Any Thoughts on Thompson Center Venture ?

J

Jimmy10mm

New member
Not for me but a buddy of mine is not internet savvy and is dead set on getting a TC Venture in 308. He wants it because he says they guarantee MOA accuracy and it is relatively inexpensive. I'm not well schooled on rifles and neither is he. I'm wondering if he wouldn't be better off with another brand even if it was a few bucks more ?
 
My understanding is that Remington quality has been slipping on low end products. The only reviews of the Venture have been positive, and with the right loads and shooter can achieve better than their 1 MOA guarantee. If I were in the market for a bolt gun, I would seriously consider one. Will be interested to see what others have to say on the matter.
 
I have a Venture in .243 that is a fine accurate rifle with a good trigger on it. MOA is not a problem. It handles well and the stock is better than the ones that come on the Savages and Marlins. If he gets it he will like it.

But mine sadly is for sale due to my want to build a stainless carbine on a Savage action. I very well will miss it.

LK
 
I own a Venture in .270 and even though I haven't shot it yet. I’m still trying to decide if I want to keep it or not. I do believe they are a better made rifle than most others you can touch for the same price point of $350-450.

The 60 degree bolt throw is nice, and the bolt moves very smoothly. They have an easily adjusted trigger, and from my dry firing it is very crisp and breaks nicely. The finish is on par with most rifles $400 or less, but it is even and I don't see many flaws in its matte appearance. The stock isn’t my favorite but not many synthetics are, however the rifle does balance and point very well. The polymer three round magazine doesn’t drop out as freely as I would like but this might change if I had a few rounds in there to weigh it down.

I think it is a well built and thought out rifle, but if I was looking for one I’d probably spring for the ICON. The Venture is basically the same rifle, but a few less features and refinements. I got a really great deal on my Venture, and I probably should shoot it, but I just have too many irons in the fire and I haven’t even put a scope on it yet.
 
They're heavy (the stock bedding block weighs a ton) and really ugly. But I've not seen anyone who says that they shoot poorly. It would be hard to find another rifle in that price range with an MOA guarantee (maybe the Howa?)
 
Mine's a .30-06 and a tackdriver using the cheap Walmart ammo--or any ammo I've tried for that matter.

Don't know why everybody's looking to get rid of theirs--I'll probably be looking to get another one in either .243 or .270---unless I decide to spend the extra and get a Browing or Ruger.

I stole mine last fall--dealer had it marked down to $399 and then I got a $50 rebate from TC and its really kind of spoiled me---every time I look at the $400 Remington combos at Wally's or even the $329 Marlin XL7's, I just cringe---they're nowhere near the quality of the TC. You're better off paying full price for the TC than getting any of the lesser guns out there.

Buy with confidence.
 
They're heavy (the stock bedding block weighs a ton)
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I wouldn't call a 7lb rifle heavy. With most 3-9 power scopes and rings that puts you right at 8lbs or a little over. With sling and loaded you'll be looking at a sub 9lb rifle.
 
Can't say anything for Ventures, but my T/C Icon Precision Hunter in .308 is a fantastic rifle.

From what I hear, they are a best bang for your $ deal though.
 
I have 2 of them a 270 and a 308. Both are tack drivers. They are very good rifles for the money. The only complaints I heard about has been the plastic mags. That's a personal preference I don't care myself, they shoot where I aim. The only stock trigger I like better is the one on my tikka. And I agree with taylorforce they are not a heavy rifle. Would your buddy be better off spending a few more bucks? Only he can decide that. There's a let of good rifles out there. But for a $400 or so rifle I don't think there's a better deal.
 
I have a Venture in 30-06 and it is a great shooter. I don't think it is a heavy rifle. Mine shot the first 3 rounds of blue box Federal through the same hole at 50 yds when I was sighting in the scope. At 100 it opened up a bit but was still way under moa and I attribute those changes to the 'loose nut behind the trigger'. The trigger is very easily adjustable but mine broke like glass between 3 & 3.5 pounds out of the box.

I also have a Weatherby Vanguard in 270 that I like equally well. The trigger on the Vanguard was heavy and gritty. I got it adjusted but then the safety wouldn't engage. Weatherby installed a new trigger free but it was equally heavy & gritty feeling. My solution was a 'drop in' Timney trigger & safety combo which gave me a great trigger and 3 position safety but added about $100 to the cost of the gun.

Both guns sell for about the same price $400-$450. If you're a trigger fanatic like me, add $100 to the Weatherby and install a Timney. In a perfect world, I would prefer the Venture had an internal magazine with a floor plate like the Weatherby. But, it ain't a perfect world and I have had zero problems with the plastic removable box mag of the Venture.

So, my suggestion is for your friends to put his hands on both of these models and buy the one that feels and looks the best to him.
 
My understanding is that Remington quality has been slipping on low end products
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I just bought a Rem 700 SPS Buckmasters .270 Win. 3/4" group out of the box. $599 minus a $40 rebate. Trigger is fantastic and rifle seems very well made. TC Venture is ugly even if it does shoot good.
 

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My .243 Venture feels no heavier than my Savage 110 and as for looks it's totally dependant on personal taste. But come on now, we're talkin a gun with a black plastic stock here. None are gonna win any beauty contest and it doesn't look any worse than most of the competition and better than many. It's stock is also one of the sturdiest tupperware stocks available on a factory gun and it's ergos are very friendly.

Betting most of the nay-sayers have never even handled one let alone shot one and they just read something on the net that stuck in their noggin.

LK
 
First question is- what does he intend to do with it?
Hunting?
Plinking?
Long range target?

These are important considerations.
If long range is the end game, lacking the ability to customize, and accurize, is a definite downside. Availability of aftermarket accessories on everything from stocks to triggers, and gunsmiths to work on them is going to be poor.

I went through the same thought exercise when buying my son a rifle last year.
Selected a Remington 700 for all those reasons.
Recently purchased a Savage as well, and I gotta say- with the Accutrigger and Accustock- they're one hell of a value. Accurate out of the box- and the availability of aftermarket accessories are growing rapidly with their popularity.

If customization after the purchase isn't a consideration, I'd also look at the Howa 1500 series. Same action is used in the Weatherby Vanguard.
 
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If your mate is looking for a rifle with an accuracy guarantee he should have a look at a Tikka T3. Tikka have a 3 shot 1" (Sub MOA) with "ANY" factory ammo. If you use Match ammo or Handloads you can at least cut those groups in half. The Tikka also has one of the best factory triggers on the market (so theres no need for an after market one), also the stock on the Tikka is fibre reinforced with a full length bedding block where the Venture is injection molded with pillar bedding. If your mate wants a gun for the range or range and hunting have a look at the (heavy barrelled) Tikka T3 Varmint
http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?varmintss
http://www.tikka.fi/pdf/specs/T3VarmintStainless.pdf
or if he wants a gun just for hunting have a look at the Tikka T3 Lite
http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?litess
http://www.tikka.fi/pdf/specs/LiteStainless.pdf
All the Tikka's come in Blued or Stainless and the Tikk'a are made by Sako
If your friend wants a hunting rifle also have a look at the Sako A7 rifle, it's a little dearer then the Tikka but comes with the same accuracy guarantee but with 5 shots instead of 3, but theres no reason the Tikka's wont shot just as well as they use the same barrel.
http://www.berettaaustralia.com.au/sako/sako-a7/sako-a7-synthetic-stainless.html
Dont take any notice of the price as thats in Aussie dollars.
 
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Cowboy, which gun would you buy between the T/C Venture and the Weatherby Vanguard? Is the Venture made in the US? The Vanguard is made in Japan.

Thanks, Eagle
 
Go with the Venture because it is a great rifle for the money and the lifetime warranty is hard to beat.

I have the Venture in .270 flavor and enjoyed shooting it every time I take it out to the range. It isn't picky with factory loads for 1-1.5 MOA shooting either which makes it a great gun for people who do not reload.
 
Eagle, I have the above mentioned Venture .243 and my buddy has a 7mm-08 weatherby vangard. I've shot and handled both and both are servicable and accurate. I will say I like the stock on the TC better. The TC wears a very stiff plastic stock where as the Weatherby (and most others) forearm has some flex. For triggers and actions I've never shoot them side by side on the same day so it's hard for me to do a direct comparison but I will say the trigger on the TC is very good and forced me to adjust the trigger down on the Savage I've been shooting for 10 or 15 years. I always thought the Savage was OK until I fired them both back to back.

IMO, it's a coin flip and you'll have to handle both to see which one you like best.

LK
 
As someone brought up a Tikka is another excellent rifle, they are about $100 more give or take. Either way I have shot both the T/C and the Tikka and they are both excellent guns. They are both extremely accurate, the action in the Tikka is a little smoother, the triggers are both excellent, I like the synthetic stock much more on the T/C. Either way you cannot go wrong, both guns are very well made.
 
My understanding is that Remington quality has been slipping on low end products
Click to expand...

Anybody wondering what the above statment in post #2 has to do with the question the OP asked......:confused:

A friend of mine bought the Venture in 30-06 and it is a tack driver.

Pros:

  1. Made in the USA
  2. Lifetime guarantee
  3. 3 shot MOA guarantee
  4. Fully free floated barrel
  5. Detachable magazine

Cons:

None
 
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