Armed Bear, you're gonna love this (or, It Pays to Read the Manual)

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Have had the Icon Original for a couple weeks now and just recognized the "Independent Bolt Lock" feature. There is a separate switch, just in front of the safety, which is just what it says, a bolt lock which operates independently of the safety. With the safety on and bolt lock off, you can load and unload safely. With the bolt lock on, the bolt is locked for traveling in the field. And, to top it off, it's physically constructed in such a way that the bolt lock, if locked or on, is automatically disengaged by the safety lever when turning the safety lever from on to off. Can't believe I didn't notice this before.

I'm telling ya guys, T/C thought of everything here. The magazine is also purposefully made single stack to slightly sacrifice capacity ("only" 3+1), to ensure absolute maximum feed reliability. Great idea seeing as how 90% of the time you only need 1 shot, and 9.99% of the time you might need two. 4 is nice but superfluous.

Another thing I finally fully understood about the Ultra Wood (which is ONLY on the "original medium action" rifle), is actually THREE layers of walnut, sandwiching TWO layers of carbon fiber, which maximizes the strength & stiffness to weight ratio. S&K Industries designed this and has the patent pending.

So far I love this T/C Icon. Can't wait to get to the range to shoot my handloads in .243. Was gonna try the 90 Sierra Game King, but opted instead for the 90 Speer HotCor FBSP to try first. I want the T/C Icon in .260 Rem really really badly!

About the only stupid thing T/C did is (apparently) use a 1 in 12" twist on the .243 version of this rifle - why I have no idea.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Another thing on a related but tangential subject. Found out the real differences between the Icon and the Venture:

The Venture does not have, (a) the nice stock itself of the Original or Classic, though it's a bit more than just simple cheesy plastic - it has grippier rubbery plastic surfaces molded in in the grip and foreend, (b) the same bedding lugs/system - not sure exactly how they're different, and whether the Venture even has the bedding block at all or not - but there's a difference there, (c) the integral scope base [but it does come with scope bases standard], (d) jeweled bolt, (e) the same quality control in the barrel manuf., in terms of replacing the button rifling tooling as often as with the Icon, (f) the same bolt handle, and (g) the same accuracy promise - the Icons are *certified* sub-MOA [i.e. factory test fired]; whereas the Venture is simply *guaranteed* sub-MOA just based on their faith in the manufacturing process and the 5R rifling.

There may be other differences, but those were the ones specifically identified to me by the T/C rep.

 

[jpwilly]

Range report please! Oh, and did I miss the pictures?

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Know what - it's NOT dinged -yet, so I really *ought* to take some pictures soon; I will.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Bumpster - pics are coming soon. Any comments?

 

[Kernel]

Great idea seeing as how 90% of the time you only need 1 shot, and 9.99% of the time you might need two. 4 is nice but superfluous.

So true. Like when hunting with a party and you hear shots in the distance, the old saying: "One shot, one deer. Two shots, maybe one deer. Three shots, no deer."

My current rifle rig is a stainless T/C Contender carbine, gray laminate thumbhole stock, 23" heavy barrel, in 7-30 Waters. Single shot, of course.

 

[ArmedBear]

Not sure what this has to do with me - though I do insist on a bolt lock.

But you've made me want to look at an Icon, even more than before...

I saw the IBL in the T/C picture. I like the idea. In the heavy brush, you can take the gun off safe, but keep the bolt locked down.

The Venture didn't APPEAR to have this feature. I wonder if it does.

 

[Maverick223]

I never have been a fan of T/C...I think it was because I never liked the idea of the Encore series...but i am starting to like the new Icon and even the Venture. They seem to have made some great improvements and it looks to be a solid design. I may need to give one of these a try...I haven't seen one, but to be honest haven't really been looking either.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Allllllll-righty then!

You asked for it...crappy lighting, really crappy camera, and really crappy photographer, but the quality still shines through.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

last two...

 

[Maverick223]

Looked at one yesterday and the only flaw I could find in it is the ENORMOUS branding on the side of the receiver...everything else was great or as expected. I love the milled in scope mounts.

 

[ArmedBear]

the ENORMOUS branding on the side

 

[Maverick223]

LOL, is that you AB?

 

[ArmedBear]

No. Don't really "get" the branding thing. I mean, I don't care what somebody does, but insofar as I have anything to prove, body modification wouldn't prove it.

 

[Maverick223]

I feel the same way, but I would rather not "hang-out" with a rifle that is a big advertisement, but at least it is somewhat hard to see in the photos with a scope mounted. Overall, I think the rifle has a lot of great features that are enticing, and the fit and finish was very good (but slightly less appealing than a Winchester and Browning).