Back in 2020, the same year Remington went bankrupt and while the world was dealing with a global pandemic, Springfield Armory introduced the Model 2020 Waypoint rifle, in a stark departure from their extensive line of law enforcement, military, and self-defense firearms. Now, just four years later, the company has a full line of bolt-action rifles and their newest Model 2020—the Boundary—might be the best of the bunch.
I got my hands on a new Boundary rifle in 6.5 Creedmoore and put it through its paces on my home range. Here's my full review.
Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary Specs
Length: 43.0 inches
Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces (actual)
Barrel: 22-inch carbon fiber wrapped or fluted stainless steel, RH 1 in 8 twist, threaded at 5/8”-24
Action: Model 2020 bolt action, with fluted 4140 steel Nitride coated bolt
Trigger: Trigger Tech (3.0 pounds as tested)
Capacity: 4+1
Finish: Satin stainless Cerakote
Stock: Synthetic AG Composites Sportsman carbon fiber, Rouge camouflage
Chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), 308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC 300 PRC, 300 Win. Mag.
Price: $2599.00
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Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary Overview
The action on the Boundary is the same Model 2020 action Springfield-Armory uses on their Waypoint and Redline rifles, and the gun is available in either short (308 Winchester) or long-action (300 Win. Mag) versions. This allows for the 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Winchester cartridges, but also for the 6.5 and 7mm PRC, as well as 7mm and 300 Magnum cartridges. Oddly, the rifle is not available in 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield.
The 2020 action has a lot of nice features, including a removeable bolt-handle knob, a low-profile bolt stop that’s independent of the trigger, and an attractive spiral fluting pattern. This is a two-lug, push-feed action, with a plunder-style ejector, and an extractor positioned within the face of one of the lugs. But unlike the Waypoint and Redline, the Boundary feeds from an internal magazine, and there’s a hinged floor plate to allow for easy unloading. Very smartly, the top of the action is compatible with Remington 700 rails and scope bases, and the rifle ships with a 15-slot Picatinny scope rail installed.
There are two barrel choices, and barrel length varies from 20 to 24 inches by cartridge. You can have your choice between a traditional stainless-steel barrel that’s fluted, or a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel. The latter adds $426 to the price tag. Both barrels are threaded at the common 5/8 x 24 thread pitch, and both come from the factory with a SA radial brake.
The trigger on my test rifle was very good and broke consistently at 3.0 pounds. It’s a TriggerTech Field trigger that features TriggerTech Frictionless Release Technology, and it is adjustable for a smooth pull weight from between 2.5 and 5.0 pounds.
Like many bolt-action rifles today, the Boundary wears a stock from AG Composites. AG Composites also make the stocks used on the Wilson Combat NULA and the Aero Precision SOLUS rifles; they are some of the best carbon-fiber stocks currently offered. The stock on the Boundary rifle is what I liked the most about the rifle. In addition to its traditional lines, the grip angle is very comfortable, the barrel is free floated, and the positioning of the quick-detach sling swivel cups on the left side of the stock are ideal for comfortable sling carry. But what I really liked about this stock is the two M-Lok slots on the bottom of the forend. This provides a non-obtrusive attachment point for bipod or tripod and is a genius addition to a traditional hunting rifle stock.
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Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary Shooting Results
One thing I’ve come to expect from Springfield-Armory’s 2020 rifles is that they will shoot, and the Boundary was no different. Though the Browning load was tested first and was a bit uninspiring, the Remington and Hornady loads shot very well. Overall, the rifle averaged right at an inch for multiple five-shot groups. But Springfield-Armory offers a 0.75-MOA accuracy guarantee for three-shot groups. Though I did not take the time to measure the first three shots fired in every group, the rifle clearly met that standard with the Remington and Hornady loads and was right on the edge of 0.75 MOA with the Browning load.
There were two issues with the rifle. The magazine box is listed as having a capacity of four rounds, and it easily held that many. However, if you tried to slip a round in the chamber and close the bolt on top of those four rounds, it did not want to feed the top round in the magazine after being fired. In some cases, these feeding issues even applied to the third round in the magazine. Though the Waypoint and Redline both feed from a detachable box magazine, I’ve never had feeding issues with either. It appears the geometry of the follower in the internal magazine is a bit off, but I suspect Springfield-Armory will get this sorted soon.
The other issue with the rifle occurred when firing the Remington Core-Lokt Tipped ammo. About half of the shots fired with this load produced very stiff bolt lift. It was so stiff that the bolt could not be opened with the rifle on your shoulder. I’ve seen this before with factory ammo, but it is rare. I’ve also tested the same Remington load in several other 6.5 Creedmoor rifles without any issues. Maybe the camber is a bit tight and that combined with a slightly hot load could cause the problem. The Core-Lokt Tipped load did recorded velocities nearly 3% faster than advertised.
The rifle handled very well offhand due to its impeccable balance. Shooting from field positions, I had no trouble repeatedly ringing a 12-inch gong at 200 yards. All of the shooting from the bench and a lot of the shooting from field positions was conducted with a Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor.
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Final Thoughts on the Springfield Armory Boundary
Pros
Well balanced
Great precision
Great stock
Cons
Safety does not lock bolt
Finicky feeding
Of the current three centerfire bolt-action rifle options from Springfield Armory, I like the Boundary best, especially as a conventional hunting rifle. It’s not configured for precision long-range shooting, though it will shoot just as well as the Waypoint, and it’s not feather light like the Redline, but in the 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Winchester offerings, it still comes in under 7 pounds. Those who thrive on velocity will appreciate the 22-inch barrel. Based on tests with the 16-inch Redline, you can expect about 200 fps faster velocities with the 6.5 Creedmoor from the longer barrel.
However, a lot of modern hunters—including me—have discovered the pleasure of hunting with suppressors, and when you add a silencer to a 22-inch or longer barrel, you increase the length of the rifle by at least 5.5 inches. I’d like to see shorter-barrel options for the Boundary to make the rifle more suppressor-friendly. With that option, and if the feeding issues are sorted, the Boundary could be one of the best traditionally styled bolt-action hunting rifles we’ve seen in a long time. And get this: If you purchase a new 2020 Boundary rifle prior to December 31st, 2024, Springfield-Armory will give you a Model 2020 Rimfire Target Rifle for free! That’s a $434.00 value and a sub-caliber training rifle at no cost. That is a hell of a good deal.
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