First Look: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint Bolt-Action Rifle

The modern company bearing the name of Springfield Armory is best known for its American-made 1911 pistols, M1A rifles and its modern, and polymer-frame XD and Hellcat families of semiautomatic pistols, which are manufactured by HS Produkt in Croatia. However, the company’s moniker is also strongly associated with the design and manufacture of one of the best-regarded American bolt-action rifles ever fielded, I’m speaking of course of the Springfield Model 1903. It is that heritage and tradition the Springfield Armory hopes to the recapture and built upon with the first bolt gun to bear its name, a rifle fittingly designated the Model 2020.

At the heart of the rifle is the Model 2020 action which was designed and built with very tight tolerances thanks to Springfield’s technology-driven manufacturing capabilities. The stainless steel action features an integral recoil lug, and pairs with a fluted bolt employing dual cocking cams and an enhanced extractor for high pressure loads. The blueprinted and precisely machined action allows Springfield to offer the Model 2020 with .75" MOA accuracy guarantee. Within the stock, the action is pillar bedded for consistent accuracy.

The first entry in what will be a new family of rifles is the Model 2020 Waypoint. A hunting rifle through and through, the Waypoint seeks to balance lightweight construction with rugged durability. Central to its design is a premium-grade, hand-painted carbon fiber stock by AG Composites. Within the stock, the Model 2020 action is hand-laid and pillar bedded consistent accuracy.

Mated to the action is a free-floated, carbon-fiber-sleeved barrel. What is really neat about the barrel, is that rather than wrapping the carbon fiber around a pencil-profile barrel, the Waypoint actually uses a fluted, stainless steel barrel beneath the tensioned sleeve. The fluted design offers the same advantages as on all-steel barrels, the cuts reduce overall weight and also provide more surface area to facilitate cooling.

Finally, connecting the rifle and the rifleman is a TriggerTech Field trigger. The unit is adjustable for pull weight from 2.5 to 5 pounds, and offers the crisp, clean break TriggerTech is known for.

According to Springfield Armory’s CEO, Dennis Reese, “The Model 2020 has arrived and marks a new dawn for modern bolt-action rifles from Springfield Armory. It sets the standard for precision manufacturing, performance and accuracy from a premium, American-made rifle.”

The Model 2020 Waypoint will be initially offered in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and 6.5 PRC, and the rifles come with AICS-pattern magazines.

Rest assured, your Guns & Ammo staff is already hitting the range with the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint. See Rifle and Optics Editor Tom Beckstrand’s video review above for his take on the new bolt action, and keep your eye out for our review in the November 2020 issue of the magazine.

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint Specs

• Type: Bolt Action
• Cartridge: 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 20-, 22-, or 24-in.; BSF Barrels, 416R stainless steel, carbon-fiber
• Stock: AG Composites carbon fiber
• Trigger: TriggerTech Field, adj.
• MSRP: $2,399 (may vary depending on chambering and features)
• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory, 800-680-6866, springfield-armory.com