I bought my first modern bolt-action rifle, a Thompson Center Compass 5.56 during a big sale in last year's Christmas season.
For scope, I started from the most basic one, Twod 3-9 40mm scope.
https://www.amazon.com/Twod-Tactical-6-24X50mm-Illuminated-Crosshair/dp/B01M6A8593
For ammo, I also started from 20 cents per round steel-cased Wolf Military Classic 223， 55 grain
Wolf MC 223 Remington Ammo 55 Grain FMJ Steel Case
In the range of 50 yards, I zeroed in my scope, and the spread is about 2 inches.
I also used Federal 223 55 grain brass-cased ammo, with the same spread.
TC Compass operates very smoothly with brass-cased ammo. Wolf steel-cased ammo has a layer of coating over the steel. The coating does not give me any problem in extraction. That alleviated biggest concern about steel-cased ammo on bolt action action, which is jamming inside the chamber, and requires a long rod from the muzzle end to ram out the case. However, the coating does increase the friction, causing trouble in loading the ammo into Compass' rotary magazine. I can only easily load 3 rounds. The coating also caused problem in feeding. Anyway, no problem cannot be tolerated for the sake of low price at 20 cents per round.
This $27 scope withstood more than 300 rounds of .223 ammo on this Compass. It seems to hold zero.
The weather was very windy, 20 miles per hour predicted online. When I sit on the shooting table, I could feel that my whole body was swayed by the gust of wind to my right.
I do not know how much trouble was caused by the windy weather. Another shooter beside me got 1 inch spread from his custom-made .270 rifle with hand-load ammo.
The 2-inch spread at about 50 yards is 4 MOA, which is abysmal for a bolt action rifle in 223.
The biggest reason is obviously me, the shooter. The second reason may be how I rest my rifle. I put a T-shirt over a toast to make a DIY rest. The third reason is ammo. The forth reason may be the rifle. My Compass may not be free floated. The stock looks touching the barrel on the left side. I will try a test with a dollar bill.
It is very fun to shoot bolt-action rifle. With AR banned in Massachusetts, bolt-action is the only affordable way to experience 223 ammo. 4 MOA is a starting point that I can improve gradually. I may feel bored and give up quickly if I achieved 1/2 MOA during my first try.
For scope, I started from the most basic one, Twod 3-9 40mm scope.
https://www.amazon.com/Twod-Tactical-6-24X50mm-Illuminated-Crosshair/dp/B01M6A8593
For ammo, I also started from 20 cents per round steel-cased Wolf Military Classic 223， 55 grain
Wolf MC 223 Remington Ammo 55 Grain FMJ Steel Case
In the range of 50 yards, I zeroed in my scope, and the spread is about 2 inches.
I also used Federal 223 55 grain brass-cased ammo, with the same spread.
TC Compass operates very smoothly with brass-cased ammo. Wolf steel-cased ammo has a layer of coating over the steel. The coating does not give me any problem in extraction. That alleviated biggest concern about steel-cased ammo on bolt action action, which is jamming inside the chamber, and requires a long rod from the muzzle end to ram out the case. However, the coating does increase the friction, causing trouble in loading the ammo into Compass' rotary magazine. I can only easily load 3 rounds. The coating also caused problem in feeding. Anyway, no problem cannot be tolerated for the sake of low price at 20 cents per round.
This $27 scope withstood more than 300 rounds of .223 ammo on this Compass. It seems to hold zero.
The weather was very windy, 20 miles per hour predicted online. When I sit on the shooting table, I could feel that my whole body was swayed by the gust of wind to my right.
I do not know how much trouble was caused by the windy weather. Another shooter beside me got 1 inch spread from his custom-made .270 rifle with hand-load ammo.
The 2-inch spread at about 50 yards is 4 MOA, which is abysmal for a bolt action rifle in 223.
The biggest reason is obviously me, the shooter. The second reason may be how I rest my rifle. I put a T-shirt over a toast to make a DIY rest. The third reason is ammo. The forth reason may be the rifle. My Compass may not be free floated. The stock looks touching the barrel on the left side. I will try a test with a dollar bill.
It is very fun to shoot bolt-action rifle. With AR banned in Massachusetts, bolt-action is the only affordable way to experience 223 ammo. 4 MOA is a starting point that I can improve gradually. I may feel bored and give up quickly if I achieved 1/2 MOA during my first try.
