Thompson/Center Arms Venture LA

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Not to be confused with the makers of the famous Thompson gun (originally made by the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company), the Thompson/Center Arms is an American producer of firearms, established by K.W. Thompson and Warren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

T/C first introduced the Venture rifle in 2007 and like their Compass model from 2016, it was available in two action lengths. In this review, the long-action model is presented.

Structurally, the rifle is much like the T/C Compass model, with a few minor design differences. Contrary to the Compass, the stock on the Venture is designed with a rubber inlay around the forend and pistol grip. The end of the polymer stock comes equipped with a rubber recoil pad. No iron sights are installed on the rifle, instead, most models are supplied with Weaver-style bases for scope mounting purposes. Safety is different compared to the T/C Compass. It comes in the form of a two-position lever placed on the right side of the receiver and is not directly attached to the bolt but is instead a part of the frame.

The steel bolt has a lift of 60-degrees and features three forward locking lugs that lock up safely with the action’s housing. To release the bolt, a side lever placed on the rear left end of the receiver must be pressed and the bolt comes out easily. The detachable magazine is made from reinforced plastic and can hold up to 3 rounds. It can be simply released via a metal clip at the front end of the magazine well.

The trigger comes preset to approximately 1600 g (3.5 lbs). However, with the provided hex-headed key, it can be easily adjusted between 1400 g (3 lbs) and 2300 g (5 lbs).

T/C Venture LA, chambered for .30-06 Spr.

Figure 1: T/C Venture LA, chambered for .30-06 Spr. (Source: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/military-arms/thompson-center-arms-t-c-venture-30-06-sprg.cfm?gun_id=102421242)

T/C Venture LA Calibers

The rifle can be chambered for the following calibers:

.270 Win.
7mm Rem. Mag.
.30-06 Spr.
.300 Win Mag.

The receivers of the T/C Venture LA rifle come with four drilled and tapped holes which can be used for scope mounting purposes. There are two holes on the front and two on the rear mounting surface. Most rifles are, however, factory-equipped with Weaver bases.

The receiver of T/C Venture, chambered for .300 Win. Mag.

Figure 2: The receiver of T/C Venture, chambered for .300 Win. Mag. (Source: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/thompson-center-rifles/thompson-center---venture----300-win-mag.cfm?gun_id=101488242)

T/C Venture LA

A: 22.2 mm

B: 95.2 mm

C: 22.2 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 6-48

R1: R17

R2: R17

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Venture LA

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

The necessary condition for rifles to have one-piece scope mounts interchangeable is that the mounting surfaces of these rifles match in every dimension. Rifles that have one-piece scope mounts interchangeable with T/C Venture LA are the following:

T/C Compass LA

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

For two-piece scope mounts to be interchangeable, the mounting surfaces of the rifles must match in every dimension except the action length which can vary. This is because the distance between the two pieces of the mount is not fixed. Rifles that have two-piece scope mounts interchangeable with T/C Venture LA are the following:

Best Scope Mounts for T/C Venture LA

Picatinny Rails for T/C Venture LA

Like on the T/C Compass, the receivers of T/C Venture LA are usually equipped with Weaver bases for scope mounting purposes. Should you want to expand your mounting choices, you might want to replace them with a Picatinny rail. This one is made by the American company EGW and is designed to fit your Venture LA rifle perfectly.

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

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Thompson/Center Arms Venture LA

The History of Thompson/Center Arms

Thompson/Center Arms Venture LA Rifle Review

T/C Venture LA Calibers

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Venture LA

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

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

Best Scope Mounts for T/C Venture LA

Picatinny Rails for T/C Venture LA

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

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Thompson/Center Arms Venture LA

The History of Thompson/Center Arms

Thompson/Center Arms Venture LA Rifle Review

T/C Venture LA Calibers

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With T/C Venture LA

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

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

Best Scope Mounts for T/C Venture LA

Picatinny Rails for T/C Venture LA

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

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