Budget Rifle

[LaSportsman]

Cabellas has the Thompon Center Compass (original, not II) on sale for $239 in 7mm Rem Mag and 30-06.

I'm looking at a Compass II as a cheap venture into my first 300 Win Mag. Like @stealthy_bowman , I'll just make it my backup rifle when I upgrade. I'd rather spend $300 to see what I think of the 300 Win Mag before dropping $1300-1500 on a higher quality rig. It was weaver bases so I already have rings and a Vortex Diamondback I can mount for plinking. I would go with Venture but Compass has a 3 position safety which I want.

 

[Doublegunner]

The accuracy of an off the shelf $350 rifle in 2020 is pretty amazing for the price point, but if you can afford an extra $200-$300 for a rifle you do get your money's worth in my opinion. I have never known a hunter who actually used both a Ruger American (or Savage Axis) and a Tikka (or bergara, weatherby vanguard or howa) that still preferred the Ruger/Axis. I love Ruger, I love what those rifles can do for the price, but for my 2 cents I think it is worth moving up a few hundred dollars and getting stiffer stock, better trigger and better overall fit/finish. YMMV.

You definitely have a good point. The more you spend the more you get. I have an american as well as 2 howa's as well as other rifles. I really like the american. Its accurate and light. Mine has a nice trigger. Bought the compact stock so my kids could use it as well. Its just a pleasant gun to use. Fancy? Nope. I wish the bolt locked but other than that its been great. If something happened to it i wouldn't be that upset. There are a lot of good budget guns on the market today for those who can't afford the more expensive stuff and they shoot really well. My 15 year old son shot a half inch groups over the weekend with his thompson compass with federal 140 gr fusions. I got a little less than half inch, can't let him best me just yet. Its a good time to be a rifleman. Or riflewoman.

 

[Doublegunner]

Cabellas has the Thompon Center Compass (original, not II) on sale for $239 in 7mm Rem Mag and 30-06.

I'm looking at a Compass II as a cheap venture into my first 300 Win Mag. Like @stealthy_bowman , I'll just make it my backup rifle when I upgrade. I'd rather spend $300 to see what I think of the 300 Win Mag before dropping $1300-1500 on a higher quality rig. It was weaver bases so I already have rings and a Vortex Diamondback I can mount for plinking. I would go with Venture but Compass has a 3 position safety which I want.

I have two that i got for my boys a 6.5 creed and a 308. Both shoot half inch groups. Get the mcarbo trigger spring kit. Factory trigger sucks.

 

[LaSportsman]

Trigger is what I'm worried about. Compass II is easy to find now or Venture II. They have an upgraded trigger but not adjustable and no aftermarket spring so I wonder if I should look for version 1 and just upgrade the spring.

 

[Doublegunner]

Trigger is what I'm worried about. Compass II is easy to find now or Venture II. They have an upgraded trigger but not adjustable and no aftermarket spring so I wonder if I should look for version 1 and just upgrade the spring.

The mcarbo spring helps but i wouldn't call it a great trigger with the spring kit. It's ok. I would try the new one at the store to see how it is. No doubt spring kits will be coming.

 

[Ripnbst]

Other rifles no one has mentioned that are definitely worth consideration is the Marlin X7 and the Mossberg Patriot. The Sauer Classic 100 XT is a shooter as well. I picked on up for $400 in 7 Rem Mag and that rifle is worth every penny. It reminds me of a Tikka...but its only $400.

 

[LaSportsman]

The mcarbo spring helps but i wouldn't call it a great trigger with the spring kit. It's ok. I would try the new one at the store to see how it is. No doubt spring kits will be coming.

I ordered the original Compass today. Will be here by Friday. It was $100 less than Compass II so I can make it work for what it will be - a range gun to get time shooting a 300 Win Mag before I drop real coin on a nice rifle. It will become a backup at that point.

 

[Doublegunner]

I ordered the original Compass today. Will be here by Friday. It was $100 less than Compass II so I can make it work for what it will be - a range gun to get time shooting a 300 Win Mag before I drop real coin on a nice rifle. It will become a backup at that point.

The two we have are real shooters so I suspect you will be pretty happy with the accuracy.

 

[LaSportsman]

The two we have are real shooters so I suspect you will be pretty happy with the accuracy.

I watched as many youtube videos as I could on several budget rifle and repeatedly the Compass was easy to get 1 MOA and better with reloads. MCarbo is on its way. Rifle arrived at FFL today but wasn't available for pickup so I'll get it Monday. I planned on mounting the scope this weekend but I have a long list of projects so I wouldn't have shot it this weekend anyway.