Story by Greg Rodriguez
-- Through tests, the author finds that T/C's new bolt gun is aptly named.
Photo: The Icon's solid receiver top is visible here. The rifle has an attractive high-grade walnut stock with cut checkering and distinctive, curved accents.
Thompson/Center's line of muzzleloaders, switchbarrel rifles and hunting handguns has made them an industry leader. Most companies would be content to own those market segments, but T/C's Greg Ritz felt a new bolt-action rifle would help grow his company's share of the firearms market to an unprecedented level.
Ritz tasked the T/C design crew with creating a rifle a cut above anything else on the market in looks and accuracy. T/C queried prominent custom rifle builders like George Gardner of GA Precision, as well as key players in shooting competitions and hunting circles for feedback on their idea of the perfect rifle. T/C's designers and engineers took that information and added a few twists of their own to come up with a slick action that would serve as the heart of the new gun.
T/C named the rifle the Icon. It was originally slated for a 2008 introduction, but Ritz saw a hole in the market when Winchester discontinued production of the Model 70. T/C ramped up its efforts as a result, and the first Icon rifles should be on the dealers' shelves by the time you read this.
The action is CNC-machined from bar stock and carefully finished. Two immediately apparent features are its solid-top design and integral Weaver-style rails for scope mounting. Both were suggested by competitive shooters as accuracy-enhancing features.
Accuracy fanatics have long touted solid-top actions for their increased stiffness. I'm not sure if the effect is truly noticeable on sporter-weight hunting rifles, but it sure can't hurt.
Photo: The Icon's detachable magazine locked up solidly. The release, just in front of the magazine, is visible here.
The Icon's three-round detachable magazine and integral scope base also came from the competition circuit. The integral base is a particularly desirable feature because it eliminates the chance of a loose mount and screws backing out. This rarely happens, but when it does, it usually goes unnoticed until it's too late. This type of base permits greater flexibility in scope mounting.
To further improve accuracy, T/C incorporated an aluminum bedding block. It is epoxied into the stock, and the flat-bottom action rides in the aluminum chassis. Three integral recoil lugs on the bottom of the action fit tightly into recesses in the bedding block. The result is a solid fit between the stock and the barreled action.
The Icon's jeweled three-lug bolt is machined from bar stock. The design provides a 60-degree bolt lift, which is marginally faster but highly desirable for the increased clearance it affords between the shooter's hand and the scope. One lug houses a small T-slot extractor, and a plunger-style ejector is housed in the bolt face.
Among the Icon's many notable features is its interchangeable bolt handle. A classic butter-knife handle is standard, but round and tactical handles are available. My test rifle came with a round knob, but replacing it is a snap with the supplied bolt tool. To disassemble the bolt, simply release the spring tension, push the shroud down, remove the bolt handle and take out the firing pin and spring from the bolt body. Replacing the bolt handle is as simple as inserting the chosen handle when you put it back together.
Some of the Icon's other signature features are its sleek, slotted bolt shroud and a clever bolt release. Located on the left side of the receiver, the release pivots easily with a push of the thumb to free the bolt.
The Icon's safety is a conventional two-position affair with a twist: a separate sliding bar that allows the user to lock the bolt down and the safety in the "on" position. The bar is small and unobtrusive; using it is optional.
Photo: The test rifle was accurate, with the best 100-yard group (bottom) measuring .265 inch, and the worst taping .734 inch.
T/C's barrels have an excellent reputation for accuracy, but Ritz felt he had to have the absolute best barrels to guarantee the sub-minute accuracy standard he envisioned. Once again, T/C turned to the competition community for their expertise.
T/C made some small but important steps, like 60-degree muzzle crowns and better-quality barrel reamers, but their switch to 5R rifling was probably the most significant change.
That type of rifling is very popular among benchrest shooters. It features five grooves, and the lands are angular rather than perpendicular to the bore. The purpose is to remove sharp edges from the rifling. This reduces the deformation of bullet jackets and the resultant copper fouling. A more accurate barrel that fouls less and cleans up easy is the result.
One of the Icon's most noticeable features is its stock, which features attractive, 20 lines-per-inch cut checkering with curved accents and walnut that T/C calls "select grade." I would call their description an understatement. It is a refreshing switch from the increasingly plainer stocks on hunting rifles today.
The first Icons are short-action rifles offered in .22-250 Rem, .243 Win and .308 Win. These are all fine rounds, but what better way to turn heads with a new rifle than to introduce a new cartridge to go with it?
The short-action .30 T/C is the result of a collaborative effort between Thompson/Center and Hornady. The round is based on .308 Win case, but is shorter and uses less powder. That doesn't sound so good until you understand the science that went into the new round.
Hornady's engineers knew the shorter case would not work well with heavy bullets, so they elected to load it with 150- and 165-grain SST Interlocks that perform well across a wide velocity range.
Once they settled on a bullet design, they experimented with powder primer combinations to come up with the ideal mix for each bullet weight. Their goal was to give the cartridge the perfect balance of burn rate, case volume and bore volume for a 24-inch .308 barrel. The Hornady team continued to experiment with powders and primers until they met those requirements, and then some. The 150 SST Interlock hits 3,000 fps, while the 165-grain load clocks 2,850 fps.
Lighter recoil is another advantage the .30 T/C has over the .308 with equal-weight bullets. Good performance in short barrels is yet another mark in favor of the .30 T/C.
The overall quality of our test rifle was incredible. Every part was precisely fit. The bolt was smooth, the magazine engaged with a minimum of effort, and the inletting was perfect. The result was a fine-looking rig that I hoped would shoot as good as it looked. I was equally anxious to test the new .30 T/C.
I selected Nikon's new 3-12x42 Monarch riflescope with side focus and BDC reticle for my testing. I really like this scope for its brightness and sharp resolution. I also felt the BDC reticle was a good fit for the .30 T/C. The rifle's Weaver-style slots made it easy for me to find the perfect eye relief when mounting the scope.
Ammunition was scarce, but I managed to scrounge up some 150-grain SST Interlocks. I had enough to zero the rifle and fire 10 three-shot groups with a few rounds to spare.
Shooting the Icon from the bench was a pleasure. Recoil was mild, and the crisp, light trigger made it easy to shoot well. The magazine was a bit of a problem, as it would not allow me to drop a cartridge on top and feed cartridges individually. However, it fed perfectly from the magazine, so I loaded three at a time in the magazine for the duration of my testing.
Firing new cartridges over a chronograph is always interesting. Some do well, but all too many fall well short of manufacturers' claimed velocities. I was pleasantly surprised to see the first .30 T/C cartridge cross the sky screens at 2,994 fps. The next two rounds clocked 3,001 fps and 2,988 fps, respectively. Those first three rounds formed a tight .38-inch cluster.
The rest of my test session went pretty much the same way. The smallest group measured just .265 inch, while the worst was .734 inch. The 10-group average was .506 inch, despite the fact I was shooting in a 20 mile-per-hour wind. The average velocity for those 30 rounds was 2,988 fps.
Both the new Icon rifle and the .30 T/C impressed me greatly. Still, nothing is perfect, and there are a few things I would change if anyone bothered to ask.
First, I wish the ejection port could be opened up a bit. I know the solid top is stiffer, but it's almost impossible to get my fingers in there. That wasn't necessary during my testing, but it could happen.
I would also prefer to see a hinged floorplate replace the detachable magazine. I've been in the field with several clients whose magazines have fallen out in the course of the day.
The Icon was also a bit on the heavy side. The action is fairly stout, but the stock was the major culprit. It is a little too thick in a few places. Some careful carving would improve the Icon's lines and reduce its overall weight. However, it seems that T/C is a step ahead of me, as their representative told me the production models will be lighter, courtesy of trimmer stock dimensions.
These minor criticisms aside, I feel that T/C hit a home run with the Icon. It is an attractive rifle with some innovative features and the nicest-looking wood stock on the market anywhere close to its sub-$900 price range. Combine those looks with excellent handling qualities and bench-rest-quality accuracy, and its easy to see why this rifle has generated so much excitement in the shooting industry
The .30 T/C is also a fine cartridge. As is my policy with all new cartridges, I'll refrain from predicting how well it will fare in the marketplace. However, when taken on its own merits, the new round has much to recommend it. It may not hold much appeal for those who cling steadfastly to their magnums, but smart shooters who can appreciate its unmatched efficiency will surely find the latest .30 to their liking.
I had to send the test gun back, but I ordered a new Icon in .30 T/C shortly thereafter. I hope to have it in time for deer season.
-- Greg Rodriguez
GunHunter Magazine | October 2007
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