Rifleman Review: Thompson/Center T/CR22 Rifle

by
posted on July 14, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Thompson/Center's T/CR22 carbine is a simple, blowback-actuated design chambered in .22 Long Rifle that draws on the iconic Ruger 10/22 for many of its features, including its 10-round rotary magazine. The carbine joins several similar offerings that look to provide consumers with a utilitarian rimfire carbine with a few features not found in Ruger's classic design.

"Of course, the patents on Ruger's rotary magazine have long since expired, so several companies now are offering rifles that operate from the Ruger 10/22 magazine," said Brian Sheetz, American Rifleman editor-in-chief.

Hands showing a single round of Remington .22 Long Rifle being pushed into the T/CR22 rotary magazine.This affordable T/CR22 offering is stocked in an attractive OD green composite design from Magpul, which features a heavily angled pistol grip, butthook-style stock and M-LOK attachment slots on the underside of the fore-end for attaching a bipod. However, there's much more to the T/CR22 than a simple stock upgrade.

The threaded muzzle and fiber-optic front sight of the T/CR22 shown on a brown background.Each Thompson/Center T/CR22 features a modernized receiver complete with a ramped aperture rear sight that's paired with a fiber-optic front sight. The top surface of the receiver includes an integral Picatinny rail for attaching optics, and there's a pass-through at the rear of the receiver that makes cleaning fast and easy. The bolt carrier is enhanced with an enlarged, textured knob that makes manipulation easy, and T/C's rotary magazine design can lock the bolt to the rear and also hold the bolt open after the last round has been fired.

The steep pistol grip and angular lines of the green Magpul stock displayed on the T/CR22.Mated to the receiver is a 17" barrel complete with a 1:15" twist rate and a 1/2-28 TPI threaded muzzle. The overall length of the T/CR22 is 35", and the gun weighs 4.4 lbs., unloaded. Suggested retail pricing on this base model is $399, and other models are available with different stocks, barrel profiles and other features. The T/CR22 is capable of accepting all Ruger-pattern rotary magazines, however, Ruger-specific designs will not lock the bolt open.

Aiming the T/CR22 downrange. Clearly visible is the enlarged bolt knob and the Leupold riflescope."Overall, the T/CR22 is certainly an homage to the Ruger 10/22, but it's its own gun and T/C has done really well on a couple of features to actually improve upon the original," Sheetz said. "It's a good value, there are a lot of nice features for a 4 lb., 4 oz., 17"-barreled .22 semi-automatic."

To see and hear more about the Thompson/Center T/CR22 carbine, watch our Rifleman Review video above. To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.