Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Thompson Center .22 Classic

What is the story on these? Accurate? Good guns?

Accurate? My Silver Lynx is the most accurate semi I've had. I think they are an excellent rifle that was plagued with a minor problem that facilitated a design change. I have both models and really prefer the early one. The chamber chip issue is an easy fix if you catch it in time......

I had the target version. Way more accurate than my factory 10/22 target, better trigger, liked the stock better too. Ruger had a better clip tho. TC had last shot bolt hold open, that lack is one thing that has always irritated me about the ruger.

I have an early Classic that I ordered when they first came out. I love it. I bought several spare magazines for it at the same time. I found that two of them wouldn't feed reliably (very early production, also). I sent them to the factory and they sent me new magazines that work fine. I have since bought two more magazines that also work fine.

I had my stock checkered. I plan to keep the rifle forever. The most accurate field ammo in my gun is American Eagle HP, an inch or under at 50 yards. Federal Target ammo does 5/8" groups at 50 yards. This is with the Weaver 2x7 RF scope installed.

I would rate the overall quality as very good. It is nice to show up at the range with something other than a 10/22. The Classic's stock is narrower through the wrist and middle and feels better to me than the 10/22s.

For you Classic owners: Smoky Mountain Knife Works sells a Zippo lighter belt holster-pouch (really) that is a perfect fit for the Classic 5-round magazine.

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/Zippo/Zippo%C2%AE+Logo+Brown+Leather+Lighter+Pouch+with+Clip/ZPLPCB.html

I put the classic walnut stock on my Lynx and canned the plastic. It is now rather handsome....

cool, I live just down the road from there. I might try em out for my 452 mags. Thanks for the heads up.....

One of the finer 22 autos out there IMO.

Huntsman22,

My T/C Silver Lynx is developing chamber chipping at the extractor cut area. What did you do to fix or stop the continued chipping. Mine is not the later R-55 model. My sons Classic 22 is an early rifle with very minor chipping.

Doc

Huntsman2,

Thanks.

Doc

Huntsman22,

Thanks for that link. I was unaware of this problem. I checked my rifle and found no chipping. There was a tiny bright spot where the extractor was making contact, so I fixed that, using the info from the link.

Happy New Year.

So, I should stay away from buying one of these???

No. they are great rifles. If yours has the chipped chamber,and you are the original buyer, S&W will warranty it. If you slightly modify the extractor, before damage, you're good to go.

My opinion, also.

Thanks, I may start looking for one

There were 2 on the classifieds in the last year. I don't know if either ever sold.....

Buzzsaw,
Here is a link to an old Guns & Ammo article where Brian Pearce evaluated the 22 Classic when it was introduced:

http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/tcs-instant-classic