Are the T/C New Dimension receivers aluminum or steel? I have never seen one in a gun shop.
Aluminum - Bolt locks into the barrel, not the receiver.
Ugly as sin, but the stock design soaks up recoil very well - I have a .300 WM barrel that I have put ~ 120-140 rounds through. Accuracy with 2-3 ammo brands was at least MOA, some slightly better, some closer to 2 MOA.
I bought an early one in 7mm-08 the year they were released, bought at the Great Outdoors Show in PA when they could still sell firearms at the show - pre-NRA for time reference.
The 7mm-08 barrel doesn't have many rounds through it, but it was about the same level of accuracy with factory Remington - didn't play with it as much.
Does anyone know if they returned close to zero when the barrel was removed and replaced? No talking about changing calibers, more like using one for a take down.
The barrel removal/replacement zero - no, in my experience - there was a POI shift every time I did it with the scope remaining on the receiver - wasn't "bad", but needed a sighter shot, or two after replacement with the 7mm-08.
Honestly - I didn't spend a whole lot of time on this as I recall, pulled the barrel at the shooting bench and put it back on, fired a group - repeated once or twice - I think the shift was an inch or two IIRC.
My plan was to use the bridge mount that they sell for the barrel and scope, it keeps the scope zeroed to the barrel - in theory.
I wanted to take the rifle out West for an elk hunt, as it is a light and easy carry all day. If you can get past the looks of the stock, it's a pretty handling decent rifle - JMHO.
I decided to look for a 7mm RM / 300 WM barrel and bid on a complete .300 WM rifle when I saw a penny auction on GB - and got the complete rifle for the price of the barrel.
I bought the bridge mount for the 7mm-08 and pulled the barrel. The bridge mount clamps on the rifle barrel and the rear mount replaces the rear scope mount on the receiver with a two-piece clamping block.
My experience with the bridge mount - first ones were soft metal and cracked easily, I broke the clamping bar on mine before reaching what felt like a solid torque - TC did replace it at no charge.
The bridge mount is tall, and long - you are going need low/extra low rings for the scope to sit down where the cheek weld will work/be repeatable.
The length is an issue, a short large-bell scope (50mm) will be hard pressed to sit on the bridge and not hit the surface of the bridge, or has to be very long in the tube body to clear the front of the bridge.
Or you need taller rings - but think of a scope on an M1A without a cheek rest type of height - if you have tried to look or shoot an M1A this way - you get the idea.
When these were introduced, there was a significant PR campaign as well, the "Contender" of the rifle world - multiple barrels, easy swaps, great accessories, and "MANY MORE BARRELS" to offered...
My take-way on the rifle: shoots very good, looks like H3ll, and has been abandoned by TC for other projects, and I think they had a recall on the safety as well.
How long did it take TC to introduce a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel - to the best of my knowledge - this is the ONLY new barrel offering from TC since the rifle was released into the market.
Accessories are becoming non-existent, and few - if any - companies have stepped to fill the gap left by TC to offer barrels and a better scope mount.
The stock comes with LOP spacers, you can adjust it for youth or adult shooters.
If I was buying a low budget rifle for hard use, and getting a good price in a caliber that I wanted - I'd buy it.
I wouldn't recommend to buy one thinking that is has the same utility as an Encore.