Springfield Armory, known for building great semi-auto handguns and “Saint” model AR-15 rifles, has just announced a brand-new bolt-action hunting rifle. Built around their own “2020” action, this made-in-the-USA rifle sports state-of-the-art components and offers a .75 moa accuracy guarantee.
LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL
Action: Springfield’s 2020 action is a descendant of the legendary Remington 700 design. Dual locking lugs, a fluted, nitride-coated bolt, EDM raceways, and dual cocking cams make for smooth and reliable cycling. The bolt features a 90-degree bolt lift, offers toolless disassembly for maintenance, and along with the action is machined after heat treatment. The recoil lug is machined integral to the action, which is Cerakoted and comes with a factory-mounted Rem 700 pattern pic rail. The bolt stop/release is located on the left rear of the action, is low profile, and functions crisply. The safety is located just behind the closed bolt handle in typical Rem 700 style. Single-stack AICS pattern magazines snap snuggly into the mag well, and an adjustable TriggerTech trigger (best of the best) rounds out the package.
Stock: The Waypoint’s hand-laid carbon fiber stock is built by AG Composites for Springfield, and is available with either a standard or an adjustable-comb stock. Actions are pillar bedded into the stock, which comes in your choice of custom-painted camo options: Evergreen, or Ridgeline. A one-inch Pachmayr Decelerator pad tames recoil. Five strategically placed QD mounts and three reinforced M-Lok sections enable direct mounting of the sling, bipod, and other accessories.
Barrel: Two barrel configurations are available on the Waypoint; a traditional fluted stainless steel barrel, and a BSF jacketed carbon fiber barrel. This is a new design that features a fluted steel barrel that’s jacketed in a roll-wrapped carbon fiber sleeve. Reportedly, 95-percent of the carbon fiber sleeve doesn’t contact the barrel, which, Springfield says, adds cold bore and warm bore repeatability, as well as aiding in heat dispersion. Barrels are free-floated. Available chambering options include 6mm Creedmoor (20”, 1:7.5 twist rate), 6.5 Creedmoor (22”, 1:8 twist rate), 6.5 PRC (24”, 1:8 Twist rate), and .308 Winchester (20”, 1:10 twist rate). Barrels are cerakoted Mil-Spec Green or Desert Verde to match the Evergreen and Ridgeline color schemes. A removable radial muzzle brake is standard issue on each rifle.
Pricing: The 2020 Waypoint is remarkably well priced, considering the quality of components and the semi-custom nature of the firearm. A simple model sporting a traditional stock and stainless barrel will cost you less than $1,700, while a Waypoint rifle featuring all the bells and whistles still comes in at less than $2,400.
TESTING
My first impression of the Springfield 2020 Waypoint was that it is well designed, good looking, and well balanced. It’s not a terribly light rifle, coming in at between 6 lb. 9 oz. and 8 lb. 2 oz., but neither is it heavy or cumbersome.
I tested three different loads through the rifle: one long-range target load, one varmint/predator load, and one hunting load. All three shot into less than one MOA, with the varmint load cheerfully printing tiny groups that averaged only .62-inches, ratifying Springfield’s .75-moa guarantee with room to spare. The Waypoint handles well, settles nicely into the sandbags, and inspires confidence. Recoil was very mild in the 6mm CM I tested. My 12-year-old son fired a few shots from the rifle as well, shooting at a steel plate some 150-yards distant. He never missed.
I did experience one issue while testing. Three times during the course of firing 30 rounds the rifle failed to eject, dropping the cartridge when it was about 2/3 out of the chamber. I’ve made Springfield aware of the malfunction, and am confident they will resolve the issue posthaste if it proves to apply to more than my test rifle.
CONCLUSION
I truly enjoyed the Springfield 2020 Waypoint. Accuracy was good and the rifle handled and felt great. I would not hesitate to recommend the Waypoint to a friend shopping for a hunting rifle, or to hunt with one myself.
Accuracy testing was conducted at 100 yards. Three, 3-shot groups were fired with each ammo brand, the results measured with a caliper, added together, and averaged. Chronograph info was gathered with a Shooting Chrony, placed 10 feet in front of the muzzle.
| Manufacture | Bullet | Velocity (FPS) | Accuracy (Inches) | ES | SD |
| Hornady Varmint | 87 Gr. V-Max | 3070 | 0.62 | 54 | 30 |
| Federal Premium | 105 Gr. Berger | 2991 | 0.98 | 46 | 17 |
| Nosler Trophy Grade | 90 Gr. Accubond | 3160 | 0.85 | 32 | 11 |