New Dimension Switch-Barrel Rifle from Thompson/Center
At Media Day right before SHOT Show, Thompson/Center Arms unveiled an innovative hunting rifle that features interchangeable barrels and multiple bolts. This allows a single gun to shoot a wide range of chamberings — from .204 Ruger all the way up to the large, belted magnums. The gun employs some unusual engineering, with an AR-type barrel nut on a barrel extension which contains the bolt-lug recesses. There is no conventional recoil lug. Instead a slot on the underside of the barrel extension mates to a metal bar molded into the stock. With the supplied tools, the entire gun can be assembled or disassembled in under one minute (in the Video, a T/C rep assembles the gun in 55 seconds.)
T/C’s Dimension rifle is definitely innovative; there is nothing like it on the market anywhere near its price range (MSRP is $648.00 with tools). For a walking-around deer hunter who is satisfied with factory barrels, and who doesn’t shoot with a rear bag, the gun will probably have appeal. On the other hand, varminters won’t be impressed — the stock won’t work well with a bipod or rear bag, and T/C will be the only source for barrels. The nature of the design, for practical purposes, precludes the use of affordable 3rd-party barrels. You won’t be able to buy a Shilen or PacNor prefit barrel, as you can for a Savage.
Factory Promo Video (Loud Soundtrack — turn down speakers before playback!)
Action Features
Pro: One size fits all — single hard-anodized aluminum action can be used to shoot multiple chamberings from .204 Ruger to .300 Win Mag with bolt, barrel, and magazine swap. For all chamberings, T/C guarantees 3-shot accuracy of one MOA with premium ammo.
Con: You have to replace complete bolt assembly to go from one family of cartridges to another (e.g. from .308 Win to Magnum). This is much more expensive than swapping a bolt head on a Savage.
Barrel Fitting
Pro: Barrels can be quickly exchanged using provided tools.
Con: Bolt recesses are machined into barrel extension section, so barrels must be supplied by T/C. We were told that both bolts and barrels “absolutely have to come from Thompson/Center”.
Stock Features
Pro: Stock is lightweight with rubberized surface texture — good for wet climates.
Con: Stock is ugly. Forearm too flexy to use with bipod. Concave arc on underside of buttstock is terrible for use with rear bag. Stock finish tends to retain dust and grit.
Scope Mounting
Pro: T/C offers a bridge scope base that mounts to the barrel (like on Blasers). This allows an optic to stay with a barrel — so you could have a low-power close-range scope mounted and zeroed on one barrel, with a higher-power variable scope on another barrel.
Con: If you keep optics on the barrels, you need to buy a separate bridge for each barrel. That’s an added expense, plus many hunters can’t afford multiple scopes anyway. Thankfully, conventional Weaver bases can be fitted on top of the action.
Commentary: On viewing and handling the rifle, and watching the assembly process, it was obvious that some intelligent, clever engineering went into the gun. The AR-style barrel engagement system functions very well — the whole gun can be disassembled in under one minute. T/C provides some fairly sophisticated assembly tools with the gun, including wrenches that automatically set correct torque values. That’s cool. The gun is relatively light and balances well. On the other hand, the stock design fails in many ways. The fore-arm is short and too flexy for serious use with bipod. The curving underside of the buttstock is a odd-looking, but what is worse, the curve is just about the worst possible profile for use with a rear sandbag. Most observers thought the gun was ugly.
T/C Dimension Caliber Groups
The T/C Dimension LOC™ System has 7 parts — a universal stock and receiver that accept multiple barrels, magazine groups (magazine and housing), bolts and bridge scope mounts. Dimension hand tools work with all Dimension rifles. Interchangeable parts are stamped with letters: A, B, C or D. Match the letter on the barrel with the one on the bolt and magazine group.A Family: .204 Ruger, .223 Rem
B Family: 22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win
C Family: .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg
D Family: 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag
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Tags: AR15, Barrel Extension, Magnum, T/C, Take-down, Thompson, Thompson/Center, Torque Wrench
That thing is uglier than crap on a stick. Adam
Proof once again that some things are designed by those who have no “hands on” experience.
I would not take one of these if they were giving them away!
I don’t know who it is, but someone designing stocks for almost all the rifle manufacturers today has got to be a gay fashion designer who flunked out on the runway clothing line. I think my eyes are bleeding now.
2 years ago I converted a remy 700 to somthing similar, bored out the factory threads to the lug abutments, threaded the outside of the reciever, Made a nut with shoulders to act as the recoil lug, The barrel shank is then cut with a shoulder that abuts the reciever face, the barrel shank slips in the reciver all the way to the lug abutments, the barrel is then counter boared for the bolt nose and the bolt lugs. Heres a pic of the completed rifle, in 243,
It has shot 2″ 800 yard groups and will be seeing some f-o this summer.
link; http://www.centershotrifles.com/gallery/img_rifle/Proto-type_700_243match_CSR_LRB.jpg
stock is not real pretty. but hay the thing hammers.
I’d be ashamed to shoot and animal with that rilfe, seriously. This makes even the ugliest Savages look beautiful, seriously TC wake up pull you heads out of you butts and look at what you’re producing prior to shipment.
I wouldn’t care if this thing did drill 2″ groups at 800yds like Jim’s, I’d send it back if I won it.
EDITOR: For a guy taking a standing or kneeling shot, I think the stock ergonomics are OK. For prone, it could be a lot better … and, as noted, it appears T/C gave little or no thought to a bipod up front. For a guy carrying the rifle around, that strange buttstock curve may be irrelevant. Still, at the T/C area on Media Day, pretty much everybody I asked said the gun looked “weird” or “ugly”. Perhaps T/C should have spent less money on their fancy video, and hired a stock designer who could, at a minimum, simply copy everybody else. I suspect these things will be offered at blow-out prices in a year’s time. Ironically, I suspect the mold for the Dimension stock cost T/C a ton of money. But it wouldn’t have cost any more to make it look good.
It is ugly but this is what happens in the offices of major companys, they need somthing new to attempt to increase sales, rather then invest in quality control;
TC-S&W-freedom group???
I think TC hit a home run with the Venture line of rifles, they might spend money marketing it, as it is a very good rifle at that price point. But no they spend it on R&D for this turd.
Who would actually buy one of these and then buy multiple caliber kits? I just don’t understand who the target audience is. Kudos to TC for innovating but I just don’t get “it”.
Jim,
Re the Venture:
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE – November 11, 2011
PRODUCT:
ALL Thompson Center Venture Rifles manufactured prior to October 28, 2011.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HAZARD:
During an internal technical review, Smith & Wesson identified a condition that may exist with the sear supplied with some rifles that would allow the rifle to fire without the trigger being pulled. In the interest of consumer safety, we are initiating this recall to allow for the prompt inspection and, if necessary, the repair of each rifle.
Paul, I called in on this and they handled it very well. We (ffl holders) all got letters and pre-paid shipping labels to return any in inventory for repair. Same with all the wholesalers, so rest assured any rifles bought new have been inspected and repaired. Now it is up to the individual owners, and I’m sure they(S&W) would fund the returns. Not somthing you would see from some other bolt action Manf. Every time I had to deal with TC they were responsive and acomidating, that menas alot.
Just git ye a .30’06 and load it how you wants. Having done so, yer set for anything from rats to 1000 yd Long Range Rifle matches to Griz.
Me an’ that Salazar guy!
1. It’s excellent to see an American manufacturer bring a feature that Europeans charge arms and legs for to down-to-earth prices.
2. That Giger-esque stock has got to go. Even if it were a good idea, shooters are a conservative lot and innovations should be introduced one at a time.
3. They could make it possible for 3rd parties to make barrels by offering screw-on barrel extensions separately, and/or publishing specs. If they don’t, they are being idiots. Proprietary interchange systems are doomed to fail in this market dominated by Rem 700 clones and AR-15s.
Nice idea, the stock is absolutely the killer to me. I’m even OK with T/C only barrels, they do a good job there. The stock is definitely the “weak link” in this chain.
I think I will stick with my SIG SHR970s for now.
Huh. I must be the only guy that likes the look. I tire of hunting bolt actions quickly but this is at least different.
MY EYES ARE BLEEDING !!!
“Nevah been done befohr” Well except for Savage, BPI, Remington, and Remington. Seriously, they took a Savage action and made it uglier – i didn’t think that was possible.
Editor: Actually the Dimension action is very different from a m10/110 Savage Action — not even counting the obvious (completely different trigger/sear). Savage has a 2-lug floating bolt that locks up in the action. T/C dimension has a three-lug non-floating head that locks up in a barrel extension that fits between the rifled barrel and the receiver. The barrel attachment system on the Dimension is more similar to an AR15 than to a Savage which has the nut threaded directly on the barrel.
I personally find the over-all appearance of the rifle quite attractive in a “unique” kind of way. The “Butt” portion of the stock makes me think of an exaggerated Weatherby. I definitely like the adjustable length of pull feature but will admit that I too thought this stock design is so overboard that use with a rear sandbag was definitely going to be an issue. Another issue of concern to me is the barrel lengths of certain cartridges. Personally, I would have manufactured ALL of the varmint cartridges with 24″ barrels! I could handle a .308 Win with a 22″ barrel, but to stick any “tube” less than 24″ on a cartridge designed for approx. 3000fps or more at the muzzle takes away from the cartridges true potential unless you only intend to use it within approx. a 300yd window. I won’t be in any rush to buy this rifle but I wouldn’t mind owning one along with one of each available barrel.
Overall a very informative review. But no mention of the trigger. How does the trigger on the dimension compare to a savage accutrigger or the new ruger American trigger?
I will bet that Boyd’s will have a “normal” looking stock within 6 months. The idea is cool, but the stock looks a bit like bovine fecal matter left on a PBR chute back wall
I don’t know why people are complaining about the stock. Most bolt actions come with stock made for use with iron sights. This one was at least made to work properly with a scope. A flimsy forend comes with the price. Savages have been that way, too. I’d be more concerned about the durability of the cantilever. Don’t think it’ll hold up at well as a quality mount screwed to the action.
My complaint, though, is action length. They should have stayed short. I can’t see toting a .300 mag length action when I want to shoot .223.
I think everyone that doesnt like it is just too damn picky. Ive handled this rifle several times and will be getting one as soon as another rifle I have on layaway is paid off. I like the finish of the stock, the feel is nothing short of amazing to me and i dont have plans to buy seperate barrels. The action is smooth and factory trigger weight is just fine in my opinion. And as far as the looks of it goes, it definately is different but i really like how it looks. My only problem with it is not already owning one and well, deciding what caliber I want. The dimension will definately be in my safe in the near future.
How much is all of this together with barrels and clips and bolts?
While the Dimension has been out for a while now, I’ve almost decided to purchase one in .308 + 300 win mag; so I decided to read up on it some more before I put down the money. After reading the article I decided to put my 2 cents on this.
With that said its funny to see what the author considers ‘cons’ in some instances; here are the ones that bothered me…
Action Features
Con: You have to replace complete bolt assembly to go from one family of cartridges to another (e.g. from .308 Win to Magnum). This is much more expensive than swapping a bolt head on a Savage.
NOTE: At least you have different calibers i.e. families, which do use the same bolt; can you show another gun that does the same thing or better? Fact remains with other guns changing caliber requires proper headspacing, and often a more complicated process – meaning you have to do it in your shop or have a gunsmith do it for you; the Dimension allows users to do this in the field, with ease and in a couple of minutes. Plus the number of calibers which you can change to is limited with other rifles when compared to this rifle – the Dimension is easy to use so I’m not sure how this a ‘con’. The rifle does what its advertised to do and keeps 1 moa out of the box (tho I have seen many reviews showing its actually a sub moa in the hands of good shooter).
Barrel Fitting
Con: Bolt recesses are machined into barrel extension section, so barrels must be supplied by T/C. We were told that both bolts and barrels “absolutely have to come from Thompson/Center”.
NOTE: Seriously? If a company develops a new system that require proprietary parts how is that a con? The REASON the bolt recesses are machined into barrel extension section is to allow the receiver to be made out of lightweight material, hence lightening the rifle, and to handle the pressure of the round. If you did not do this you get a heavier rifle and you probably would not be able to change calibers so easily. Now if you can show a rifle that swaps as easily with any and all barrels on the market (I think you can get one from the Unicorn Store on the corner of Happy and Magic street but they are currently out of stock) then please let us know because I would love to throw in any ole barrel and make it work (headspacing be damned!). BTW it should also be like a transformer so I don’t have to do any work, it just changes caliber on its own.
With that said, the rest of the article is fine. Sometimes I just question how people define pros and cons. Too many ‘authors’ claim cons that have nothing to do with said system they are writing about.
Again its my 2 cents so take it for what its worth.
SAR
I’m late on this but I bought one. I love it. shoots way less the 1″ groups barrels change easy. Stock grows on you.But my stocks finish is peeling off. But what T/C does best is backs their product. I broke a torque wrench and they sent me a new one no questions asked.
Their stock looks like a reject from another rifle manufacturer and they took all of the ugly reject stocks that they found in the dumpster of another rifle company