The Icon’s flat-base receiver incorporates three recoil lugs and fits into an aluminum bedding block, an incredibly stable combination that contributes to its accuracy. The muzzle of the Icon sports a 60-degree target crown to protect the crown from dings and to provide for a more uniform exit of propellant gases.

A user-adjustable trigger is also standard. It comes from the factory set at three to 3.5 pounds but can be set at up to five pounds. It is designed to come right out of the box with minimal creep and overtravel.

The Icon Precision Hunter is the first varmint-specific rifle in the Icon family. It has all the Icon's bells and whistles, but it is purpose-built for long-range accuracy. Available calibers include the .204 Ruger, .223, .22-250, .243 and .308.

In a departure from the standard Icon, the Precision Hunter has an oversized, tactical style bolt knob, which I found I much preferred over other knob types offered in the Icon. It also comes with a red single-shot adapter that turns the three-round detachable magazine into a solid floorplate for those hunters who prefer to single-load their varmint guns.

The Precision Hunter’s Convection Enhancement System uses a series of holes and horizontal slots cut into the stock to provide increased airflow around the barrel to keep it cooler.

The barrel differs from other Icons in that it is a heavy, straight taper design with six deep flutes. The 22-inch tube still has a recessed target crown and 5R rifling, but the heavier profile measures .780 inch at the muzzle.

"We went with the heavy 22-inch version because it's popular among the tactical competition set. It tends to be more accurate in mid-length actions," Thompson/Center gun designer Mark Laney told Rifle Shooter. "And the 22-incher makes for a more mobile varminter."

For the fluting, Laney says they knew the ratio they wanted--six flutes--and experimented with fluting styles from there. They shot barrels before and after fluting, eventually finding a design that gave the best all-around accuracy while still providing weight savings and the additional surface area to aid in cooling the barrel.

Speaking of barrel cooling, another new feature is T/C's Convection Enhancement System. It consists of seven evenly spaced holes drilled through the bottom of the fore-end, as well as horizontal slots cut perpendicular to the barrel channel.

It is designed to draw air up and around the barrel and work in concert with the barrel's fluting to reduce barrel heating. Laney says the barrel is also floated a little bit more than the standard Icon to provide more space for airflow.

The varmint-specific stock is a rich, warm laminate, a good choice because it provides a good stable platform for the barreled action. It has a beavertail fore-end; a cheekpiece; a raised comb; and a slight palm swell that is stippled for a sure grip with gloved or sweaty hands.

Of course, the stock retains the Icon's CNC-machined aluminum bedding block into which the action's three recoil lugs lock up solidly to ensure the Precision Hunter shoots tight and doesn't lose its zero.

Unique to my test gun was a pair of steel, T/C-built scope rings. The new rings are machined from a solid chunk of bar stock. They are solid yet thinner than some competing tactical designs. They also have a more rounded, low-profile nut than most tactical rings.

The new rings secured one of Nikon's newest Monarch scopes to the test rifle. The 3-12x40 has a matte finish, a standard plex-type reticle and a side-mounted parallax adjustment knob.

I started my testing with Hornady's 55-grain V-Max load, which clocked a speedy 3,602 fps out of the Precision Hunter. My first group was a respectable 0.9-inch, but mirage was tough and the trigger had a bit more creep than I've come to expect from the Icon.