Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769056
I would say they hit their mark. Unlike many Americans, Debney, who is from Great Britain, hasn't been a lifelong hunter. He only began hunting after becoming head of storied gunmaker Smith & Wesson. "My motivation for hunting was pragmatic at first," he told me. "Smith & Wesson owns and operates T/C, a line of great firearms. If I was going to effectively run a company that makes firearms used by hunters, I needed to know hunting. It's the way I choose to lead. "I saw the passion in my friends and employees who pursued game and knew there was no way for them to adequately convey to me the nuances and emotion rifle. I proceeded to shoot two, three-shot groups at 100, 200, and 300 yards. All six groups were 1 MOA or better, as T/C promises every buyer. The last group was the stunner, though. It was at 300 yards and measured just under one inch, barely outside of the bull at one o'clock. It was a punch to the gut, but I was happy to see a product of such quality at such an amazingly affordable price. Debney later told me as we hunted together: "We set out to design a rifle that would exceed expectations in terms of accuracy, reliability, and functionality, but that would not be hard on the budgets of America's hard- working hunters and their families." I only learned of the trip about three weeks out. That might be a bad thing in some ways, as I'm very meticulous about my equipment, especially the rifle that I'm going to use. I was concerned that I might not have the time necessary to get everything working to my standards, but the VX-3i and T/C Compass arrived at my gun-dealer's shop just a few days later. As I told Debney when he got to camp, I really didn't want to like the T/C Compass because I had just spent a princely sum on a custom hunting rifle that I needed to believe was worth the price. But when I took my T/C Compass to the range, it shot at least as well as my outrageously expensive 172 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S The safari members, l-r: Len Durandt, PH Stephen Tam, Scott Cain, Chris Sprangers, James Debney, Bruce Pettet, Darren LaSorte, and PH Peter Tam.