Rifle bying question.

[SebastianPL]

Hi to all.
I read this forum and it's a great help for my reloading proces. I thing here are some of the best reloaders I could imagine.
Recently I have found on my "PL, local market" an rifle from USA. Its Thompson center with interchangeable barrels in 308W an 22Hornet(single shot)
I believe some of you could tell something more about the rifle and the company. Please share some information about it. To help me take an decision.
Thanks.

 

[LHSmith]

Based on the stock design, barrel length, and calibers I would say it's a Hunter Rifle Model made from 1983 to 1992 by T/C in Rochester, NH. Presently owned by Smith and Wesson. Value from last years Blue Book +$400 (95%) to $300 ( 80%). No clue on what the extra barrels are worth but it adds greatly to the value as a set.
T/C became popular in the late "60's through 2000 with their Contender line of single shot pistols. The Hunter Rifle was their entry into the rifle market followed by the Encore (1998) and Compass ( 2016- a bolt action repeater).

 

[JEFFPPC]

I had one of these is .243. Not happy with the accuracy I bought a .222 barrel from Fox Ridge , still would not shoot near as accurate as a 14 in Contender in 6tcu or 7tcu. It went away with no regret.

 

[JohnHenry]

A little info for a new member(poorly done review but all I could find). Welcome!

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1033/6650/three-thompson-center-single-shot-rifles

http://www.encoreclassifieds.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/thompsoncenter_tcr_deluxe.pdf

 

[JSH]

It is one of the Aristocrat’s.
Not even close to a Contender, Encore or G2.
One of the more elegant break open designs, I would rank it with a Ruger #1.
Those blue book prices are way off from what I have seen selling in the last couple of years.

I don’t know if the TCA association is still a thing. There were folks in that organization that have forgotten more than I can tell you today. I ran around with several 20-30 years ago.
Ed’s contenders in Oklahoma could probably answer all of your questions.

As I mentioned the fit and finish on these was really good. They just never took off like other TC products.
I don’t recall for sure but it seems like each barrel needed to be fit to the specific frame/action for best results.
I think there were two maybe three different models.
Been a long time, I have slept since then and killed off a few more brain cells.

 

[k80skeet]

I had one of these is .243. Not happy with the accuracy I bought a .222 barrel from Fox Ridge , still would not shoot near as accurate as a 14 in Contender in 6tcu or 7tcu. It went away with no regret.

Those 6mmTCU's were tack drivers. I still have a couple in Super 14's that will shoot (5) shoot under 1/2" @ 100 yards with a number of different bullets & load a super fine piece of equipment. I would never part with either one. I bought them to hunt deer with in the eighties with my father. He is gone now but I still have the (2) T/C contenders in 6mmTCU's with the original 2X7 T/C scopes and a lot of great memories..

 

[JEFFPPC]

Those 6mmTCU's were tack drivers. I still have a couple in Super 14's that will shoot (5) shoot under 1/2" @ 100 yards with a number of different bullets & load a super fine piece of equipment. I would never part with either one. I bought them to hunt deer with in the eighties with my father. He is gone now but I still have the (2) T/C contenders in 6mmTCU's with the original 2X7 T/C scopes and a lot of great memories..

First time I took my 14 inch 6 TCU to the range I used a load from the Fox Ridge boss. He said all the 748 you can get in it and seat a 60 grain Sierra HP on top. I was with a shooting buddy who brought his spotting scope. That morning they had but up new clean target boards. First shot was dead center but high just a half inch in the target. Next shot we could not see,, evidently high off target . Same with the next several shots. I said that hole is getting fatter. Buddy laughed and said only one shot on target. We walked out. No shots off target, had about a .30 hole with 6 shots in it. I had 1 shell left, buddy shot it, Yep high off target but I still had my pretty group. It made a fine turkey gun. Scope was a 12x Leupold. Another friend and I both shot big gobblers with it the next year.

 

[rockhound78]

Single trigger so it would be a TCR '87. The TCR '83 has two triggers, one of which is a set trigger. Barrels run from $250 up. Some are common and some are really rare. The two barrels you have are not very common. Only the second 308 I know of and the 22 hornet is seldom found.

 

[snert]

Sebastion,

It looks to me to be a TCA.
Regardless of model, be advised that Thompson Center itself is out of business, having been bought by Smith and Wesson and subsequently left to die.
You might inquire with the Thompson Center collectors association (TCA). Google it and reach out to them for better info.