Thompson/Center Arms Impact

Sub Categories

Bases and Rails

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Not to be confused with the makers of the famous Thompson gun (originally made by the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company), the Thompson/Center Arms is an American producer of firearms, established by K.W. Thompson and Warren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 Impact Muzzleloader Review

Introduced in 2010 at the SHOT Show, the T/C Impact muzzleloader quickly became known for its lower price point in the T/C rifle lineup and thus has gained a lot of popularity. The rifle features an adjustable stock length, complete with a removable spacer at the butt pad end and a soft rubber recoil pad. Underneath the barrel, there's a ramrod and a factory-preinstalled base on the receiver allows for scope mounting which is attached by four screws.

The trigger mechanism of the T/C Impact is factory preset at a pull weight of 1678 g (3.7 lbs). There are three hammer positions available on the Impact, T/C naming them ‘at rest’, ‘cocked’ and ‘fired’. The carbon steel barrel measures 660 mm (26 inches) in length and has preinstalled Williams sights with fiber inserts. In comparison to earlier models like the Triumph, the Impact offers better balance and includes an updated action design. Instead of a trigger guard lever, the action is opened using twin ears at the receiver's rear end. This exposes the breech plug which can be removed by turning it counterclockwise using the proprietary tool. The plug is conventionally designed and comes with triple lead threads for easier removal.

Certain components do, however, reflect the rifle's budget-friendly nature. For example, the trigger guard is constructed from plastic, and the frame is made from a lighter alloy. The stocks, crafted from synthetic polymer material, have sling swivel studs. T/C Impact rifle comes supplied with a primer tool and a cleaning jag.

T/C Impact, chambered for .50 cal.

Figure 1: T/C Impact, chambered for .50 cal. (Source: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020803416)

T/C Impact 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 Impact models.

T/C Impact Variants

The rifle is available in the following variants:

T/C Impact X7
T/C Impact Z5
T/C Impact Dream Season
T/C Impact Hardwoods Camo Synthetic Stock
T/C Impact Black Synthetic Stock
T/C Impact Laminated Thumbhole Deluxe
T/C Impact Real Tree Camo Stock-Stainless Barrel
T/C Impact Laminate Stock-Stainless Barrel
T/C Impact Black Composite Stock-Blued Barrel
T/C Impact Black Composite Stock-Stainless Barrel

The receivers of T/C Impact 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.

The receiver of T/C Impact, chambered for .50 cal.

Figure 2: The receiver of T/C Impact, chambered for .50 cal. (Source: http://www.gunzinc.com/tc-impact-muzzleloaders-will-get-you-ready-for-black-powder-season/)

T/C Impact

A: 7.9 mm

B: 21.3 mm

C: 7.9 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 6-48

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Impact

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Impact

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 Impact are the following:

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Impact

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 Impact 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 Impact

Picatinny Rails for T/C Impact

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

Weaver Bases for T/C T/C Impact

This Weaver base is produced by the American manufacturer Warne. It is milled from high-quality steel and designed to fit onto the receiver of your T/C T/C Impact. The rail comes with a 10-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