I'm a sucker for accurate rifles. I can't seem to own enough, and I never pass up an opportunity to shoot one until I run out of ammo or wear out my welcome. A few months ago, a prototype of Thompson/Center's new Icon Precision Hunter made me do just that.

I was on a deer hunt in Kentucky with the folks from T/C. They had brought along several new rifles, including a slick-looking prototype of the still-top-secret Icon Precision Hunter. They turned me and half a dozen colleagues loose on a range that had paper targets at 100 yards and steel targets out to 500 yards. After I fired the first 100-yard, one-hole group with the rifle, I switched to banging distant steel.

I passed it off reluctantly a few times that afternoon, but when we finally ran out of ammunition, my friends' scowling faces left no doubt as to who had fired the lion's share of our ammo.

I came away from my introduction to the Icon Precision Hunter impressed. But I tried to temper my optimism a bit because those prototype rifles are typically built by hand. Still, I was impressed enough that I jumped at the chance to be the first writer to test the new rifle a few months later.

The Precision Hunter is built on the solid Icon action. For those who are not familiar with it, the Icon's action is machined from solid bar stock in the T/C factory. It is unique among production rifles in that it has a flat bottom with three integral recoil lugs and a solid top with an integral Weaver-style scope mounting rail.

Theoretically, the solid top makes the action stiffer and, therefore, more accurate. The integral scope mounting base eliminates one variable from the scope mounting equation, which also elevates its accuracy potential.

The flat action bottom is harder to make but, when done right, it's more stable than less expensive round-action designs. Finally, those three integral recoil lugs interlock with the stock's integral aluminum bedding block to further bolster the Icon's accuracy. In my experience, that rock-solid melding of the stock and action yields amazing accuracy.

The Icon's solid, three-lug bolt is also machined from bar stock. The three-lug design permits a short, 60-degree bolt lift that allows greater clearance for the shooter's hand between the bolt handle and the scope's ocular lens.

A small "T-slot" extractor fits into one of the lugs, which leaves a solid ring of steel that supports the case head uniformly. A plunger-style ejector in the bolt face sends empties sailing out of the minimally sized ejection port.

Other features include a sleek, skeletonized bolt shroud; a nifty bolt release on the left side of the receiver; and a unique, two-position safety. You can work the bolt with the gun on "safe," but an independent bolt lock allows you to lock the safety and the bolt if you so desire.

All Icons have button-rifled, match-grade barrels. Each Icon barrel features a recessed, 60-degree target crown to protect the crown from dings and to allow gases to exit uniformly to the sides of the bullet, rather than behind it. Each and every chamber is cut with high-grade chamber reamers to ensure the utmost consistency. 5R rifling, which has five grooves and lands with angular sides to reduce jacket deformation and fouling, further contributes to the Icon's exceptional accuracy.