Thompson/Center Compass

About the Thompson/Center Compass

The Thompson/Center Compass is a budget-priced bolt-action hunting rifle introduced in 2016 to compete in the affordable bolt-gun segment alongside the Ruger American and Savage Axis. It pairs a full-diameter, three-lug bolt with a fast 60-degree throw, a free-floated steel barrel cut with Thompson/Center's asymmetrical 5R rifling, a threaded muzzle, a user-adjustable single-stage trigger, a flush-fitting detachable rotary magazine and a synthetic stock with aluminum pillars and a steel recoil lug. Despite its low price point, T/C guarantees minute-of-angle accuracy (1-inch three-shot groups at 100 yards) with premium ammunition. It is offered in roughly ten chamberings from .204 Ruger up to .300 Winchester Magnum.

Thompson/Center Arms built its reputation on the Contender single-shot pistol and Encore break-action platforms, so the Compass marked an unusual move into the high-volume budget bolt-action market for the New Hampshire maker. Launched with a $399 MSRP, it was T/C's answer to the wave of sub-$400 'accuracy guaranteed' bolt rifles, leaning on its 5R match-grade rifling heritage to promise MOA groups at a price point where guarantees were rare.

Thompson/Center Compass specifications

Standard chamberings use a 22-inch barrel with a five-round magazine; magnum chamberings use a 24-inch barrel and a four-round magazine. Muzzle threads are 1/2-28 on .204 Ruger / .223 Rem. / .22-250 Rem. and 5/8-24 on .243 Win. and larger. The Compass II (introduced circa 2019) refined the design with a Generation II trigger and updated stock; the Compass Utility is a value-focused package, often sold scoped. A Compass II Compact uses a shortened 16.25-inch barrel. The .308 Winchester ballistics shown reflect a typical 150-grain factory load, not a factory-published figure for this specific rifle.