I can't decide if this looks like it should shoot lasers beams or be used for hunting.
I’m not going to show you how to take the Thompson Center Dimension apart and reassemble it with a new barrel, magazine and bolt because there’s already loads of those videos out there. I won’t walk through the specs one at a time because those are things you can find on the Thompson Center website. And I don’t have time to list the 10 different calibers this first run of Dimension rifles is being produced in…
First let me say this. We actually got to fire this rifle in the .223 Remington configuration back at Media Day at the Range for SHOT Show 2012 at the Boulder City range just south of Vegas. We weren’t expecting to see it, were elated to shoot it and I was even a bit distracted because Jerry Miculek was eying me as I rang the steel plate at 100 yards with monotonous regularity. Click here for that writeup and video…
Fully free floated barrel.
However I digress… first glance at this rifle gives a unique impression. It’s one of those things where you’re certain you’ve seen it before, but you can’t exactly place it. Well, let me place it for you. I doubt in the deepest part of my innards that we can give credit to Thompson Center Arms’ engineers. No, in fact, romance has been in the air and it came in the form of a stormy night, a dimly lit room with candles flickering on the wall during a lovely dinner between the Thompson Center Icon bolt action rifle and the classic yet interchangeable T/C Encore single shot platform. That night would forever live in the minds of T/C’s “Engineers” (more like LOVE engineers!) as several months later the all new modular and interchangeable T/C Dimension bolt action rifle was born!
*sources behind the “Dimension Romance Story” have refused to be cited.
The bolt and bolt release button highly resemble that of the T/C Icon.
A couple of things I should add quickly. The bolt throw feels natural in the hand and locks up tight. The butt stock though ugly and funny looking leans in like velcro against the shoulder and naturally hugs your cheek as your eye lines up to the scope with ease. The entire stock is full of “grippyness” and is friendly to shoulder whether shooting from a rest, laid out prone or standing and shooting free hand. Rests don’t affect accuracy because the barrel is 100% free floated from the lug at the business end of the receiver all the way to the muzzle. Trigger function is smooth, crisp and adjustable from 3.5-5 pounds respectively. The rifle’s safety engages with a satisfying “CLICK” and is located to the right side of the rear of the receiver where God intended for right handed bolt gun safeties to be. Conversion tools are included with the kit as is a single 3 round detachable box magazine and integrated scope rails on the receiver. The above paragraph should let you know I’m impressed with this rifle as a satisfying piece of hardware.
Accuracy was as advertised… and better. The ammo we ran for testing were our .204 Ruger hand loads running Ramshot Hunter powder and .40 grain Hornady Vmax bullets. Right out of the box after we got it zeroed we were stacking one round on top of the next. Then sitting at the bench with the rifle rested on the CTK Precision Ultimate Rest we yielded a group of 11/16″ in 3 shots as you’ll see evidenced in the video and all done without making an adjustment to the trigger. All of my current experience and first impressions tell me this rifle has tremendous potential as a hunting platform and a rifle your kids could grow with or share as a family. Though it looks different and feels different, it performs and functions the way you want your rifle to… reliably and with accuracy.
With great balance and low front end weight, the rifle shoulders and points with ease.
Each interchangeable item is labeled with an "A, B, C or D" representing the caliber group it's compatible with.
The receiver has built in scope rails which means no chance of mismounted weaver rails or screws backing out.
The rear of each barrel also contains a rail for use with an available cantilevered scope mount allowing removal of the scope with each individual barrel.
Knurled, enlarged bolt head and outstanding safety lever.
The butt stock has removable inserts to reduce the length of pull for smaller framed shooters.
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11 Responses to Thompson Center Dimension FULL Rifle Review
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FIND US HERE TOO!
So many wonderful rifles, so little money. This rifle really does look nice, thanks for the review and it looks like you had fun shooting it!
What’s even better Phillip is how much fun I’ll continue to have with it my next trip to prairie dog country.
I first saw this gun at the NRA Annual Meeting and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I love the affordability of the base and different barrels. I’m thinking it would be a perfect Rifle for Africa.
I’m really struggling with my next step. Probably going to be something lined up for antelope in the fall. Then again, I think I’d like to get the .223 barrel too as it would be compatible with the .204 bolt and magazine I already have. Decisions, decisions!
When do you head to Africa for the first time this year?
Wow… Call me late to the party. I just found out about this weapon yesterday after seeing it in an ad. I’ve been searching for different reviews and it seems like a love it or hate it affair. Most of the displeasure is because the stock isn’t in a traditional form factor.
I’m not one for bling. The most important part of any rifle should be how it performs. My only problem now is finding one. It doesn’t appear that many retailers are caring them…even 9 months after its release…
[...] been several months (June I think) since I posted my full review of the Thompson Center Dimension in .204 Ruger. Since then I’ve had many more hours of trigger time and feel I can give an even greater [...]
I have a Dimension 22-250 I just got through Gallery of Guns. Love it, good shooter. The problem is I’ve look for a 308 barrel. Would like to go hog hunting in about three weeks. I would like help to find a barrel. Thank for you help. Mr. Fulk
I remember reading an article saying “if they can keep up with production. I’ve checked with many (10-15) gun dealers here in S. Florida and non of them have even heard of the Dimension. I’m not real happy with this. If there’s ever an issue you have nowhere to go. It’s a shame…I really wanted one.
That’s been the biggest issue. We finally got some secondary barrels on hand. I’ll be using the 30-06 to hunt muleys with in a couple of weeks. At SHOT they told us there was enough surplus built up to keep up with demand right off the bat, which is why they delayed the release. That promise has proven to be false especially for hunters hoping to score one (let alone an extra barrel) prior to this fall hunting season.
[...] impossible to easily grasp with any type of force. Something like the wrench provided with my TC Dimension would be [...]
[...] get asked the question “Can the Thompson/Center Dimension rifle be rechambered like the Encore rifles can?” more often than you might think. Because [...]