Thompson/Center Arms FX Pro Hunter

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Picatinny Rails

Fixed Mounts

The History of Thompson/Center Arms

Not to be confused with the makers of the famous Thompson gun (originally made by the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company), the Thompson/Center Arms is an American producer of firearms, established by K.W. Thompson and Warren Center in 1965. Initially, they focused on manufacturing single-shot firearms with interchangeable barrels. This led to the introduction of a unique single-shot pistol in the late 1960s which later became known as the Contender. The production facilities were set up in 1965 with the first large orders leaving the factory in 1967.

The Contender allowed for switching between different calibers only by changing the barrel, which was a good selling point at the time, even compared to some of the popular bolt-action rifles. It offered great precision for a break-action pistol and was powerful enough for different hunting scenarios. Over the following decade, they also presented the second generation of Contender, named the G2, and the Encore model which used a different trigger mechanism and featured a bulkier, more rugged design.

In the early 1970s, the company first introduced their Hawken-style black powder muzzle-loading rifle which was followed by several different muzzleloader models such as Cherokee, Seneca, Cougar, Hawken, New Englander and many others. For some time, TC Arms also made 2 muzzleloading pistols, but the fire that demolished the factory in the 1990s made it impossible to continue production. The company did, however, also produce some bolt-action rifles such as the Venture and Compass, available in various configurations.

In the 1990s, Thompson/Center Arms faced a legal issue regarding a rifle conversion kit for the pistols they sold. The AFT claimed that the kit could be used to create an illegal DIY firearm, however, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of T/C Arms, stating that the company would not be held responsible for how people might misuse the kit.

In 2007, T/C Arms Co. was obtained by the Smith & Wesson company and the production was moved to Springfield. In 2021, S&W announced their plans to sell the T/C Arms brand, fully ceasing the production of firearms. However, as of 2023, a definitive buyer is yet to be determined. The company continues to list various models on their T/C Arms USA website, likely selling off the remaining inventory.

Thompson/Center Arms FX Pro Hunter Muzzleloader Review

The T/C FX Pro Hunter fixed-barrel muzzleloader is a model produced by Thompson Center. It incorporates the design and quality of the original Encore Pro Hunter. The FX Pro Hunter comes with a standard .50 caliber barrel that cannot be swapped out, which is the main difference in comparison to other models in the series. The fixed design does not allow for the exchange of barrels to alternate between calibers. This is due to a non-removable, relocated hinge pin, making it incompatible with Encore barrels.

The rifle's stainless-steel receiver has the company’s Weather Shield protective finish. Like on the Encore, pulling back on the lower part of the trigger guard allows the front end of the barrel to tilt down, showing the back part where the breech plug is. The plug itself is hand-removable, but a tool is included with the rifle, given that debris can accumulate around the plug after several shots.

FX Pro Hunter models are equipped with Williams fiber-optic front and rear sights but also have four drilled and tapped holes on the top of the receiver for scope mounting purposes. There is no external safety, but instead, the rifle has a single-position hammer which must be manually cocked for the FX Pro Hunter to fire. The trigger is set to a pull weight of approximately 1900 g (4.2 lbs) right from the factory.

A ramrod is attached under the barrel, secured by the forend retention studs. Finally, the gun's butt has semi-hard inserts and a soft rubber pad located at the end of the stock that helps with reducing the recoil.

T/C FX Pro Hunter, chambered for .50 cal.

Figure 1: T/C FX Pro Hunter, chambered for .50 cal. (Source: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/thompson-center-rifles---muzzleloaders/thompson-center-t-c-pro-hunter-fx--50-caliber-26-quot--realtree-ap-28205799.cfm?gun_id=101303290)

T/C FX Pro Hunter Calibers

The rifle can be chambered for the following calibers:

.50 cal.

The W209 shotshell primers are recommended for the ignition system on the T/C FX Pro Hunter.

T/C FX Pro Hunter Variants

The rifle is available in the following variants:

T/C FX Pro Hunter Hogue Over-Molded Stock Camo
T/C FX Pro Hunter Synthetic Black

The receivers of T/C FX Pro Hunter come with four drilled and tapped holes which can be used for scope mounting purposes. There are two holes at the front and two at the rear end of the receiver.

T/C FX Pro Hunter, chambered for .50 cal.

Figure 2: T/C FX Pro Hunter, chambered for .50 cal. (Source: https://www.gunsamerica.com/986285368/Thompson-Center-Pro-Hunter-FX-Camo-50-cal-Muzzleloader-5799-New.htm)

T/C FX Pro Hunter

A: 7.9 mm

B: 21.3 mm

C: 7.9 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 6-48

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C FX Pro Hunter

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C FX Pro Hunter

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Firearms that share one-piece scope mounts with T/C FX Pro Hunter are the following:

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C FX Pro Hunter

To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Firearms that share two-piece scope mounts with T/C FX Pro Hunter are the following:

Should you happen to own this rifle and would be willing to share with us more information regarding interchangeability, we kindly ask you to contact us at info@optics-trade.eu

Thank you for your help!

Best Scope Mounts for T/C FX Pro Hunter

Picatinny Rails for T/C FX Pro Hunter

If you want to expand your scope mounting options, consider installing a Picatinny rail on top of your T/C FX Pro Hunter's receiver. This rail manufactured by the American company EGW is made of high-quality aluminum and comes with a 2-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu