Thompson Center TCR 83/87

[ReedG]

Tell me everything I need to know about the TCR before I buy one. Got my eye on one and really like the look and feel of it.

[PaulS]

ReedG,
I don't know everything about the TCR. I have only had one experience with the weapon and it was a bad one but turned out good in the end. The weapon my brother bought was a TCR in 6mm TCU. Nice looking weapon, but would continuously pierce primers with pieces of primer getting lodged in the firing pin cavity which would lock the action. It was sent back to Thompson twice before my brother decided the caliber was wrong for this weapon. We wildcatted a round based on the 30/30 and all of the problems disappeared.

We might have been trying to push the pressure limits at first but the last problems we had were with starting loads as recommended from Thompson. It is my opinion that the firing pin and it's hole are too large for the small primers in conjunction with high pressure rounds.

Our wildcat - 6mm/30-30 turned out to be an accurate, efficient, problem free combination in that rifle.

Thompson did their best to solve the problems and I still do business with them. They did drop the TCR from their lineup but I don't know whether they had any other problems with small, high pressure cartridges. If you have a rimmed cartridge that uses large primers it should work flawlessly.

PaulS

[Graycg]

I love them, sometimes they bug me though, but I have 2 TCR 87 hunter frames and a 12 guage smoothbore slug barrel, 22 hornet and 7mm Mag 23 inch barrels, 7mm-08, 22-250, 32-40 26 inch medium barrels.  
    I have had to return one frame to the factory, but after about 15,000 rounds and almost 20 years, I guess I can't complain too much, the firing pin fractured and damaged the  spring.  T/C fixed it in two weeks with no cost to me other than shipping.
   The very first barrel that I got was a 22-250 medium barrel and I had constant pressure problems with it, showed high pressure with factory ammo and most handloads and would group into 8 inches or more.  I sent it back to them and they sent me a new one and it has worked great ever since.  The original barrel had something very wrong with the throat.
   I will say though, that between the 22 hornet and 7mm-08 are deadly accurate sub moa guns, the 32-40 is my challange...  Just when I think I have a cast load for it...  well anyway.  

   I wish the 12 gauge was rifled, maybe someday I can have a gunsmith fit a remchoke rifled tube for me, kicks like a mule, but plenty of accuracy with sabot slugs to 80-85 yards.
   
   I have had great joy with my TCRs since 87 and if you don't buy the one you are looking at....tell me where it is!!

my opinion only,
 Graycg