Springfield Armory has been a major player in the U.S. firearms market for more than five decades now. Its initial offering in 1974 was the M1A, a semi-auto version of the famed M14 rifle which is still used by special units in the U.S. military. Then, the company expanded into a line of quality 1911 pistols, and there was no looking back. Today, Springfield Armory offers a firearm for almost any need.
While the tendency of many firearms manufacturers tends to be “dance with him that brung ya”, Springfield has shown a willingness to expand its line — but only when the company is satisfied it can offer a high-quality product that will serve the public well.
Springfield Armory did just that in 2020 with the introduction of a series of bolt-action rifles. It named the new rifle the Model 2020 (imagine that), and it’s obvious the company did its homework first. In doing so, the company was able to cherry pick many of the best features and technologies available to create a great rifle for you that can hunt or compete right out of the box.
With a “best of all worlds” philosophy, Springfield selected a Model 700-pattern action for their rifles — one of the most common action footprints in the world. That means aftermarket parts abound, making it easy for you to customize your Model 2020 to your heart’s content — not that you would need to, since Springfield offers its rifles fully kitted out from the factory with the parts and features shooters demand.
The line launched with the Waypoint, soon expanding to the Redline, Boundary and Heatseeker variants. It’s a new version of the original Model 2020 Waypoint we are considering here today.
The Details
The stainless steel Springfield Model 2020 action shows a number of well-considered design features. The bolt release no longer uses a linkage attached to the trigger. An unobtrusive, though easy to manipulate, lever instead rests on the left rear of the receiver. They wisely chose an adjustable TriggerTech Field Trigger that is rated for 2.5 to 5 lbs. of pressure.
I am an avowed trigger snob who lives where I can hunt through most of deer season in a t-shirt, so gloves and heavier pulls are not an issue. That said, the trigger can be heavied up if so desired. The triggerguard is certainly large enough for gloved hands if needed.
The release for the detachable magazine is a tab located in the bottom of the front wall of the triggerguard. The magazine it releases is an AICS-pattern sample that worked perfectly.
The action modifications continue with a large ejection port and an open bridge. There is plenty of room to get loaded cartridges in and out of this rifle. An oversize, removable bolt knob facilitates the process. Dual cocking cams make for a very easy bolt lift, and the system provides for a toolless disassembly of the bolt. A recoil lug is machined integral to the action.
Even the Picatinny rail is reinforced with pins that fit into recesses on top of the action in addition to the mounting screws. The Model 2020 uses a plunger-style ejector and sliding plate extractor which, along with the hybrid dual-plane feed ramp, greatly enhance reliability.
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Both the fluted bolt and the action are machined after heat treatment. On checking with the engineers for the purpose in this method, I was told “the receiver itself is machined from a pre-hardened solid bar so that the dimensional accuracy is not diminished after heat treating.” Then the raceways are cut with an EDM process, all of which leaves the tolerances on the action very tight and very smooth to operate.
The New Take
New to the Model 2020 Waypoint line are three new versions in .308 Win., 7mm PRC or .300 Win. Mag. What sets these new Waypoints apart is their finish. In addition to a black H-164 Cerakote coating on the barreled action, these three new Waypoints feature a special coating on the stock.
The stock is made by AG Composites and is constructed from strong, yet lightweight carbon fiber. Springfield took that solid foundation, bead blasted it and then coated with a Cerakote SG-100 “Super-Grip” coating. The result is an understated dark color that complements the black finish of the barreled action.
Even more importantly, the SG-100 Cerakote finish gives the stock a very tactile, velvety rubberized texture that is very appealing to the eye as well as the touch. The final product yields a tacky finish that was secure to hold without being overly sticky. It has held up very well through my test regime.
The rifle is offered both a short-action (.308) and long-action (7mm PRC and .300 Win. Mag.) versions, and all three feature a high-quality, fluted stainless steel barrel. Topping off those barrels are 5.8×24 threaded with an SA Radial Muzzle Brake.
Machined with longitudinal flutes and measuring .74” just behind the muzzle threads, the barrel is heavy enough to soak up some recoil and shed heat while not being too heavy to carry. The barrel on my short-action .308 Win. rifle was a handy 20” long — perfect for maneuvering in the brush or the blind with the Dead Air Sandman-S suppressor I use. The long-action 7mm PRC and .300 Win. Mag. versions both feature 24” barrels.
The size and weight of my rifle (only weighing 6.78 lbs. empty) places this firearm right in the “General Purpose Rifle” category, making it very applicable to a huge segment of gun owners in the know. The two long-action rifles come in at 7 lbs., 11 oz. MSRP for any of the three is $1,995.
Unlike all previous Model 2020 Waypoint rifles that featured two hand-painted camo finish options (Evergreen or Ridgline), these new Waypoints take a much more understated approach. They’re basically black. I have to admit, it looks pretty nice. Also, that SG-100 coating on the stock really paid off. It looks great and feels even better.
How It Shot
Considering that these Model 2020 Waypoint rifles all feature the standard accuracy guarantee for all Model 2020 rifles (less than .75 MOA three-round groups with match-grade ammo and a skilled shooter), this rifle had a lot to live up to.
The Federal 168-gr. Gold Medal Match delivered the accuracy we expect, with groups that averaged under 2/3rds of an inch. The Hornady 125-gr. SuperLIte surprised us a bit with groups averaging in the half-inch range. My pet .308 reload, using Federal brass and match primers along with Varget powder topped by Sierra 168-gr. MatchKing bullets, hung right in there at a .64” average.
Feed and function were perfect. Through all my playing with rifles chambered in .308 Win., I’ve decided that a 20” barrel is just about the perfect compromise between portability and velocity. This 20” tube surprised me, producing 75 to 100 feet per second more than similar rifles I’ve tested over the years. Nice, tight, accurate barrels just make life better, don’t you think?
Conclusion
The new Model 2020 Waypoints with the SG-100 “Sure-Grip” Cerakote finish makes for a very appealing addition to the line. With all the features you’ve come to love in the Model 2020 Waypoint, and now with a new color option with a unique tactile quality, this one would make a great addition to your collection.
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