Springfield Armory 2020 Waypoint Long Action Rifle: Review

The American gun owner is quite the conundrum. In a country where we can own as many firearms as we want, there is still the desire to get everything done with just one. To that end, when Springfield Armory introduced the Model 2020 Waypoint, it wasn’t long before folks started asking, “Well, what about elk and moose?"

Although some of the cartridges that it chambered were certainly capable, some hunters wouldn’t settle for anything less than something that requires a long action to feed, so Springfield made it for them.

The 2020 Waypoint Long Action is chambered in 7mm and .300 PRC, as well as classics such as .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., .30-06 and .300 Win. Mag. I was excited to further my experience with 7mm PRC, so I quickly jumped at the opportunity to test one.

Like models past, this 2020 Waypoint is offered in a plethora of configurations, including two different camo patterns, the option of having a fixed or adjustable cheekpiece and your choice of a traditional steel or carbon-fiber barrel. I went with the carbon-fiber barrel, adjustable cheekpiece and Evergreen camouflage paint job.

Carbon Fiber Barrel Option

Although it’s optional, I consider the carbon-fiber barrel to be what sets the Waypoint apart from the other rifles on the market that offer a similar feature set.

Springfield Armory’s claim to fame on this is its proprietary wrapping process. Whereas most manufacturers simply wind a stainless pencil barrel with layers of carbon fiber, Springfield Armory puts in far more work.

First, the steel core is fluted to minimize contact with the outer material and create more surface area for quicker heat dissipation. It is then sleeved with a carbon-fiber tube that is torqued between a pair of nuts, holding it in place and reducing its dependence on the inner barrel. This allows both components to contract and expand without a significant pressure variation between the two, yielding the sought-after rigidity of this dual-material construction and increasing shot-to-shot consistency.

The action on the Waypoint is familiar yet advanced. The traditional two-lug bolt is minimalistic and operates on a 90-degree throw. The bolt handle is curved to provide clearance between the operating hand and your optic’s ocular lens and is capped with a replaceable knob. It rides on EDM-cut raceways that are so consistent they essentially make blueprinting obsolete. Like the short action, it feeds from an AICS-pattern magazine, with the 7mm PRC version holding four rounds.

Adjustable Stock

The barreled action is set into a carbon-fiber stock. My version included the three-axis adjustable cheekpiece, four QD sling sockets and a trio of M-Lok slots for accessories. One of my favorite features is the vertical grip, which promotes proper finger placement on the included TriggerTech trigger. The rifle arrived with a pull weight of 3.5 pounds, but I reduced that by adjusting the exposed screw through the trigger guard.

Springfield Armory ships these rifles with a pre-mounted Picatinny rail that is reinforced by two recoil pins. With the receiver accepting standard Remington 700 hardware, this can be replaced, but most shooters will not find a reason to justify doing so. For testing, I mounted a Leupold VX5-HD optic using a pair of the company’s low-profile rings.

The 7mm PRC is a Hornady creation, and I used its ELD Match and Outfitter loads for testing, along with Federal’s new 7mm PRC load, which is topped with Hornady’s ELD-X bullet.

As you can see in the accompanying chart, I was able to meet the rifle’s 3/4 m.o.a. guarantee with the Federal ammo and not quite with the Hornady Match load. The rifle wasn’t a fan of the Outfitter load, but the groups were nowhere near large enough for me not to consider using it inside 500 yards for a hunting shot.

Felt Recoil and Accuracy

Surprisingly, the recoil was rather mild for a cartridge this size, which is the function of the included brake. To put it in perspective, I was alternating shooting groups with a .308 Win. without a brake, and that kicked considerably harder. I was also delightfully surprised that in this chambering I was able to squeeze a fourth round in the magazine, even though the official capacity is three. That might not be the case with all magazines.

After the formal accuracy test, I fired a few more boxes onto a nine-inch gong from field positions and found that the gun balanced well, recovered quickly and was just as effortless to operate.

Springfield Armory’s latest Waypoint rifles will satisfy hunters looking for more power. I found it nearly as nimble as the short action while delivering a satisfyingly elongated bolt throw. If you’re one of those hunters who’s been holding out for a Waypoint chambered in your preferred cartridge or the perfect rifle to champion one of the new PRCs, the good news is your boat just came in. The bad news is you’re going to need a bigger trophy room.

Springfield Waypoint Long Action Specs

• Type: two-lug bolt-action centerfire
• Caliber: .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC (tested), .30-06, .300 Win. Mag., .300 PRC
• Capacity: 3+1, detachable box magazine
• Barrel: 24 in., 1:8 twist; threaded 5/8x24 w/radial brake
• Overall Length: 46 in.
• Weight: 8.1 lb.
• Finish: Mil-Spec Green Cerakote
• Stock: carbon fiber, Evergreen camo
• Trigger: single-stage TriggerTech; 3.9 lb. pull (measured, as received), 2.5 lb. pull (as tested)
• Sights: none; optics rail
• Safety: two-position rocker
• MSRP: $2,670
• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory, springfield-armory.com

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