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  Our resident US Army Sniper Ben Becker shooting the new Thompson Center Dimension modular rifle system. The barrel is interchangeable to other calibers, just like the Contender and Encore lines, but this is a bolt gun with four configurations for four action lengths, magazine sizes and extractor sizes.
 See the D on this .300 Win. Mag. barrel? That indicates that it is in D class action, or magnum action.
 The magazines come in lettered sizes as well, and have sleeves that slip into the action to make them fit.
 Four bolts cover all of the cartridges in the four classes of actions. It isn’t at all confusing once you understand how it all works.
 Two specially made tools for this gun loosen and tighten with the correct torque the differnet barrel assemblies that you purchase by caliber. this gear ring around the barrel holds everything in place.
 Two lugs hold the action in place, and are how you change the magazine sleeve as well.
 This photo is a little dark, but if you click to enlarge you will see the odd looking stock on the Dimension, but Ben found it comfortable and easy to shoot.
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Thompson Center Arms
A Smith & Wesson Company
https://www.tcarms.com/
I can’t say that the Thompson Center Dimension rifle is the biggest story at SHOT Show 2012, but it is definitely the most interesting. Being from New Hampshire myself, I was an early Thompson Center customer (I had a White Mountain Carbine) and have been a fan since. In fact one of the early articles on the GunsAmerica Blog was about out of the box MOA guns, and both the TC Venture and Icon made MOA easily, and they are both great values in a deer rifle.
By far the most famous product of Thompson Center is the line of pistols known as the Contender, then later the Encore and G2 Contender. If you are new to shooting sports, the Contender pistol series is a modular system that utilizes one universal frame and interchangeable barrels and forends for varying calibers. You buy one Contender, and several, or even dozens, of barrels, from .17 Hornet to .416 Rigby in the later versions. Several calibers were invented specifically for the Thompson Contender series, including the .30TC and numerous wildcats. A whole cottage industry of making Contender barrels sprung up over the years, based on the overwhelming success of the Thompson Contender. For the hobby shooter, there has never been a finer instrument to nerd out on with your reloading press and bench rest.
Fast forward to now, since TC was bought by Smith & Wesson, and a lot of us TC fans out there have been wondering what would become of our old friend, especially since the plant in Rochester, New Hampshire was closed last year. Smith & Wesson is a public company, so what the gun nerds think doesn’t always count when you boil everything down to nuts and bolts shareholder profits.
So it is with gratitude to the folks at Smith & Wesson that I say, Thompson Center is charging forward with a completely new, and revolutionary rifle system called the Dimension. It has been two years in the works and the Dimension made its debut today at Media Day at the Range, SHOT Show 2012. Take a look through the pictures here, and I will try to explain how it works to the best of my ability.
Rifle cartridges fall into roughly (or exactly if you ask TC) four categories. They are short action, medium action, long action, and magnum action. Short action cartridges would be the .223 Remington, .22-250, maybe 7.62×39, pretty much anything below a .308 Winchester. Medium action is a .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester, etc., that size. Then long action are the .30-06 size, and magnum action is 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and other belted cartridges. I may be a little off on what goes where, but hopefully when we get one of these guns to play with we will figure it all out.
Let’s call these four groups, A, B, C and D. That is what TC calls them, and that is what is printed on the bolts, magazines, and barrels for the four different sizes in the Dimension. Each category of action size has its own lettered magazine and bolt, A to D, and will fit all of the barrels in its class. All four categories of magazine and bolt fit the one Dimension rifle frame, similar to the old Contender methodology of one frame, many calibers. So for the complete Dimension system, if you want to shoot calibers in all four classes, you would have one rifle action and stock, four magazines, four bolts, and as many barrels as your significant other will let you buy, or that you can sneak and hide in the garage with the dies and brass for them.
The barrel assemblies come off with a special geared collar and two specially made torque wrenching tools. You use the tools to loosen and tighten the collar, as well to remove the magazine sleeve system, to change from A to D in setup, and for your barrel changes throughout the caliber availability. I didn’t get the list of available calibers yet, but from what I was told by the designers today, the rifle is available now, MSRP $648 for the full rifle, but I didn’t get a price for the caliber conversions.
The Dimension is made in Springfield Massachusetts at the Smith & Wesson plant, and for TC fans, it signals a genuine commitment from Smith & Wesson to continue the Thompson Center tradition through to the next generation. With all of the new gun owners out there these days, many, many, many of them will hopefully find a love for a lifetime of shooting, and a genuine value for the TC Dimension as the prior generation did for the Contender.
I was told that TC is going to guarantee that the Dimension is an MOA rifle, and if you think about this in terms of a rifle that the barrel screws off of, this is pretty amazing. However the Dimension was designed by TC engineers, and if anyone can pull it off in an elegant fashion, it is TC engineers.
As you can see in the pictures, the Dimension is an odd looking nut, but our resident US Army Sniper Ben Becker shot it today and he thought it felt great, and that the ergonomics of the gun are natural and effective. We couldn’t measure accuracy, trigger pull or anything else in the throng of hundreds of people today, but hopefully we’ll get one to test soon. Overall it is an easy shooting rifle that is perhaps the most interesting gun at SHOT Show this year. Congratulations to the engineers at Thompson Center and the managers at Smith & Wesson for making this new TC happen. We look forward to a long future for the TC Dimension.
I have owned Thompson rifles for over thirty years I was given a Dimension in a 30-06 caliber the gun is outstanding, trigger pull, accuracy and handling will not disappoint however I will never buy another barrel for this gun . The reason being march of 2014 on guided hunt on attempting to chamber another round after shooting the clip fell into pieces along with the bullets into 13” of snow if this were a life threatening I would have been in trouble, thanks to my guide who loaned me a rifle and as ridiculous as it sounds SUPER GLUE saved the trip. METAL CLIP PLEASE. Dave
BOUGHT T/C .308 IT HOLDS 3 ROUNDS 1 IN TUBE AFTER FIRING 2 ROUNDS THE OTHER TO ROUNDS STICK UP AND WONT FEED THE BASE PLATE GETS WEDGED AT AN ANGLE SO THE ROUNDS WONT FEED NO FIX YET ANY SUGGESTIONS
I got a LH .223 from Bud’s Gunshop in Lexington, KY. This rifle is excellent for target shooting. It was in stock. No waiting.
Good comments from Gordon about using it for hunting and the issues with the stock. I only use it on the bench, but I can see your points. I’m very surprised about the lack of response from customer support. I’d do some googling and find out the names/emails of a few VP’s and ring their bell.
I’d like to see some aftermarket stocks become available as this design is…polarizing, to say the least.
I can tell you this: The MOA guarantee is no lie. I’ve only been shooting it a couple of weeks and have come up with 3 shot groups of less than 1/2″ at 100 yards fairly regularly. I’m sure the rifle is capable of better as I have never been the best shot at my range.
Well done TC.
Why is the Dimension not featured on the T/C website? I couldn’t find it anywhere on the site that’s linked to this article. Am I missing it?
I recieved the rifle,took it apart and put it back together without issue.It’s a very good design.Removeing the bolt is a bit tricky,but it can be done with some patience.I installed the bridge mount + scope, boresighted it.Now I have to get to the range to see how it functions.I want to see if it’ll hold zero after a full breakdown.
I’ll be getting my LH 30.06 dimension rifle in a few days.I ordered a bridge mount and extra mag too.I’ll try to post a review after the first range session.
What is the process to order this rifle for a california resident?
this is a bolt action rifle that you can have your local dealer order for you
I talked with a local rep from TC and he had a good laugh when I inquired about a LH rifle.He didn’t sound to optimistic about finding one either.However,the factory rep said they’ve been shipping LH rifles to distributors.They could’nt tell me what distributors recieved them,but every big distibutor I contacted hasn’t seen any.I did get a chance to handle a RH rifle and was this close to buying it.Luckilly it was chambered in 223.If it was chambered in 30.06 or 308,I’d be working a load up for it,instead of posting here.
Modification to my earlier comment: Only Right hand bolts available right now. The distributor lists the part number and the price is the same as the RH, but inventory is zero for LH items.
My distributor has a good inventory of Dimension actions, both right and left, barrels, magazines and scope mounts. They are already on sale, or maybe on sale to get some interest generated. At any rate, I’m ordering one for a customer tomorrow.
I’m waiting for a LH dimension to become available too.I’ve E-mailed the company several times,but have recieved zip in return.
Randy-Savage has plenty of LH S/S rifles available,as your going to be waiting a long time before a LH dimension hit’s the shelves.Unless S&W says otherwise ??? Maybe someone else can get an answer from them.
I got my Dimension .30-06 at the end of July and got ready to go moose hunting. I would like to see a safety that locks the bolt closed. I would like a stock without the space between the barrel and fore stock. I wrote to TC Customer Support about my desires and experiences with my new Dimension. I wrote on 31 July 2012, again 30 August 2012, another letter on 4 September. On 18 September I sent a registered letter with a return reciept (containing all four letters) I got my reciept back and still have not heard from TC Customer Supoport! (27 Oct 2012)
The gap between the barrel and fore end will catch brush and leaves if you carry the rifle in your hand, not slung over your shoulder. The rectangular spaces in the fore end hold mud, water, grass, and leaves, then will drain into the action if you stand it up in the cabin. I wrapped black elerctrical tape around the fore stock and barrel to prevent the rifle from catching brush as I hunted. Finally I put black duct tape on both sides of the barrel and fore stock to keep water out. I understand that the Venture is a good stock designe but I don’t know if I could make the Dimension barreled action fit it properly. My Dimension shoots MOA with some three shot groups making touching clover leafs using W 760 and Hornady 150 gr. GMX bullets. Repeatability after dissasembly is excelent. I think it will shoot well for one of my grandchildren. I love the barreled action and I’m looking forward to adding another barrel or two. Too bad TC Customer support is only a name with an address. Excelent barreled action with the capabilility of changing barrels and calibers. I hope TC remembers all of us who purchased theses rifles first, and will make future upgrades available.
Hi
I have been looking for a stainless steel, 7 mm or 3006 left handed bolt .
This has been going on for two years and every gun store I deal with dont want to help because they would rather sell the easy sell not help me.
I am wondering if the Demension can come in stainless ?
The Venture is the perfect gun but not in stainless.
Can anyone help me please.
Randy
ii live in salt lake city utah where can i get a 25 06 and then go up in cal. from there. is a right handed bolt the only kind that this rifle is made in. can i get in left handed also ! 🙂
I recently purchased the new TC Dimension but could only find the 22-250 version . I have not been able to locate the 30-06 barrel combination to add to the gun. Dealers tell me that it’s too new and that sooner or later they will get the extra barrel groups. Can anyone give me a lead?
Just talked to a rep about this yesterday. He is a reliable and ‘straight shootin’ dude. He says it holds zero. Look at the bridge, there is plenty of metal to air surface area to cool it. You can also mount to the receiver, but then you have to zero after each barrel change. I have read in other articles of 0.25 MOA groups in the .223 cal. This is billed as a hunting rifle, so the concept isn’t about chucking a constant stream of bullets downrange. That said, other articles have also mentioned plans for bbl add-on kits and that the current stock has room for the bbl profile. So that would solve many of the grouping vs heat and consistency concerns. As for the stock, I suppose purists can still carry grampa’s rifle around the woods. That’s not a criticism cause I sure would if my grampa had hunted, or even had any firearms. But if you look at the Dimension’s stock design, you can see that it is; open to several kinds of Full Floating barrel contours, the comb will raise line of sight to match the added height of the bridge barrel scope mount, the weird shape offers both a Pistol Grip, adjustable length of pull ande reduced weight (material cut out of the curve or fore-end saves weight). Also consider this, if they offered numerous stock options now, they’d have less to ‘unveil’ at next year’s shot show. I think we could expect, tactical, bedded, cammo, ultralight, benchrest, other, or any combinations of the above in the next year(s) to come. Probably other calibers too. Hey, if you get a weird, but comfortable and easy to shoot / accurate shooting stock / barrel combo, you can let the purists keep the traditional looking guns and 1.5″ groups, while you comfortably poke ragged hole’s in paper (5 rounds at a time), or put meat on the table and trophies on the wall. If it shoots well and feels good, it’ll start to catch on, no matter what it looks like. Remember that pistol competiton shooting was strictly a one-handed affair, that is, until those crazy upsart, two-handed shooting weirdo’s started winning all of the matches. I don’t like European comb’s, but I own one, in my CZ .22, cause it shoots lights out with almost any ammo. Short story long, as soon as I can scrape the bread together, I’m getting one, yes one, but in 5 calibers! Maybe 2-3 stocks to, if and when they offer them. Don’t forget, all TC barrels are 5r as well. I’m sold.
OK, it’s got a butt ugly stock – but the concept MAY be a good one IF it shoots accurately, has a good trigger pull and has repeatable accuracy between barrel changes. Also, will the barrel locking nut hold it’s torque?? Assuming the above is OK, I can stomach the stock (but I still hate it), I will buy one when they come out with a 16.5 inch 7.62 NATO barrel which has a 5/8X24 threaded muzzle and a thread protector – SUPPRESSOR READY. Same goes for a 1/7 twist 5.56 NATO barrel, of course 16.5 inches with 5/8X24 threads too. As far as the “bridge” scope mount; folks we better stay with the receiver mounted mounts. The “bridge” mount may be accurate for a couple of shots but when the barrel heats up, things ARE going to start moving and that’s NOT good for accuracy. The old benchrest boys were reallky happy when they got their scopes OFF their barrels. If any of you doubt this – just ask Ed Shilen.
Kinda takes all the fun out of buying a safe full of misc rifles. If I wanted one rifle system, I’d
have bought a TC Encore long ago; and stainless to boot (can’t get Dimension in stainless). I wonder how much TC (S&W) spent in engineering, tooling, etc., and if they will ever realize return on investment for Dimension? I’m still ticked that TC paints (WeatherShield) a carbon steel receiver and barrel (Venture, Icon, etc. series) and claims it is 50x more corrosion resistant than stainless. If you get moisture down the barrel, you might as well have bought a blued steel rifle, because it will rust.
I will buy one as soon as they come out in 270WSM & 300WSM. Sounds like its a do it all rifle.
I like the idea of being able to change barrels without worrying about head spacing. Which you can now do with the Savage as well. A .223 with a 26″ 1in 8 twist barrel would be interesting. How would a rifle like that be for target shooting? If it could get .5 MOA off the rest at 200 yards I’d be sold in a minute. Then with a better selection of Kevlar synthetic stocks? Just thinking.
Will it be offered in stainless? Also in my state we can use rifles that fire handgun rounds for deer,any chance of that? “454 casull- 45 long colt”
Just ordered mine today in 223. I’m excited to give it a try. The scope bridge is on back order everywhere and brownels posted should be in april before available. Will post results when I get to shoot it.
took it to South Dakota and put it thru its paces. Several kills 350+ yds comfortable to shoot all day. chamber was tight and didnt want to close on factory ammo, but 100 rds of break in at the range before i left helped. There is a notch in the top of the stock that allows bolt to come back into it, needs a little drimel work, or just getting used to removing the bolt will help. took out 1 spacer to help lenth of pull, over all very accurate. put 5 shots in smaller than a dime at 100 and worked great on prairie dogs
Ordered on today in .223; can’t wait to get it. Can you please post the brownells part # for the scope bridge? I just couldn’t find it… Thank you!
A cool concept that’s decades overdue from an American gun company. Kudos to T/C.
Only a couple questions….only one action/bolt length? (I hate long bolt throws) Trigger on par with the latest ones from Savage and Remington? Could they make an uglier stock? Yes I know its functional but…….
No, i don’t think it could be uglier, but probably the issue was distinctive, so that is what they did. He did say something about shorter throw bolts but I don’t remember what it was. The trigger is an adjustable, that was all we got. Hopefully we’ll get one of these soon in a few calibers to test.
Jeezzz…. 3 points of view
1. 1 scope 1 rifle. As an Army sniper (ret) I am fine with changing barrels and making a scope change in zero and rolling. As demonstrated by most of the guys sighting in before deer season they are glad to hit a plate.. I’m PO’d if it’s not 1 ragged hole.
2. Crazy calibers and configurations…guys we don’t pay for RnD costs. Joe deer hunter does. We are gun nuts.we buy multiple weapons for special purposes. Joe don’t!
3. Videos an error. So it will be fixed soon but it’s more important that left handers are not overlooked!!! Yeah…
I retired from the Army years ago but I’m impressed I can buy an American product that is like a Blaser in concept. but I have to vent… I’ve pretty much stopped buying anything external to the USA. Try that! Tons of products from Caldwell, Cabelas, etc are from overseas. But we don’t it to our own… The US ain’t cheap to support. A base Blaser is over $4k for a similar switch barrel gun… I’m gonna buy one just to support them.
We need to buy American products that are quality and stay with them. Thx
De Oppresso Liber
Amen. Nuf said
They do need a better way to mount a scope on the barrel !!! the Video’s that i saw shows it mounted to the receiver and not on the barrel !! They don’t show any of their video’s where they have hunters hunting with one with a scope bridge. All are mounted to the receiver And the bridge plate they show that stays on the barrel don’t look like it would be very strong to me !! and i think that’s why none of the video’s show any of their hunters using them , They need to go back to the drawing board with that !! And whats with the look of the stock ??? It’s pitiful !!! TC should be able to do better than that !!! It’s BUTT UGLY !!!!! I was afraid when S&W bought them that their guns would go down hill and looks like i’m right. Good idea but the one they are selling now is a NO SALE for me until they change the scope bridge and that butt ugly stock !!
Is it too late to request the engineers to make some changes? Like can they make it in a semi-auto version with a detachable 30 rnd magazine?
I may have to buy one if you’ll chamber it in .300 BLACKOUT. Barrel would be the only difference from .223 Rem. 16.5 inch barrel, 1 in 8 inch twist with a threaded muzzle 5/8×24.
PLUS ONE!
Now we just need calibers for the gun nuts. I want a 6.5×284 or a .280 Ackley Improved for a “light rifle”, and a .338/06 for a medium bore. I’d probably also buy a 22/250 for a coyote rifle, if the barrel sets aren’t too pricey. No need for a universal caliber…you can change out barrels to have exactly what you need in a case. Oh yeah, TC should also offer a hard case, with the foam precut for the gun with two scoped barrels, bolts and magazines. It would be handy to have another case for two or three barrels, etc. for storage.
I mean, that is absolutely one of the main key features, if not THE main key feature – a critically-important feature which is one of a couple key things which made the Encore and Contenders systems such great successes – this is an omission of colossal proportions. Sure, people will find out eventually, but it will cause many missed sales in the meantime.
Colossal LMAO!
Of course anyone who wants to argue about guns at 4am is our kind of people. 😉
Wow, where to start: “Oh come on its an introductory video”. Right, an introductory video that is emailed to how many tens of thousands of people? An extensive, long introductory video that is meant to show, in some detail, the capabilities and features, of the rifle, and cause people to want one. “Give the guy a break he’s an engineer not a marketing person.” – If I was an engineer, that would be all the MORE reason to mention something that I KNEW was/is a great engineered feature of the rifle that is available, but just not on this particular one being shown. And I AM giving him a break, just not T/C — for allowing him and this video to collectively misportray an otherwise good-looking product, to their detriment. I want T/C to succeed, and they just shot themselves in the foot. “Why on earth wouldn’t someone think they wouldn’t design it to have a fixed optic on the barrel?” Now Administrator, really, stop and think about that..that is quite possibly the dumbest question ever uttered the history of all mankind. I dunnno, maybe uhhh, because the video doesn’t show any such thing, and it’s fair to infer that the product shown is the product you’d get??
About 700k people actually lol. Why is it that the first guys in on the comments are always so tough? Lighten up huh. Anyone who knows Contenders would expect it to have a way to keep a scope zeroed to the barrel, and the original article about this was the first and only article in the world on this gun. We are just learning about it all together. It is also pretty clear from the picture of Ben shooting it that the rail is attached to the barrel in the front.
GOT to be kidding me. Why on earth would T/C allow this vid to go out that does not show the bridge style rail that stays with the barrel? Watching this vid and not realizing that the alternative bridge system exists will doubtless cause millions to look at this and dismiss it as worthless as teats on a boar hog without keeping the scope with the barrel sighted in…..a lot of those customers will take 6 months to a year or more to learn the truth, and by then a lot of them will have purchased alternatives. Stupid is as stupid does, T/C. By the way, I’d buy one of these with a wood stock – the light weight receiver and overall system with dummy-proof tools has me intrigued. And I love my Icons – best turnbolt ever made, or right up there near the top of the elites.
Oh come on its an introductory video. Give the guy a break he’s an engineer not a marketing person. Why on earth wouldn’t someone think they wouldn’t design it to have a fixed optic on the barrel?
Interesting new rifle. I’d like to test the repeatability of the barrels to see if they go back to POA after reinstalling. Whoever asked about T/C’s custom shop- it’s gone. Game over.
Ok, Ok, But the Big question still hasn’t been answered yet. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CUSTOM SHOP???? I have been waiting 2 years now to order a Contender barrel and the same crap still shows on their website that they are still restructuring! What are they going to do???? Get off your duffs boys lets get this done already!
.270 Win a different action than .30-06 ? I don’t think so.
Ok here is a weird question. I am missing my the first two bones of right trigger finger so I shoot with the next finger down. Given that the stump ends up right where the bolt handle (ouch on recoil) is on most rifles I end up modifying the stocks or switching them to thumb hole one.
My quest is it possible to take apart the bolt and flip the handle it so that it points forward (and hopefully taking it out of ouch range)
It would be very nice to have a switchable rifle.
Does the barrel include integral locking lugs or are the lugs located in the receiver?
My guess is that almost certainly the lugs are in the barrel extension, not this aluminum receiver.
I wonder if they will sell bolt heads as individuals or if you will need a new bolt. While having 4 categories of action is great and a big step, having bolt heads that can be user replaced, like Savage does, would make this a more appealing design. I’d much rather spend $30 on a new bolt head with a caliber change than to spend $129 (or whatever street price ends up) for a complete bolt to swap within groups.
you are from NH? you should know the plant they closed in in Rochester, not Exeter. (getting Sig Sauer and TC confused?)
Yeah brain fart thanks.
Awesome! I’ve been a Sauer 200/202 fan for years with the switch barrel capability, it will be nice to have an American product in the same class. If they can bring the price point in at the level quoted, it will a great value if the rifle shoots well. Can’t wait to handle one.
if they would make a solid bottom single shot with a (target trigger) i would buy it.
i like the concept of one rifle that can do it all, all thats left is at what price.
Will you offer this new rifle in Left Hand? Thanks Jim
Didn’t get a chance to ask (you’d think I’d remember after all these years)
From another website quoting the TC press release: “The Dimension Bolt-Action Platform is available now with an MSRP of $649. Left-Hand models are also available at the same price. Accessory barrels have an MSRP of $199 and include the corresponding magazine group. Bolts will have an MSRP of $129 and the Dimension receiver (includes receiver, stock and tools) will have an MSRP of $319. Current pricing allows shooters to purchase one rifle plus another barrel and bolt, essentially making two MOA rifle configurations for under $1,000.”
These stores make good prom dresses and you can always find a good discount prom dress with good designs and good colors for you prom night.
Do the prom dresses come in left handed models? Are the prom dresses available in Stainless and Blue, they are both good colors. I hope you remain sober on “you” prom night. You obviously are not sober now!
That is so cool. I want 338.cal