T/C's original Classic .22 shot so well, competition shooters started asking for a factory-style Classic with a target-grade barrel. The resulting Benchmark .22 is a bit heavier than the Classic, but very accurate.

By Stan Trzoniec

Everyone deserves to own at least one accurate .22 rifle in his lifetime, a reliable gun that you can shoot all day without putting a big drain on your wallet.

One such gun is the Thompson/Center Classic Benchmark. T/C's newest .22 followed the Classic model, a svelte, lightweight and accurate semiauto that came onto the scene in 2000. Featuring a full-size American walnut stock and a 22-inch match-grade barrel, the rifle weighs just 5 1/2 pounds.

The Benchmark was introduced in 2003. At 6.8 pounds, it's heavier than its predecessor, but the extra weight is the price you pay for more accuracy. This target-barreled gun is at home at the range or in the squirrel woods, and except for the traditional receiver used on the Classic, it is a new design. Barrel length is just 18 inches, which adds rigidity and balance to the gun.

Getting a new rifle home is always an exciting experience, so after I unpacked the Benchmark from its box, I cleaned it prior to photography and subsequent shooting. The action separated from the stock with just two screws located fore and aft of the trigger guard and magazine well.

Inside, the gun is the ultimate in simplicity. All parts are either stamped or cast for longevity and ease of cleaning. The receiver is solid steel with modern styling and is dished out on its flanks. The operating lever is finished bright, as is the trigger, and the bolt follows suit with a slightly subdued finish. On the bolt face are traditional dual extractors and a firing pin at top center.

The action is a blowback design set up for .22 Long Rifle cartridges only. The rifle comes with a 10-round magazine that hangs below the floorplate and resembles the banana clip of a military weapon. Thanks to a "quick loader" that helps to compress the internal spring as you place each round into the magazine, loading is easy. An aftermarket five-round magazine that fits flush with the floorplate is available. To liberate either magazine from the gun, there is a convenient lever forward of the trigger. Pull the lever up and toward the receiver, and the magazine drops into your hand.

The trigger pull of my test gun averaged around 41/2 pounds with just a touch of slack as the sear broke. This really surprised me, because T/C Contenders and Encores are known for their crisp trigger pull, but it was not objectionable. The safety, mounted on the right side just under the rear scope base, is engaged when over the inlaid green dot. To fire the gun, simply push the safety forward until it clicks over the red dot.

The heavy 18-inch barrel has a target crown that threads into the receiver. All metal parts feature a matte finish. The underside of the receiver is flat from the tang to the barrel, which makes for a very stable shooting platform. Conversely, the floorplate and its stock screws run out to each edge of the receiver, allowing no flex in either part of the gun. At the barrel and receiver juncture, the barrel touches the stock for roughly an eighth of an inch before it is free-floated down the stock channel.

The satin-finish stock, made by Boyds' Gunstocks, has a 2-inch-wide forearm. Below the barrel channel are finger groves that extend almost the entire length of the forearm. At the end, the stock curves gracefully toward the barrel and is complimented by a blending of both the finger grooves and the wide forearm.

The stock has a Monte Carlo comb with a wide flare forward of this rise to accommodate the shooting hand with plenty of room. Swivel sling studs are included, but there's a plastic buttplate where I'd much rather see a rubber pad installed. A metal cap protects the end of the pistol grip. The stock has no checkering.

To top off the rig, I added Thompson/Center's Weaver-style bases, a pair of Burris rings and a Bushnell Elite 3200 scope, and then I was ready for business. I've installed compact scopes on other T/C .22s, but the 3-9x40mm scope worked out great on this full-size
imfire.

All of the Classic rifles I've tested have been consistent. They are accurate and very reliable with various brands of Long Rifle ammo, from standard target to high-velocity rounds. The Classic Benchmark is no exception. It can easily place 10 standard-velocity rounds within a quarter-inch circle at 50 yards. Using non-target ammo might open up the groups to 1/2 or 3/4 inch, but nothing larger. Federal and Remington target .22 Long Rifle ammo proved very accurate in the test gun.

The bottom line is the Benchmark is one sweet rifle capable of dishing out a lot of hunting fun year after year. It's reliable, enjoyable to shoot, carries a lifetime warranty and is made right here in the USA.

For more information, visit Thompson/Center Arms' website at www.tcarms.com or call (603) 332-2333.

--Stan Trzoniec