A couple of weeks ago I did something that I haven't done in over 15 years...I bought a rifle with a blued barrel and a gen-u-wine wood stock. Fancy that! For close to 20 years I've been a big proponent of the fiberglass composite stocks ( I simply detest the cheap injection molded Tupperware stocks) and stainless barrels for a working man's rifle, a rifle that will actually be used, and carried over hill and dale to be hunted with in all weather conditions! I've always loved the feel and warmth of a rifle with a lovely wood handle...but inclement weather and the occasional horse with an ill disposition has kept me using rifles with a fiberglass handles.
What rifle did I buy? I caved to the whimsical desire and justification that I needed another rifle...when it comes to rifles, I'm worse than any woman with her purses and shoes!!! When it's time to go hunting I open the safe pondering which toy will see the light of day to come out and play.
Hello, my name is Jerry, and I am a rifle whore! This is my story.....................................
After reading Ian's review of the Thompson Center Icon and the various articles in the shooting rags I was mildly interested in this new rifle. Then when I really got fondle one of these new rifles (you know rifles really are cheaper than women) and was able to run my hands over the Icon's graceful lines and curves I really started to take notice. The first Icon I touched was in .308 and it lasted a day on the dealer's shelf. I told my dealer to hold the next .308 model to come in. The next to arrive was a .243 and the wood on this model looked like something on a 30K shotgun. Then a .30 T/C came in and that looked even better, and I'm still holding out for a .308 model.
One day my dealer who I keep on speed dial, calls me to let me know he has a couple of Icons in .308 for me to look over, and I make my way over to the gunshop to audition one of these likely new candidates. After much discussion and perusal of these fine examples of wood and steel I made my selection. I married my new Icon with one of the new Nikon Monarchs in 2.5 X 10 X 42mm scopes, with a set of Leupold lever quick release rings (all I had at the time).
Once home the new Icon weighs out at 8.75 pounds on the scales. Certainly no short action lightweight! Then it's off to look under the hood at what makes the Icon tick. Simply back out the three Allen screws in the bottom metal. The fit and finish in the areas you can't see are superb!!! The metal to metal, and metal to wood fit and finish is excellent. The trigger came set at 4.25 pounds and I couldn't live with that. Push out two retaining pins (trust me this is the best way to adjust the trigger) with your fingers and viola the trigger housing drops into your hands.
Then I turn the trigger spring adjustment screw to its' lightest setting, then remove the RTV goop from the sear and overtravel screws to adjust them. After a series of adjustments the trigger breaks like a glass pipette at three pounds. I would have liked 2.5 pounds...just can't get there yet.
What do I like about this rifle? A WHOLE LOT of things! It's a rifle with new technology that's made in the U.S.A. For a production rifle this beauty has a lot going for it! The bolt stop/release is Sako style, the safety bolt lock system is a lot like a Sako 75, the fat body bolt reminds me of a Weatherby, the bolts' three lug 60 degree arc is very much Sako-esque. The bolt has a very good extractor. The aluminum bedding block/plate with the three locking recoil lugs provides for a stellar fit and lock-up between the barreled action, stock, and bottom metal eliminating a lot of problems with wood stock rifles. The muzzle has a target crown.
What do I not like about this rifle? Very little and much of this is personal preference and a couple of quirks in the rifles' design. The butter knife bolt handle looks good and gives the rifle a distinct look-at-me appeal and I'm different than my market brothers. It functions flawlessly...I just don't care for it. I will most likely order a round bolt knob from T/C when they are available.
The single stack magazine holds three rounds and works flawlessly. With this design you lose one round capacity versus a hinged floor-plate, perhaps a moot point.I would have preferred a hinged floor-plate or a detachable box magazine similar to the Sako 75 system. The ejector works perfectly everytime, but could be a wee bit stronger but this also could effect accuracy. At the bench with magazine inserted you cannot lay a single round on top of the magazine to fire a single round. It will not feed a single round in this fashion, again this is really a moot point and I knew about this design quirk before I bought the rifle. To fully charge the rifle with four rounds you can insert the magazine and let the bolt strip of the top round, or you can tilt the muzzle down and manually insert a round into the chamber and close the bolt, it is a little difficult but works. The smoothest method is to let the bolt strip the top round and then remove the magazine to add another round and re-insert.
How does it shoot? AWESOME!!! I first tried some $10.00 a box Federal 150 gr. soft points that printed 5 shot groups slightly less than one inch groups at 100 yds!!! Next I tried factory Winchester 150 gr. BST that printed a 5 shot group just under .500 on a cold breezy day! Yousa! I'm liking what I'm seeing!!! Once I get some dies in .308 it will be interesting to see the results! Not too bad for a competitively priced ($899.00 my cost) commercial production rifle.
I think Thompson Center has a real winner on their hands with the Icon! Would I recommend this rifle to a friend? Absolutely!!! This rifle is an absolute steal at the price I paid!!!!!!!!!!!! A stainless and wood model would look awesome! I'm sure there are other model variations in the planning.
What rifle did I buy? I caved to the whimsical desire and justification that I needed another rifle...when it comes to rifles, I'm worse than any woman with her purses and shoes!!! When it's time to go hunting I open the safe pondering which toy will see the light of day to come out and play.
Hello, my name is Jerry, and I am a rifle whore! This is my story.....................................
After reading Ian's review of the Thompson Center Icon and the various articles in the shooting rags I was mildly interested in this new rifle. Then when I really got fondle one of these new rifles (you know rifles really are cheaper than women) and was able to run my hands over the Icon's graceful lines and curves I really started to take notice. The first Icon I touched was in .308 and it lasted a day on the dealer's shelf. I told my dealer to hold the next .308 model to come in. The next to arrive was a .243 and the wood on this model looked like something on a 30K shotgun. Then a .30 T/C came in and that looked even better, and I'm still holding out for a .308 model.
One day my dealer who I keep on speed dial, calls me to let me know he has a couple of Icons in .308 for me to look over, and I make my way over to the gunshop to audition one of these likely new candidates. After much discussion and perusal of these fine examples of wood and steel I made my selection. I married my new Icon with one of the new Nikon Monarchs in 2.5 X 10 X 42mm scopes, with a set of Leupold lever quick release rings (all I had at the time).
Once home the new Icon weighs out at 8.75 pounds on the scales. Certainly no short action lightweight! Then it's off to look under the hood at what makes the Icon tick. Simply back out the three Allen screws in the bottom metal. The fit and finish in the areas you can't see are superb!!! The metal to metal, and metal to wood fit and finish is excellent. The trigger came set at 4.25 pounds and I couldn't live with that. Push out two retaining pins (trust me this is the best way to adjust the trigger) with your fingers and viola the trigger housing drops into your hands.
Then I turn the trigger spring adjustment screw to its' lightest setting, then remove the RTV goop from the sear and overtravel screws to adjust them. After a series of adjustments the trigger breaks like a glass pipette at three pounds. I would have liked 2.5 pounds...just can't get there yet.
What do I like about this rifle? A WHOLE LOT of things! It's a rifle with new technology that's made in the U.S.A. For a production rifle this beauty has a lot going for it! The bolt stop/release is Sako style, the safety bolt lock system is a lot like a Sako 75, the fat body bolt reminds me of a Weatherby, the bolts' three lug 60 degree arc is very much Sako-esque. The bolt has a very good extractor. The aluminum bedding block/plate with the three locking recoil lugs provides for a stellar fit and lock-up between the barreled action, stock, and bottom metal eliminating a lot of problems with wood stock rifles. The muzzle has a target crown.
What do I not like about this rifle? Very little and much of this is personal preference and a couple of quirks in the rifles' design. The butter knife bolt handle looks good and gives the rifle a distinct look-at-me appeal and I'm different than my market brothers. It functions flawlessly...I just don't care for it. I will most likely order a round bolt knob from T/C when they are available.
The single stack magazine holds three rounds and works flawlessly. With this design you lose one round capacity versus a hinged floor-plate, perhaps a moot point.I would have preferred a hinged floor-plate or a detachable box magazine similar to the Sako 75 system. The ejector works perfectly everytime, but could be a wee bit stronger but this also could effect accuracy. At the bench with magazine inserted you cannot lay a single round on top of the magazine to fire a single round. It will not feed a single round in this fashion, again this is really a moot point and I knew about this design quirk before I bought the rifle. To fully charge the rifle with four rounds you can insert the magazine and let the bolt strip of the top round, or you can tilt the muzzle down and manually insert a round into the chamber and close the bolt, it is a little difficult but works. The smoothest method is to let the bolt strip the top round and then remove the magazine to add another round and re-insert.
How does it shoot? AWESOME!!! I first tried some $10.00 a box Federal 150 gr. soft points that printed 5 shot groups slightly less than one inch groups at 100 yds!!! Next I tried factory Winchester 150 gr. BST that printed a 5 shot group just under .500 on a cold breezy day! Yousa! I'm liking what I'm seeing!!! Once I get some dies in .308 it will be interesting to see the results! Not too bad for a competitively priced ($899.00 my cost) commercial production rifle.
I think Thompson Center has a real winner on their hands with the Icon! Would I recommend this rifle to a friend? Absolutely!!! This rifle is an absolute steal at the price I paid!!!!!!!!!!!! A stainless and wood model would look awesome! I'm sure there are other model variations in the planning.
