If you ask them, they may build it !

[sagittarius]

Some of you guys may remember a thread on the old board where I thought a new tactical Icon rifle by Thompson Center would make a great smokeless muzzleloader.
Yesterday, I emailed Thompson Center Arms to ask if they might consider making a Smokeless Muzzleloader based on their custom tactical rifle or (new for this year) Icon Precision Hunter in a stainless version.
A lady named Kathleen was kind enough to respond telling me she liked suggestions and a smokeless Icon Muzzleloader would be taken into consideration.
But I'm just one fish in the sea.
I was wondering if any of you guys out there would be interested in a Smokeless muzzleloader based on the Icon Precision Hunter ?
If so, please email Kathleen at this address and let her know.
[e-mail]
The rifle looks like a great platform for a smokeless muzzleloader, imo.
It is clip fed but shouldn't be a problem making a single shot version for muzzleloading use.
I would prefer a muzzleloader with the standard locking lugs and extractor like the Icon already has even though we would have to fill out the forms.
It could use a breech plug like found on Dave d's Remington conversions using the .45 caliber cases.
The Icon rifle has integral scope mounts, an adjustable trigger, and three integral recoil lugs that attach to an aluminum bedding block in the stock.
Don't know about you guys but I think it would be awesome in a smokeless muzzleloader platform !
If you don't like the idea or the rifle, I'm cool with it.
If you think I'm nuts, I'm cool with that too. ;D
But, if you think it's something you would like to see produced in the future, send an email off to Kathleen and let her know.
Here's a pic of the Icon Precision Hunter in blue.

[rangeball]

That's definitely a nice looking rifle, but not to be pessimistic, I'd sure be surprised to see TC jump on the smokeless bandwagon, and don't even want to imagine how much $ they'd want for one if they did

[sagittarius]

Rangeball,

Kathleen didn't seem opposed to the idea of a smokeless.
As far as cost, I believe the rifle would go from $800.00 to $1,000.00.
That's not much more than the $696.00 I paid for my Savage thumbhole, jmo.
Not trying to take the limelight away from Savage but it would be nice to see another player in the smokeless field beside customs.
If you agree, send Kathleen an email expressing your interest.
If enough interest is shown and Thompson Center thinks there's a market for it, I doubt they would be opposed to building a smokeless.

[rub153]

Just to let you know, I also just finish sending a e-mail off to Kathleen letting her know if TC was to start producing a smokeless muzzleloader I too would in fact give serious consideration to buying one.

[sagittarius]

Mar 12, 2009 17:36:09 GMT -5 rub153 said:

Just to let you know, I also just finish sending a e-mail off to Kathleen letting her know if TC was to start producing a smokeless muzzleloader I too would in fact give serious consideration to buying one.

Sounds great, rub153.
Thanks !
Hope a few other muzzleloader enthusiasts are interested enough to send a message.

[jeff]

I also sent her a email.
Jeff~

[rangeball]

Mar 12, 2009 9:36:51 GMT -5 sagittarius said:

Rangeball,

Kathleen didn't seem opposed to the idea of a smokeless.

Sag, I was just speculating out loud, and my thoughts were based on TC's heavy entrenchment in smoking MLs. I hope I'm way off base.

If they did jump on the bandwagon, they could probably also sell a ton of smokeless barrels for their encores

As for the comments on price, well, I'm frugal, but that's me

[sagittarius]

Rangeball,

If they base the rifle on a custom shop gun like their tactical, it would,indeed, be way too much for the average guy to afford.
But their standard Icon goes for around $700.00 to $800.00, so, I hope a standard factory Icon Muzzleloader would not be too much more.
You never know for sure, though.
With Thompson's many years of experience building black powder muzzleloaders, I would think it wouldn't be that difficult for them to build a smokeless version.
Hopefully they will, if they believe there's a market !
Hence, the reason for this thread.

[rangeball]

Oh I think they could build one in a heart beat. I'm just guessing their lawyers may not let them, too many of their smoke only products out there and chance someone will hear TC can do smokeless, try it in the wrong product, have it go bad and sue.

I do hope that's not the case.

[craigf]

Also, TC and Knight bashed Savage pretty hard saying that ANY smokeless in ANY muzzleloader is suicidal.

[sagittarius]

Mar 13, 2009 10:24:41 GMT -5 craigf said:

Also, TC and Knight bashed Savage pretty hard saying that ANY smokeless in ANY muzzleloader is suicidal.

Was unaware they said that, Craig.
But, I assume, that was before S&W bought them and the new Icon rifle appeared.
Maybe we should ask Smith & Wesson to build us a smokeless muzzleloader.

[rangeball]

I was pushing pretty hard with a contact I had for Marlin (who owned H&R) to put out a smokeless ML. Would be pretty simple, instead of cutting a chamber in stock they already have on hand, cut threads for a breech plug that was up to the task and sell it. Didn't get very far.

Now they're owned by Remington. He's interested in seeing the SMI conversion I'm having done, but I'm not holding my breath on them putting out a smokeless, even though I think they could sell a bunch of them at the H&R price point.




All it needs is a breech plug instead of a chamber

[edge]

I made a H&R conversion. The only reason that I would not think it a great donor rifle is that the rifling is not consistent from breech to muzzle.
Unfortunately it is the opposite of what I would consider acceptable, meaning that it is tighter at the breech and loosens as it moves to the muzzle.

It is a great short range ML.
I have not played with enough loads to say that it could not be made into a long range one.

edge.

Links to H&R project:

dougva.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Savage&action=display&thread=4595

dougva.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Savage&action=display&thread=4639

dougva.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Savage&action=display&thread=4648

[smokeless77]

This one is already built. Give it a look (ruger m77 custom muzzleloader)