Taylor’s & Company is announcing their new TC86, a modern take on a classic lever-action rifle. The TC86 is a big-bore .45-70 takedown rifle that combines timeless good looks with a handful of modern tweaks that make it a very flexible hunting and ranch rifle.
The TC86 is a compact rifle with a 16.5-inch barrel, walnut furniture with a soft satin finish and checkered pistol grip, and a beautiful color case-hardened finish on the receiver and forend tip. It has a traditional spur hammer and an oversized loop lever, a soft rubber buttpad, and improved sights.
“Taylor’s & Company brings to the gun enthusiast classic firearms that made cowboys, lawmen and outlaws famous, but with a modern twist,” said Taylor Vice President Rob Girard. “All Taylor’s premium firearms are made using the latest in precision machinery and high-quality materials with one goal in mind; to create reliable and accurate reproductions of Civil War, Old West, hunting and tactical guns from the 19th century. The TC86 Takedown is a perfect example of this.”
In addition to the raised fiber-optic front sight and Skinner-style rear peep sight, the barrel is fitted with a Weaver-pattern Scout rail for long eye relief optics. So out of the box, it’s ready to go, but longer-range shooting is an option, too. The TC86 has standard sling swivel studs for use in the field, or with a bipod for precision shooting.
The takedown system looks standard, so to remove the barrel the shooter must unscrew the magazine tube, pull it forward, and twist the forend and barrel assembly to take down the rifle for storage and transportation. The barrel is semi-octagonal with a deep-blued finish and has a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle.
See Also: Taylor’s & Company .45-70 Ridge Runner Takedown Lever Gun ‘Must-Have!’
This allows shooters to use a muzzle brake or flash hider, and even shoot this big-bore suppressed. Manually repeating guns make great suppressor hosts. While the iron sights might not fully clear all suppressors, the fiber optic front sight will still stand out, and of course, there is that rail for a taller red dot optic or long eye relief scope.
With a relatively small size, and even smaller package broken down, the TC86 looks like a ton of fun. Whether it’s taking game or heaving lots of lead at steel plates.
The TC86 is in production and now shipping. The suggested retail price is in-line with their other big bore lever guns at $1,839. For more information about Taylor & Company’s products and exclusives, visit them online.
For as much as that costs, I’d put a few hundred more to it and buy Montana Armory’s model 89 in 460 or 500 S&W, extremely strong action that can digest full power loads and is of exceptional quality and American made.
How many rounds does the damn magazine hold, genius?!?
This is not supposed to be a modern lever action, but an Italian clone of an 1886 Winchester with some modern features. The 1886 ejected out of the top.
Nice looking lever gun, however a couple of things… first, you need to option a longer barrel, say 20″ or better yet a 22″ barrel. If you put a brake on that 16″ barrel, it will blow your ears off your head. Second you need a full 1″ Decelerator pad.
And finally, offer it in a .475 Linebaugh, which will also shoot the fabulous .480 Ruger… the .480 Ruger is perhaps the ultimate rifle/pistol combo for the north woods… or anywhere for that matter.
At least it’s not a Henry or a Mossberg.
For my needs (YMMV), unless it’s an antique lever gun, it should spit the brass out of the side… not the top.
I don’t like it. The large loop lever conflicts with the short barrel length, and the rail plain clashes. The whole things seems completely unbalanced. Yes, the case hardening is pretty, but that is not enough.
The rifle is designed to be work rifle and not a play pretty. The large loop lever is so a gloved hand can easily be inserted into it. It also has the extra’s people want that traditional Lever Action rifles cant have without massively modifying it.
Marlin and Henry both offer the same mods in many of their rifles… at substantially lower prices. The breakdown feature might be handy in some circumstances, but the case hardening and conventional wood do seem to clash with the (long eye relief) rail and fiber optics. I prefer my tactical guns to be tactical, and my traditional ones to be traditional. The hybrids seem like hermaphrodites to me. YMMV
Oh my, but that is pretty. The rail and threaded barrel seem a little out of place but the case-hardening and take-down are all class. The 86 is a fine action. And it is Italian made too.
If you want pretty, “Winchester” sells an 1886 Deluxe with a 24″ octagonal barrel, select grade III/IV walnut, and a traditional crescent butt plate in .45-90 at a slightly lower price. True, it is built in Japan by Miroku, but Miroku does good work.