I have a Cabela's nearby and I pop in at least once a week to browse their used gun room. Every now and then I see something interesting and that's how this story starts. I was browsing the racked rifles along the wall and I saw a very short one with a gorgeous stock and a bull barrel. I thought at first it was some kind of tricked out 10/22, but when I pulled it out I found something I'd never seen, an R-55 Benchmark. They had what looked to be a very friendly price on something so pretty, but I put it back to do some research. Their location is a black hole for AT&T data reception so I had to wait until I got home. I found a few articles, some pricing data, and I became really intrigued. The upcoming weekend was an Appleseed in Piqua so I had no time to go back for a second look, but the whole weekend while I was shooting my 10/22 I was thinking about the R-55. I decided that if it was still there when I drove back on Sunday that I'd take it home.
I went back into the gun library and scanned the wall where I had seen it, but it was gone. I made a second pass figuring it might have been moved, but no dice. As I walked out I glanced down at one of the center racks where they keep the junky Mosin-Nagants and boring 22LR bolt actions and there it was! It shone like a jewel in a coal pile. I bought it.
For optics I wanted something classic and very capable for Appleseed shooting. I decided on the Weaver K4 4x38 in Burris Deluxe rings. The combination put the scope right in the sweet spot of the stock's Monte Carlo cheek riser and the eye relief was perfect for the turkey neck we need for a good sight picture. The glass is bright, clear and sharp as a razor.
I took it to the range last Friday to see how it shoots. With CCI Standard Velocity, it's a one hole rifle at 25 meters. I ran about 70 rounds through it and once I got used to the trigger the 5-round groups could be covered with a nickel. It's a VERY sweet shooting rifle.
The only problem is that I can find very little information on it. Google turns up only a few decent threads. There are no parts available, Smith & Wesson (who bought Thompson/Center) have abandoned it entirely, and magazines are nearly impossible to find and very expensive. I'm turning to this knowledgeable group to see if anyone knows anything about the R-55 Benchmark. If you have any information to share, I'm all ears.
You have said about as much as I know about it. It wasn't cheap when new. I drooled over it in the American Rifleman. I'm glad it shoots so well. Now you have something to search for at gun shows. ;D
Thank for sharing.
This is probably your best source of info on it:
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=26
Quote from: Charles McKinley on August 28, 2018, 09:54:14 PM
You have said about as much as I know about it. It wasn't cheap when new. I drooled over it in the American Rifleman. I'm glad it shoots so well. Now you have something to search for at gun shows. ;D
Thank for sharing.
Charles - Thanks for the reply. The ones I saw listed in the online auctions were starting around $600. I got it for half that so I'm pleased with the price.
The only thing I've found that people really complain about is the tendency for the extractor to chip the edge of the chamber. I'm not sure how critical this is. Mine shows some wear in that area and possibly minute chipping, but having not seen the chamber in its new state I can't really tell. There is a DIY mod to remove a small amount of metal from the extractor, but it's dicey as you can remove too much and end up with a single shot rifle.
Quote from: Super Trooper on August 29, 2018, 01:50:26 AM
This is probably your best source of info on it:
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=26
Yes. I have been reading back through the old threads. Even there, not much is said about these rifles other than they are very accurate. There are several mentions of them outshooting the bolt actions at the Camp Perry rimfire matches.
Thanks for the reply!
Mitch
HammBone,
I too own a Thompson R-55 Benchmark. My only comment beyond what has already been said is that they seem to suffer from the ejector hitting the portion of the breech it fits onto. Some folks have documented chips breaking off from the impact. Even though some folks believed an extractor mod would fix the problem, Thompson did not offer extractors as an MOE replacement. Those that sent their rifle to the factory for fixes never saw them again (confiscated??) and instead were offered a different rifle or cash towards the purchase of another kind of rifle (their brand, of course). I have no personal knowledge about this, I'm just repeating what was posted in the threads. I do know that after about 50 rounds my rifle was showing signs of bruising (no chips were observed).
There is a very good thread on Rimfire Central on a DIY modification that aleviates/solves the problem. I did the mod in my rifle and seems to be working. By the way, Thompson is now offering another version of their rimfire rifle. Maybe they solved the puzzle, maybe the bolt parts are interchangeable, maybe you may be able to purchase OEM parts. Too many maybes. I just don't know.
I do know it is a very nice looking and accurate rifle. Look at the R-55 threads from several years ago and get familiar with the history/background of this rifle including the ejector mod fix. I don't know what the S&W policy is regarding the era before they acquired Thompson Center.
aj
HamBone,
Yes, the extractor mod can be a little delicate. Once metal comes off you can't put it back. I can tell you that when I did the mod on my rifle it took more than 20 tries and I spend close to one week before I was satisfied (I don't live close to a range). I went super slow. Disassemble the bolt, stone (not file) the area of the ejector in question a couple of passes, assemble everything paint the tip of the extractor and the groove in the chamber with dykem blue, shoot it a few times (I shoot it three times, enough to scrape off the dyken blue if there is contact), disassemble, check for impacts, repeat all steps until you notice evidence of no impacts on the breech face/chamber.
Hope that helps. I really enjoy shooting mine.
aj
Quote from: airplanejoe on August 29, 2018, 10:58:06 AM
Yes, the extractor mod can be a little delicate. Once metal comes off you can't put it back. I can tell you that when I did the mod on my rifle it took more than 20 tries and I spend close to one week before I was satisfied (I don't live close to a range). I went super slow. Disassemble the bolt, stone (not file) the area of the ejector in question a couple of passes, assemble everything paint the tip of the extractor and the groove in the chamber with dykem blue, shoot it a few times (I shoot it three times, enough to scrape off the dyken blue if there is contact), disassemble, check for impacts, repeat all steps until you notice evidence of no impacts on the breech face/chamber.
Hope that helps. I really enjoy shooting mine.
Yes, very helpful. I am going to disassemble mine, clean everything up really well and get out the magnifying glass and dykem. I think my chamber has already chipped, but it doesn't look too bad yet. I ordered all the spare springs from Numrich as they still have them and I assume that will not last forever.
It is very fun to shoot and I'm going to take it to an Appleseed soon to see how well I can score with it.
Quote from: airplanejoe on August 29, 2018, 10:58:06 AM
Yes, the extractor mod can be a little delicate
AJ,
Took it all apart last night and scrubbed it really good. The chamber is just barely marked by the ejector, but it is definitely hitting. It's really hard to see what's going on. With the connecting plate removed so the bolt can slide back and forth in the receiver, everything is smooth and linear until the bolt face gets to within about 1/32" from the breech. At that point the extractor touches the angled groove in the breech (where the wear mark is) which moves the bolt a little sideways and makes it sit at a slight angle in the receiver.
I'll try to get some good pictures and post here to see what you think.
Mitch
HammBone,
Once you take the bolt apart, make a sketch of the ejector and mark where you want to stone. It's only a small spot. And, don't use a dremel.
You probably did it, but if not, make a copy of the sticky thread that refers to this mod. Has text and pictures. Very useful!
aj
Quote from: airplanejoe on August 31, 2018, 10:10:06 AM
Once you take the bolt apart, make a sketch of the ejector and mark where you want to stone. It's only a small spot. And, don't use a dremel.
You probably did it, but if not, make a copy of the sticky thread that refers to this mod. Has text and pictures. Very useful!
Good idea. I will also bolt it to a piece of steel and scribe its outline in case I need to make a new one.
Here are the pictures. The chamber is in good shape. Only the beginnings of an ejector mark. The part itself is pretty rough on the edges. Definitely a stamping.
I marked the one picture where it looks to have worn a bit and that (I believe) is the area that needs to be relieved to stop it from hitting the chamber.
Wow, fantastic close up pics! Let us know how the mod goes. Watching this thread with interest!
I have one and shot my first several rimfire appleseeds with one.
Actually with match ammo, it will shoot one hole at 50 yards as well.
I really enjoy reading posts like these ones. The knowledge bank is enormous. Thanks for sharing and good luck and have fun.
Took it to the range yesterday to re-sight it after changing from blued to matte rings. (It's all got to match right?) I tested it with Eley Target and CCI SV from a sandbag at 25 yards. It didn't shoot one hole for me this go around and it seemed to like the CCI better. Also, it seemed like such a benign little rifle after firing a Barrett M82A1 that was set up a few bays down from me.
Nice groups. Did you do the extractor mod on your Benchmark?
One more example that rifles have a mind of its own. MY Benchmark likes best cheap aguilas. Go figure??
aj
Quote from: airplanejoe on October 14, 2018, 09:42:19 AM
Nice groups. Did you do the extractor mod on your Benchmark?
Thanks. Yes, I relieved the extractor a bit so it wouldn't have a chance to slap against the breech. I'm also taking the advice above and never letting the bolt slam on an empty chamber. It's a very sweet little rifle. Best $300 I've spent on a firearm in a long while.
Quote from: HammBone on October 14, 2018, 10:28:45 AM
I'm also taking the advice above and never letting the bolt slam on an empty chamber.
I also do that with all my semi-auto .22. Don't know if it's needed, but makes me feel good.
aj