands the Expedition chambered in 308 Win as a sub-MOA accuracy rifle. I shot two five-shot groups to find out. I must admit, I was a bit skeptical. The short 18-inch barrel would inherently reduce velocity. I could have easily added a suppressor, but wanted to see what the short, maneuverable, and reasonably light bolt-action could do without adding length.
Over two days, I shot Federal and Norma ammo off a bench, standing, sitting, using BOG shooting sticks, and prone. I shot the rifle at paper and steel targets to 500 yards, and with each trigger pull, the Expedition proved its mettle. Testing both Federal Terminal Ascent 175-grain (0.86 inch) and Norma BondStrike (.94 inch) measured less than an inch.
Final Thoughts
Frankly, I figured Taurus would have expanded the Expedition’s caliber offerings by now. It’s a solid, well-built bolt-action rifle. The lack of recoil and size make it a solid choice for small-framed shooters, but it’s an excellent choice for any bolt-action shooter. My only major complaint is the bolt’s initial stickiness. It did get cleaner and smoother over time, but for a 60-degree bolt, it’s by no means a fast cycler.
I did some research and found Expedition rifles—both 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win for less than $800. That’s silly cheap. Top your Expedition with a top-end optic, using quality ammo, and fill tags this season.
Cost: $1,053.99.
Pros: A straight-shooting, budget-friendly bolt-action rifle that reduces recoil, is easy to carry, and is shootable from any body position.
Cons: The bolt-action can be a bear to work. It does get smoother over time, but the break-in period for the action is real.
The post A Worthy Expedition appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
