Author Topic: T/C venture, whos got one and what say you ?? (Read 3805 times)

fox fire · « **on:** October 28, 2010, 04:33:20 PM »

I almost put some cash down on one today but thought it would be a good idea to see what ya'll had to say first.

Just how accurate are they (pics would be great) and how picky are they about different types/brands of ammo they will shoot ??

Thanx in advance guys.

tlyne · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2010, 06:43:47 PM »

I have two Icons with the 5R rifling. Both are 1/2 moa at a 100 yards. The venture has that 5R rifling. It should be very accurate.
Thompson/Center introduces the New T/C Venture, the most value-packed bolt action rifle available on the market today. Designed to deliver top end quality and accuracy at an entry level price, the Thompson/Center Venture offers a 5R rifled match grade barrel and match grade crown, adjustable precision trigger and a classic style composite stock that puts it in a class all its own. A rugged, reliable tool for the outdoorsman, the T/C Venture features T/C’s renowned innovation, craftsmanship and cutting edge barrel technology. Guaranteed to deliver Minute of angle accuracy... 1 inch groups at 100 yards.

You can not beat it. You have a life time guaranteed on all TC products. You else will gives that to you?

togojeff · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2010, 07:23:26 PM »

I have a venture in .243.
One inch groups out of the box using Federal Power Shok 80 gr ammo
Trigers breaks cleanly at 3.5 lbs. Very little if any creep.
What's not to like?

deerandduck · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2010, 03:42:34 AM »

I've not 2 ventures, a 270 and a 308. The 270 likes factory rem 130gr stuff, shooting it into about 1" at 100 yds. My handloads for the 270 are regularily getting 0.5-0.6" groups with 130 gr sierra SBTs. Trigger is pretty nice, with some creep but it breaks good.
On the 308, haven't really had it long, so not much experience yet. I did find a load with 150 Nos BT and 44.5 varget that it likes. A five shot group into a 0.6" group. Still working with this rifle, as it has only about 20 rounds down the tube. Will probably hunt with the 150 BT load this season.
Overall, I really like the Ventures, but the stocks are taking me a little while to get used to, mainly the pistol grip. I think they are the best "out-of-the-box" gun out there. Reasonably priced and now with a $50 rebate. No I don't work for them, but wished I did.
Best of luck,
Deerandduck

fox fire · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2010, 05:17:26 PM »

I made a stop at the gun store today to take another look, they have a .243, 30-06, .204 in blue finish, and sevral in stainless and a .204 and a .22-250 in camo with a fluted barrel, if they had a .243 in the fluted/camo out fit it would be a done deal, I guess they could get one but I'm kinda up in the air overthe caliber I want, already have a .243, dont think I can use a.204 or a .22-250, mite be the 06 that makes the cut.

Thanx for the input guys.

Dezynco · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2010, 03:37:36 AM »

Hard to beat a good old 30-06!

wareagleguy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2010, 12:57:32 PM »

I got one of the full camo ventures with the fluted barrel. It is in 308. I can say on my first outing I am unhappy but it is only my first day. I can say that my Venture in 308 will not shoot Winchester 150gr soft points with a crap. On a good day maybe 2" but it is VERY early and hope to start developing a load after a little more break in.

togojeff · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2010, 07:08:04 PM »

S

Quote from: wareagleguy on October 30, 2010, 12:57:32 PM

I got one of the full camo ventures with the fluted barrel. It is in 308. I can say on my first outing I am unhappy but it is only my first day. I can say that my Venture in 308 will not shoot Winchester 150gr soft points with a crap. On a good day maybe 2" but it is VERY early and hope to start developing a load after a little more break in.

Some rifles don't like certain bullets.
Try a different weight or load, I'm sure it won't be too hard
to find something it will shoot well.

SeaRun1 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2010, 07:13:49 PM »

I just recently purchased a camo Venture in .22-250. I should have the rings hopefully soon to pair up with a Nikon Coyote Special scope. I plan on getting to the range soon thereafter and will give you an accuracy report. There will be a break in period at first but I suspect I will have a pretty good shooter in a few weeks. The camoed rifle and scope sure look good to me.

SeaRun1

wareagleguy · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2010, 05:49:00 AM »

I know what you guys are saying and I do think I will find a load that will do better. Only thing is I have several MOA rifles because that is the only ones I will keep and the one thing I can say about all of them is regardless of what factory rounds I try it will shoot all the rounds fairly well. I can't not think of a single one that would shoot 2" + groups with any factory round.

I will stay at it and report back what I find on this rifle. One thing is the dealer called me last night to find out how the rifle was shooting. I told him my results and he let me know that he would handle anything I needed to do with TC. He said I would have a MOA rifle and TC will make it right. A great dealer if you ask me.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2010, 10:16:25 AM »

Day 2 at the range

I worked on the trigger all night and got to around 2-2 1/2 pounds. Sorry, but 3.5 to 5 pounds is just not enough adjustment for me. I know many say that heavy triggers are to keep lawyers happy but how can Sako make such a wonderful adjustable trigger and no one else can. Remington has got a little better but still needs work.

Tried 168 Berger with IMR 4064 and it was terrible at almost 3 inches. Went back to the factory Winchester just to see if the trigger work help with the groups and it did help. I am, however, at about 1.5 inches. I have several different bullets that I am going to load tonight.

Still not real happy about this rifle.

Day 2 , session 2
I reloaded too different rounds one using Sierra 150 and Sierra 168. I was able to repeat the same grouping of around 2 inches.

All of the is starting to look much like all my other experiences with TC rifles. I thought I would give TC one more chance and it is really not looking good. I starting to feel this gun will never be a 1 MOA @ 100 yard gun.

Ron/Pa. · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2010, 04:02:26 PM »

My Son just bought a Venture in .243. Slapped an old Bushnell scope on it and it will shoot the guaranteed MOA . We used the cheapo Federal Power Shoks and the Wincester Power Points. Both shot the same. Really like the Rifle, especially the grips.

fox fire · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2010, 02:44:09 PM »

At least its more posative remarks than negative, I guess you can get a dud in any brand.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2010, 12:20:47 PM »

Day 3 at the range

Today was my first good day. The wind was tough but I still managed two 1" 3 shot groups. I was able to do this with Hornaday Custom 165gr BTSP. I think with more break in I could live with this.

togojeff · « **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2010, 02:56:07 PM »

1 inch on a windy day ain't so bad.

First day at the range using handloads in my .243 Venture-.407":

This was only the second of 2 loads I tried. First load shot .950"

65 grain V-max bullets over a charge of IMR 3031.

I'm thinking this will be a good coyote recipe.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2010, 04:37:14 PM »

If I got anything like that on the first day I would have been dancing. My first day I would been pressed to keep thee shots in the big black square!

togojeff · « **Reply #16 on:** November 04, 2010, 08:42:06 PM »

Quote from: wareagleguy on November 04, 2010, 04:37:14 PM

If I got anything like that on the first day I would have been dancing. My first day I would been pressed to keep thee shots in the big black square!

If I could dance I would have

I'm going through the same thing as you with a CZ 550FS in .308 Win.
Thing is my best group is only 2 inches, but I've only tried Super X factory
150 ammo so far. I hope to get down to 1 inch with my handloads. Cheers

togojeff · « **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2010, 04:36:41 PM »

The rifle has now proven itself. Called this guy in this evening and took him cleanly from
180 yds.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 08, 2010, 11:16:37 AM »

Day 4 at the range.
Still holding with the 1 inch mark and not able to get any better with the Hornady 165gr. I ordered the same bullets and hope to find a load with these that the rifle likes. With a little more trigger work and a little tighter groups and it may be a keeper.

JimFromTN · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2010, 10:28:52 AM »

Quote from: wareagleguy on November 08, 2010, 11:16:37 AM

Day 4 at the range.
Still holding with the 1 inch mark and not able to get any better with the Hornady 165gr. I ordered the same bullets and hope to find a load with these that the rifle likes. With a little more trigger work and a little tighter groups and it may be a keeper.

I would try a heavier bullet, like maybe even a 180gr, and play around with the amount of powder used. The rate of twist on those is 1:10 which the optimal bullet weight is 170 to 220 grains. I don't know why they would not go with a 1:12 twist rate on those seeing as they are considered a varmint rifle. Remington uses a 1:10 barrel on thier standard 308's but go 1:12 on their tactical and varmint 308's.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2010, 05:08:47 PM »

Well it is gone. Friend offered a Tikka Whitetail Hunter in 25-06 and $100 boot so I jumped.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2010, 04:40:30 PM »

Just to add about the Tikka I just traded my Venture. The tikka is shooting one ragged hole at 100 yards. THAT IS WITH 5 SHOOTS!!!!

encore3006 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:04:42 PM »

fox fire,

I purchased a new 270 Win T/C Venture from Sportsmen's Warehouse on Black Friday. Using the Hodgdon Reloading Manual, I selected the powder for 8 different bullets and reloaded with the starting load plus 1.0 gr. Winchester brass and LR primer. I did not break the barrel in. I cleaned it thoroughly. Went to the range on Thursday and Friday (today). I had reloaded 5-rounds of each bullet weight from 90 gr. to 150 gr. I checked the scope with 2-rounds of the 90 gr. bullet then fired 3-rounds of the 90 gr. bullet and 5-rounds of the heavier bullets at 100 yards. I cleaned the barrel between the 20-round shots.

See attached photo (as you requested) and judge for yourself. The red circles are 1" diameter. The one hole for the 140 gr. bullet ID'd as 454 was a shot taken just a split second after the guy next to me shot his 454 Casull. (Updated 12/11/10 - in hindsight, I wonder if the single stray hole for the 130 and 150 gr. bullets is my response to the 454 Casull. More shooting to verify!) Trust me, other than 3-shots of the 90 gr. bullet, the rest were 5-shots each.

Needless to say I am very happy with my purchase! Total sale purchase price including tax was $400.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:06:09 PM »

Please do think I am putting your gun down but I consider those groups fair, not great. I would have been happy with anything like these groups from my TC but just never got anything close with 5 shots. I could keep 3 inside one inch but that was it. I think TC makes a nice gun but there are many others that will out shoot em for about the same or less money.