Thompson/Center Compass II: An Affordable, Versatile Bolt-Action Rifle

by
posted on November 4, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
no-6-bolt-action-the-thompson-center.jpg

The Thompson/Center Compass ranked No. 6 in popularity among bolt-action rifles sold through retailers on GunBroker.com last year. The composite-stocked firearm comes in a wide variety of chamberings, with configurations to suit nearly every taste at a budget-friendly MSRP.

Just because the price is right, though, that doesn’t mean they’re short on features. All Compass IIs, regardless of your preference come with a threaded barrel, 5R rifling with guaranteed minute-of-angle performance and they’re backed by the T/C lifetime warranty. The bolt is a three-lug design with a 60-degree bolt lift. Each have a flush fitting rotary magazine and three-position safety. Trigger pulls from the factory measure 3 to 4 pounds, and MSRP is $405.

There is also a Compass II Compact line as well as a family of Compass Utility family. MSRPs are $405 and $359, respectively. Throughout them all you can select models that come with a factory mounted Crimson Trace riflescope.

The number of chamberings available among the Utilities models explains another part of this rifle’s continuing popularity. You can get one in .223 Rem./5.56 NATO, .243 Win., .270 Win., .30-’06 Sprg., .308 Win. and 6.5 Creedmoor. You can also select a combo pack that incudes the optic (price goes up, of course). All barrel lengths are 21.65 inches and the line features the Version I trigger, which is more suited for precision shooting.

Compass IIs are available in .223 Rem./5.56 NATO, .243 Win., .270 Win., .300 Win. Mag., .30-’06 Sprg., .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and 7 mm Rem. Mag. Barrel lengths vary from 21.65 inches to 24.

Diversity is similar on the Compact line, but they come with an extended buttpad spacer to add or remove 7/8 inch in the length of pull. Barrel length also drops to a more manageable for small frames 16.5 inches. It’s a great option for younger shooters.

Latest

Customizing X Card Shotgun 1
Customizing X Card Shotgun 1

Building an X-Card Gun for Turkey Shoots

Unofficially known as a “turkey shoot,” X-Card competition challenges shotgunners to place shot pellets as closely as possible to the center of a target. And some makers have perfected a way to fine-tune shotguns for this purpose.

Spanish National Police Adopt Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC

The Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) has officially adopted the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as the issue pistol for its uniformed officers.

NRA Launches New NRA.org Platform and Official App to Modernize and Enhance the Member Experience

The National Rifle Association today launched its new NRA.org website and continued enhancements to the official NRA App, marking a major step and significant investment to modernize the organization and better serve members.

Political Report | Federal Firearms Rights Restoration is Officially Back

Criminal-justice reform has been distorted to mean counterproductive policies like eliminating cash bail or politicized district attorneys exhibiting a determined indifference to violence, but there is a place for sensible reforms that allow genuinely rehabilitated offenders to reintegrate into the community of law-abiding citizens.

Stable Fun: The Taurus Brace-Ready TX22

Taurus USA first adopted the ideal of a brace-ready format for a traditional handgun in its GX4 Strike Bravo, and now, the company is extending that concept to its TX22 rimfire handgun.

I Have This Old Gun: The Whitney Navy Revolver

One of the lesser-known revolvers from the Civil War era, the Whitney Navy revolver had several notable features and even inspired a copycat in the Confederacy.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.