I notice S&W has a $75 rebate on their I-bolt rifles. So....just what the heck IS an I-bolt rifle.?

I have not seen any lengthy, detailed articles on them, and have sure never seen one in a local shop or gun show. How do they differ from anything else? What cartridges are they chambered for? And last, are they worth one's time as even a plain jane hunting piece?


Thanks for your cumulative knowledge...

AC

There's a few articles out there if you Google "smith and wesson i-bolt", doesn't seem to be anything too outstanding. Most of the literature I've seen indicates they were "possibly" pre-production rifles and there were some problems with them and the accuracy results weren't all too impressive. Personally, I'd stick to what works and let someone else test the waters first!

As you may already know, S&W bought Thompson Contender. Thompson last year brought out their first bolt action just before they were bought out by S&W. So, the new Smith & Wesson rfile is the same as a Thompson Icon, but not nearly as classy as the Thompson. I have handled both of them side by side at a local gun shop. The Thompson is fantastic, the S&W is functional but not pretty. The stock on the Thompson Icon is a select grade and is beautiful, the action is very smooth and the blueing is great. The stock on the S&W is Hogue overmold, the action is functional and the metal finish is a matt.

I am a very devoted follower of Smith and Wesson but I certainly would not buy the I-Bolt. That being said, I would love to have the Thompson Icon. It's about $250 more than the Smith. I believe that you can read about them both if you go to the respective websites.

I see there are no responses yet from anyone who has actually shot an I-bolt.

I am reluctant to go to either website to learn about them. I want some feel for actual user impressions, not hype from the manufacturers. Would like to find out their good, useful points, and their undesirable facets, if any, from satisifed and disatisfied users.

Thanks for your responses. It is nice to know that we are basically talking about an "Icon in drag", in so far as being able to relate the I-bolt to something else. It iws also useful to note that neither of you experienced a particularly favourable first impresssion.