Thompson/Center Compass
Here’s a name you probably didn’t expect to see on this list. Thompson/Center, or “T/C,” has jumped into the fray of affordable bolt-action rifles in 2016 with the Compass line. As the least expensive rifle on our list, the features and accuracy you get with the Compass is a major achievement. Promising 1 MOA grouping with premium ammo, T/C threw down the gauntlet for reviewers and testers, the majority of which have heaped praise on this rifle’s precision capabilities.
There’s an awful lot to like about this rifle, including the fact that it leaves a little money in your pocket to throw at an optic, which you can easily mount on the Weaver style bases. Unlike several others on this list, the Compass lineup offers no sub-model variations.
The only option you’re offered is what caliber your Compass is chambered in. Those are, by the way, everything andthe kitchen sink: .204 Rug, .22-250 Rem, .223 Rem, .243 Win, .270 Win, .300 Win Mag, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, 6.5 CM, 7mm Rem Mag, and 7mm-08 Rem.
Let’s talk specifics; the Compass is offered with a no-frills black synthetic stock with the trigger guard integrated into the design. As for magazines, the Compass makes use of a detachable rotary magazine (are you noticing a trend here?) that fits flush and holds 5 standard cartridges. T/C endowed this creation with a free-floated barrel, yet another feature becoming industry standard in this category.
One major standout with the Compass is, however, the threaded muzzle, ready for a muzzle-break, suppressor, etc. That’s a very cool feature, straight out of the box. The barrel is also equipped with T/C’s famed 5R rifling which the manufacturer claims lowers friction and is easier to clean.
With one of the few single-stage triggers in the group, the Compass still manages to impress in both the smoothness of the pull and the adjustability between 4.5 and 5.5lbs. Bottom line, if you want a highly accurate rifle that’s a bit off the beaten path, the Compass is for you.
Retail: $350