Thompson/Center Dimension Rifle

[Kachok]

Anybody seen this?
http://www.petersenshunting.com/2012/01/27/introducing-the-thompsoncenter-dimension-rifle/
Looks like TC is wanting to jump on the Savage bandwagon with a easy interchange barrel/caliber bolt action secured with a simple barrel nut. They take it a step further with interchangable bolts/magazines and even LOP spacers, nice idea, but the problem I have seen with interchangable TC barrels on their single shots is that for what they charge I can buy a new Marlin or Savage rifle in whatever caliber I want, I can only imgine what they will charge for the extra bolt and magazine as well.

 

[HARV6]

These were introduced at the shot show I believe. Butt ugly if you ask me. I would much rather have a nice looking rifle in an all around caliber (in the 7mm-08 to 30-06 area) and shoot different weight bullets.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think its ugly also, but would serve a purpose for some folks.

Most swap barrel rifle parts will cost about 1/2-2/3s what another rifle will cost, kinda the way it goes. Personally if transportation of multiple guns isnt a problem id rather have 3 guns with 3 scopes. Push come to shove if you have a failure of an action, scope or something else, you have 2 other complete rifles.

Where the swap barrel guns come into there own is for traveling, for storage its easier for me to store a whole gun the a barrel with attached scope. I LIKE the idea of having multiple barrels for one gun that i can fit into relatively small and benign looking box.

Personally id go with a savage short action DBM, small bolt face, and standard bolt face. The barrels would be in .223/5.56, 7mm-08, and .338 federal, or maybe some other rounds but those sound good. I havent decided on cantilever mounts or quality detach, but either should work. With that set you would only need to carry 2 headspace gauges.
Cost for that project would be well into the thousand plus dollar range, which is why ive never bothered to start it.

 

[Kachok]

Cost of a TC Encore barrel $222-$312 cost or a Savage Axis $249-$279. Cost of a new Savage 110 w/accutrigger on sale at Academy $299.95. And you can buy quality aftermarket barrels for the Savages for about $130-$140 and they are pretty easy to tweek with as well. If the accuracy or reliability were any better on the TC I could see it catching some traction, but you gatta get up pretty darn early in the morning to match Savage in either of those departments. Nice concept, but I just don't see it taking off.

 

[viking499]

Do they have a 6.5x55 barrel for it??

 

[Kachok]

They DO make a 6.5x55 in the Venture but they won't sell it in the States Saw a review for it in Europe, got pretty good ratings. Thats OK if I get another one it will be an attractive walnut, and mauser action, aka CZ

 

[280shooter]

I do like that 6.5x57 I even take a 7x 57.. but not in anything T/C has to offer..
Make mine a Tikka 3 lite...those new T/C are ugly, big time..

 

[Kachok]

I find it funny that Savage builds an ugly rifle for 40 years and it grows on us, TC releases something that is less attractive then their Icon and we all hate it before the first range report! Not knocking the Savages, I love all five of mine, their beauty is what they do downrange not on the rack The only attractive rifle I have ever owned that shot great is my Tikka, all the others have been cursed. My NIB Model 700 CDL that would not chamber a round, and my Winchester 70 that grouped worse then my 12ga.

 

[LoonWulf]

Lol Kachok. You do have a point...but that tc is REALY!!!! Ugly. Im sorry but it is.....

I think the newer, more blunt bolted savages are kinda homely also, tho i dearly love mine and would never tell her that. Ive honestly always liked the way 700s looked personaly. Another action i considered building a swap barrel rifle on. Much harder and more work then a savage tho.

 

[viking499]

Thats OK if I get another one it will be an attractive walnut, and mauser action, aka CZ

Already have one of those. They are nice.

 

[hardluk1]

Best buy on barrels is EABCO for T/C dimension barrels and a mag is 188.00 and bolts when cartidge does not have the samebase size is another 129.00 .

 

[Kachok]

Already have one of those. They are nice.

I do LOVE the way that CZ looks, classic Mauser mixed just enough with modern sporter. I really want one, but will have to wait until I get my new long range gun first, I bought my Savage 30-06 to do a barrel swap on, wanted to make a 6.5-06 or a 280AI but it shoots so darn good I hate to mess with it. First trip to the range it was shooting .75" with my 165SGK handloads I cannot imagine what it will do once I fine tune the loads, break in the barrel, and mabey get a halfway decent scope for it. Not bad for a 6.5lbs rifle, TC has got a lot of work to do if they want to compete with the Savages in the tweekable rifle department.

 

[hardluk1]

That does make screw'n with a good hunting rifle very hard.