Thompson Center R-55 semi auto

jsdboy

jsdboy

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Hi folks,
Does anyone out there have some hands on experience with one of these?
The R-55 "benchmark" has caught my eye. I would like a semi auto that could compete in metallic silhouette and also have the pure fun factor of a semi .22
Some of the threads that i have read from the states make them out to be pretty unbelievable in the accuracy dept. And of course the T/C website makes a pretty big deal of em.

I would really appreciate some some feedback on these rifles. I have never seen one and many folks i ask have not heard of them.

Cheers!
 
The only thing I don't like about mine is the total lack of aftermarket parts. The lack of a high cap mag is also a drag. Other than that it is fantastic. I have tried many a semi in my quest for accuracy and have settled on the thompson.
 
from what i've heard, they're a solid rifle. well built and accurate. steel reciever (a big plus!), seems to me i've also heard that they have feeding issues, like most semi's.

the lack of aftermarket parts may or may not matter to you.
 
Everything you have heard about the accuracy ....

is correct and then some ! I have a Silver Lynx ... the All weather stainless and Synthetic stock and it will put them in the same hole at 25yds !!
I have to be doing my part though .. Sometimes I can get 4 in the same hole
and The fifth one makes it a figure 8 ..I know it was me not the rifle .
Have to work on the breathing and trigger control .

very well built , match grade barrel threaded into the steel /(or stainless )reciever .The feeding issues or light strikes you may hear about take with a grain of salt . The tolerances on the rifle are very tight and it has a tight match chamber ( to get the accuracy ) . it needs to be broken in ...shoot it lots .And it needs the chamber to be cleaned now and then ..if there is wax buildup it can prevent the round from fully chambering , the bolt being out of battery it will be a light strike ( FTF) .

It is the best made and most accurate production semi-automatic .22LR rifle out there , and is a deal for what you get . Its also has a lifetime warrantee .
 
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Ahhhh, thankyou

Thank you folks: that is exactly what i needed to hear. Especially about the FTF issues. I have heard about that but I can never tell whether it is gun or ammo (example, Rem thunderbolts seem to have more FTF in any of my .22').
The comment about tight tolerances much appreciated.
And aftermarket doo dads are not a concern.

NOW: Where to get? The only place I have found is Cabelas. Any other dealers out there?

Thanks again
 
I picked up a R-55 Classic from here last fall, no issues with feeding at all and that is going through 600+ rounds at a time. I usually have a bunch of mixed ammo in a fanny pack and even using four or five different types of .22 ammo at random in the mag never held it up. I never paper tested the accuracy but I hit every gopher that I put the cross hairs on. I also picked up a bunch of ten round mags, I wish that they had a larger one but it gives the rifle time to cool when I load up the next 100 rounds. The only FTF that I experienced was in cold temps during the late fall and I believe that is an ammo issue. I was looking for the benchmark for the heavy barrel but after shooting the classic I wouldn't sell it for the other. Get one and have some fun.
 
You may have a long, hard search ahead of you .. they are relatively hard to find. You NEVER see them on the EE. I wouldn't part with my R-55 All Weather for anything!

Everything said about them is true .. as for the FTF, I don't buy that at all. No issues with mine.

Not sure why more suppliers don't carry them.
 
Keep in mind the new ones are a bit different. They changed them a few years ago I believe.

Mine is in the process of being scoped. I hope to have it shooting this spring. From first inspection. It's a very nice semi. The trigger is decent but could be a bit lighter. The only other flaw is the cheesy plastic T/C cap on the stock. Also order the T/C bases unless you want to go with the Weaver ones (Yuck, sorry I don't like Weaver).

I'm looking forward to testing out the accuracy of this rifle. I'm hoping to do a 3 way shootout with my Ruger 10/22 target, my Remington 597 TVP and my T/C benchmark R-55. That's a ways off. Lots of great plans but not much time.
 
Am pleased with mine. Makes me think about selling the CZ 452. Only downside is cant clean from breach (but then its a .22).

Have weaver bases on mine, from the pictures the T/C ones look suspiciously like Weaver 422.

Can you see the difference? Epoxy7 - seen them next to each other? Supposedly there is a Leupold one piece and Warne setup for them too.

Weaver
422.jpg


T/C
411.jpg
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Epoxy7 said:
Keep in mind the new ones are a bit different. They changed them a few years ago I believe.

Mine is in the process of being scoped. I hope to have it shooting this spring. From first inspection. It's a very nice semi. The trigger is decent but could be a bit lighter. The only other flaw is the cheesy plastic T/C cap on the stock. Also order the T/C bases unless you want to go with the Weaver ones (Yuck, sorry I don't like Weaver).

I'm looking forward to testing out the accuracy of this rifle. I'm hoping to do a 3 way shootout with my Ruger 10/22 target, my Remington 597 TVP and my T/C benchmark R-55. That's a ways off. Lots of great plans but not much time.
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Whenever I see the name Weaver it reminds me of the crappy rings I settled with for my Ruger 10/22. They have since been changed. I fully admit I'm biased against Weaver. :D

I actually ordered the one piece from Leupold. However it didn't fit the Benchmark perfectly. You could see that the base flexed in order to fit. That didn't work for me. So I'm waiting for the T/C ones to come in.

I'm sure the Weaver bases are good for this. It's just Weaver hasn't left me with the best image. I tend to try and avoid it whenever possible. That being said, you have a good point about them looking identical. ;)
 
I actually ordered the one piece from Leupold. However it didn't fit the Benchmark perfectly. You could see that the base flexed in order to fit. That didn't work for me. So I'm waiting for the T/C ones to come in.
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Really? .. My Leupold base fits very well and works great. QA issues are everywhere these days. You can even fire the R-55 as a single shot without the magazine in place! Not a cool feature, but one that someone like me will need someday due to forgetfullness!

:)
 
czechitout said:
Really? .. My Leupold base fits very well and works great. QA issues are everywhere these days. You can even fire the R-55 as a single shot without the magazine in place! Not a cool feature, but one that someone like me will need someday due to forgetfullness!

:)
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The one they sent me had a very slight flex to it in order to fit. No flex is acceptable. :( Oh well.

Actually I like that feature. I have a magazine modified for my Kimber SVT to shoot only one round. One of the Rimfire Central guys sent it to me. Works great. I use it when shooting for accuracy. Which is pretty much always :p
 
the shoot out

Epoxy7 said:
Keep in mind the new ones are a bit different. They changed them a few years ago I believe.

Mine is in the process of being scoped. I hope to have it shooting this spring. From first inspection. It's a very nice semi. The trigger is decent but could be a bit lighter. The only other flaw is the cheesy plastic T/C cap on the stock. Also order the T/C bases unless you want to go with the Weaver ones (Yuck, sorry I don't like Weaver).

I'm looking forward to testing out the accuracy of this rifle. I'm hoping to do a 3 way shootout with my Ruger 10/22 target, my Remington 597 TVP and my T/C benchmark R-55. That's a ways off. Lots of great plans but not much time.
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Hi there epoxy,
yes, well i can hardly wait for spring too, and the results of your comparison of the three rifles.

I am going to hold onto this thread and I will be back at you bugging you for the results- maybe in the beginning of may.

Have fun!
 
jsdboy said:
Thank you folks: that is exactly what i needed to hear. Especially about the FTF issues. I have heard about that but I can never tell whether it is gun or ammo (example, Rem thunderbolts seem to have more FTF in any of my .22').
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No, it happens with match ammo too, expecially the excessively lubed Lapua SuperClub.

10rd mags can be had, the 5rd mags are nice because they are flush fit.

NOW: Where to get? The only place I have found is Cabelas. Any other dealers out there?
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Well, I got mine (version 1, set up like a ruger bolt) from LeBarons. There may be some of the new ones (version 2, spring pulls bolt closed, sort of like a blowback M14/M1 action) kicking around.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Any idea how much Lebaron's wants for one?
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LOTS! .. With taxes all in, I would say you are over $800 these days.

STILL worth it .. I had the TVP (nice gun and accurate too), I have a souped up 10/22 which I like very much, but not in stock form. For out of the box performance and build quality in the $800 and down price range .. the TC cannot be beat IMHO.

:)
 
I've considered the Remington TVP, but the mixed reviews on it are not impressive. I see one of the great advantages of the 10/22 being the high capacity mags. I hear the T/C 10 round mag is hard to load. How do you find it?
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I've considered the Remington TVP, but the mixed reviews on it are not impressive. I see one of the great advantages of the 10/22 being the high capacity mags. I hear the T/C 10 round mag is hard to load. How do you find it?
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I have heard about that too. I see on the T/C Firearms website (under "accessories") that they sell a magazine loading tool to depress the spring while loading. It looks like a little plastic knob with a little steel bar sticking out. Others have mentioned that they just use a nail.........
 
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My four year old can load the first three rounds into my ten round mag's, technique goes along way. I never once thought they were hard to load. After I have a couple rounds in I push the next round in using the bottom of the shell casing then rotate it under into the mag. It goes quick and easy.
 
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