Icon and Nikon at the range
If you wait for the perfect day to conduct a “field test” at the range, it’s never going to happen. Not in the mountains of Northeast Oregon. Take the best the season can offer you and work with it.
We brought out to the range the T/C Icon in .308 caliber topped with the excellent Nikon Monarch 3-12 with a BDC reticle. We are planning to use this combo extensively during our next hunting season, so we needed to learn more about its potentials tested under true hunting conditions. As we started setting up, the wind gusts became more frequent and severe; however, we were committed not to postpone this appointment with the Icon and retreat inside seeking protection from the biting northerly wind.
The Icon is a well-crafted bolt rifle which has consistently taken larger market share in the crowded world of hunting rifles. It balances well and points naturally while the oiled finished stock feels good in your hands. The bolt operates smoothly and precisely. The trigger breaks at a good 4.25 pounds with no creep. We really love the ICON’s trigger. It is crisp, accurate and light, truly one of the best triggers on the market.
We tested the accuracy of this combination at our range using 3 prominent brands of ammunitions. Two tactical ones (Black Hills and Hornady) and one of the most recently introduced hunting cartridges from ATK/Federal: the Fusion.
We shot several groups of 3 rounds with each one of the above ammunition with no malfunctions or cleaning in between.
The results – in the table below – tell the story in numbers. The Fusion showed a consistent edge 
on the other two brands, but we need to keep in consideration that they were the last group to be tested. The wind gusts measured up to 22 mph earlier in the session and they were coming toward us at a slight angle. No doubt the wind had certainly increased the spread of the grouping potential, especially with the first two brands of ammunition.
| Conditions | ||
| Temperature | Elevation | Wind |
35° F |
3950 feet |
5-10 mph with gusts |
| Manufacturer | Caliber | Bullet weight | Muzzle Velocity fps | Group size @100 yds. |
| Black Hills Ammunition | 308 WIN MATCH | 168 gr. Match HP | 2650 |
1.262" |
| Hornady | 308 WIN 168 GR TAP | 168 gr. TAP - FPD | 2700 |
1.287" |
| ATK / Federal | 308 WIN Fusion FS2 | 165 gr. Fusion | 2700 |
0.859" |
The scope used on the T/C Icon belongs to the renowned Monarch family manufactured by Nikon. This is a 3-12x42SF model with a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) reticle. In addition, this scope has a long-range side focus adjustment which can be regulated from 50 yds. to infinite. This is a very easy scope to get attached to. The Monarch has generous eye-relief, fantastic light transmission quality and an intuitive long-range reticle that makes 200 and 300 yd. shots a breeze.
During the last part of the field test we went from grouping to hunting scenarios using an armored steel plate as target set at 265 yds. from our shooting position. The plate measured 12x14 inches. We shot 15 rounds and all 15 bullets hit the plate producing a distant reassuring “gong” sound.
The field report for our “Icon & Nikon” continues.
See you on the trail,
Maurizio Valerio,
President, Top Rated