At one time, Thompson/Center Arms was the leading name in muzzleloaders, starting out with traditional-style firearms and venturing into the world of modern inline muzzleloaders. The company was purchased by Smith & Wesson in 2007 before being shuttered in 2021 during that company’s re-organization. In 2024, Thompson/Center was purchased by former president Gregg Ritz and is on the road to recovering its past muzzleloading reputation with the newly updated and reintroduced for 2025 Triumph in-line muzzleloader.
The Triumph, originally introduced by Thompson/Center in 2007, is what Ritz calls “the best value-priced muzzleloader on the market today.” It is a .50-cal. in-line design with a patented “toggle-lock” break-open action with only four moving parts that provides a sealed ignition system. The manually-cocked hammer uses an automatic safety. Ignition is achieved with 209 shotgun primers. The Triumph’s Speed Breech XT breechplug removes for cleaning with a quarter turn and is rated for both loose powder or pellets.
The Triumph’s 29” barrel is nitride treated on both the inside and outside surfaces and is magnum-rated for a 150-grain charge of blackpowder or 120 grains of Black Horn 209 powder. It has 1:24” twist rifling and Thompson’s Quick Load Accurizor (QLA) muzzle system, and is drilled and tapped for optic mounts or iron sights. The rifle is supplied with a solid aluminum Rugged Rod loading rod. The fore-end and stock are checkered polymer with a SimsAirTech Limbsaver recoil pad at the rear and quick-detachable sling swivel studs. Unlike Thompson’s switch-barrel Encore, the Triumph is a dedicated muzzleloader that does not require a Federal Form 4473 to purchase.
The new T/C Triumph is available with two finish options. The first has a black nitride barrel and a gray Cerakote action with black furniture with an MSRP of $800. The second has a black nitride barrel, black Cerakote action and a Mossy Oak Bottomland camouflage finish on the furniture with an MSRP of $850.
“The Triumph is back: stronger, sleeker, and more capable than ever,” Ritz declared, when announcing the rifle’s reintroduction. For more information, see the company’s website.
