To get the kind of accuracy Ritz wanted, T/C decided to step up its already state-of-the-art barrel-making facility. T/C has long enjoyed a reputation as one of America's premier barrel makers. But with input from a few of my favorite accuracy fanatics in the tactical community, they went the extra mile and started producing button-rifled, match-grade barrels to the highest standard.

The author used Nikon's new Monarch 3-12X42mm scope with side focus and BDC reticle. He found it to be an excellent match for the Icon.

T/C raised the quality of its barrels with simple steps, such as 60-degree

target crowns and higher-grade barrel reamers. Sixty-degree crowns are generally accepted as exerting less influence on exiting bullets because they allow vented gas to exit the muzzle to the sides of the bullet, rather than behind it. Further, the recess protects the crown from accuracy-destroying nicks and gouges.

As effective as those little changes are, T/C's switch to 5R rifling is, perhaps, the most significant factor in achieving the company's goal of half-minute accuracy. T/C's 5R rifling has five grooves, and the lands have angular sides. This reduces jacket deformation and fouling, and it results in a faster, cleaner, and more accurate barrel.

(left) The boltface supports the case head uniformly. The plunger-style ejector and extractor are clearly visible. (right) Its integral, aluminum bedding block is one of the keys to the Icon's accuracy.

Once the Icon's 24-inch, sporter-weight barrel is mated to the barreled action, the assembly is bolted into an attractive walnut stock that T/C calls "select grade." The fine figure and rich, dark color exhibited on my sample gun's stock more than lived up to that description. The 20 lines-per-inch cut checkering was another nice touch, as were the distinctive curved accents. In my opinion, the wood on the few Icon's I've seen is unsurpassed on any gun in its price range. I hope T/C can maintain that level once the gun goes into full production.

The overall quality of the test rifle was incredible. Every part was precisely fit. The bolt was smooth, the magazine lock-up was positive but engaged with a minimum of effort, and the inletting was perfect. The result was a damn-fine-looking package that I hoped would shoot as good as it looked--especially since I had no experience with the test gun's chambering, the new .30 T/C.

A New Round For A New Rifle
T/C was looking to make a splash with the new rifle, and a hot new cartridge was the logical way to do it. So T/C teamed up with Hornady to create what may be the most efficient cartridge to come down the pike--the .30 T/C.

.30 T/C Trajectory Comparison
BULLET	TRAJECTORY (inches at yards)
	100	200	300	400	500
	.30 T/C
Hornady 50-gr. InterLock	1.5	0	-6.9	-20	-40.7
	.308 Winchester
Hornady 150-gr. InterLock	1.8	0	-7.9	-23.1	-47
	.30 T/C
Hornady 150-gr. InterLock	1.7	0	-7.4	-21.5	-43.7

The .30 T/C is based on a shortened .308 Winchester case. That means it is a short, fat case, and that is a good thing. Unfortunately, it also means the newest .30 has less case capacity than the .308 Win. But Hornady's engineers, led by resident rocket scientist Dave Emary, had the benefit of years of evolution in powder technology and cartridge design. Using that knowledge, they set out, using the latest in technology, to design a cartridge on the premise of attaining "optimal ballistic performance."

For those of you who like to eat dessert first, that means a 150-grain InterLock bullet at 3000 fps and a 165-grain pill at 2850 fps. Now, for those of you who actually care about such things, here's how they do it.