Thompson Center Arms Has Been Sold

L

LDhunter

New member
I heard a rumor on the phone this morning that Thompson Center Arms has been sold. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I decided to call and find out if it was true or not.

Yes it is... The young lady in customer care that I talked to informed me that the rumor is true. The purchaser is the co-host on "Game Trails" the TC television program. I believe his name is Greg Rich or Ritz. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

From what I hear the business has been "for sale" since Warren Center died a year or two ago.

Anyway... Supposedly it will be "business as usual" according to one source and "big changes" according to another source. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I guess that time will tell. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

$bob$
 
Greg Ritz
He is the one you see on all the T/C comercials.
He is their biggest PR man!
Promote and buy sounds like fame and fortune too me!
Tim
 
I just want my Encore barrel back, so I can determine
if this gun stays in my arsenal, or it hits the trading
block. Given my first Thompson Center firearm is a
5 MOA .308 Win 15" barreled handgun, does not bode well
for more T/C purchases from me. Returning me a 1 MOA
.308 Win barrel, might keep me on as a customer, but
I wish I would not have had to spend the shipping money
to get what I should had from the factory. I guess
I am spoiled. I have acquired 2 Tikkas, 2 Savages,
2 Remingtons, 1 Browning, 1 Howa, and two RRA AR-15s,
and non of these firearms have shot poorer than 1 MOA,
and most of them have been sub MOA shooters. I figured
I was on a roll, and then came the T/C .308 Win scatter
gun. So I guess I am due, but T/C isn't earning any
browny points for A) having an accuracy problem, and
B) taking their sweet time in returning a viable
.308 Win barrel. Maybe the new owner will work on
initial quality, and warranty work turn around time.

Squeeze
 
Yes, I am reloading for this barrel. I put some bland
150 gr. loads together with IMR 4064, and they shot
all over the map, with any combo of COL, powder and
primer variations. I tested a small sample of these
same loads, in my .308 BAR, and they shot 1 MOA.
I tried another common powder, in .308 Win, but I will have
to check my load data, since I am suffering from Old Timers
disease, for this memory point.

I have some warm stuff I developed for my Savage Striker,
in 308 Win. This same load shoots sub MOA, in my .308 Win,
BAR. This one also scattered all over with the Encore.
I floated the forearm, but I suspected this would have
no effect since the groups did not show vertical, or
even horizontal, stringing. Draw a 5" circle around
a 1" bull, and most of the shots from about 10 different
load attempts, would be in that circle, but none were
within .75" of each other. I verified the Burris 2-7x32
scope, and the mounts, were not the issue, and then called
T/C. I asked them for suggestions, and they said, "send it
in". I then asked what kind of ammo they will test with,
and they said either Federal, or Winchester, low end
hunting ammo, in 150 gr. On the Winchester, they
specifically said Power Point ammo, so I purchased a box,
as much as it pains me to buy factory ammo, and fired more
5 MOA groups. I sent it to T/C a little over a month ago.

My brother really likes his Encore, but I believe my
pretty new Stainless/Composite Encore is heading on
down the road. Which is a shame, because it does
shoot the beefy .308 Win barrel, with a nice balance.
It definitely has less whip, than my Savage Striker,
even with the Striker being a heavier firearm. I believe
the balance is better on the Encore, but I will not
hunt with a firearm that I have ZERO confidence in,
and that is where this Encore is right now. I will
probably sell it, and take some of the cash, and get
a muzzle break put on the Striker, and call it good,
for my .308 Win. handgun needs. The Savage is a
sub MOA shooter.

Squeeze
 
http://www.bellmtcs.com/
Squeeze, there are some tricks that can turn around your loathing for the Encore, the site above has a wealth of knowledge about accurizing. T/C will tell you it is all hogwash, but I have had really good luck with their products, and the advise is really good.
 
I'll second that. Mike Bellm is one of the 3 greatest living authorities on Contender and Encore stuff and easily the most approachable. He is busy but always answers emails and is always willing to help.

The other two are JD Jones of SSK Industries, and Fred Smith of Bullberry.

I've known Mike Bellm for three years and many of the people in the TC world have known him for many many more years.

Mike is easily the "go to" guy for problems with Contenders and Encores.

I talked with him yesterday and he told me that we could look for him to start producing barrels again in the next year or so which is GREAT news!!!

$bob$
 
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