Springfield Armory has added a fourth gun to their Model 2020 line of bolt-action rifles, which includes the Waypoint, Redline, and Boundary. They are calling this new rifle the “Heatseeker,” and it is very representative of what many consider to be the future of bolt-action hunting rifles. Old-school hunters who like the feel of wood and blued steel may not find this new rifle appealing at all, but based on my testing, if you focus on performance over looks, this rifle has a lot to offer. I had the chance to put the new Heatseeker to the test on my home range recently. Here’s how it fared.
Quick Overview
Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker
Pros
- Compact
- Adjustable trigger
- Tack driving precision
Cons
- Heavy for its size
Specs
- Length: 35.5 to 39.0 inches
- Weight: 7.43 pounds
- Barrel: 16-, 20-, or 22-inch carbon-fiber-wrapped w/ 5/8×24 threaded muzzle and protective cap
- Action: Bolt-action
- Trigger: Adjustable (2.25 pounds as tested)
- Capacity: Five-round detachable AICS magazine
- Chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor or 308 Winchester
- Finish: Coyote brown Cerakote
- Stock: Sharps Brothers Chassis, B5 adjustable stock and grip
- Accessories: Soft-sided zippered case
- Price: $2,355
Realted: Q Fix Rifle Review—Expert Tested
A Closer Look at the New Springfield Armory Heatseeker
The action on the Heatseeker is the same Model 2020 action Springfield Armory uses on their other three bolt-action rifles. The 2020 action is well-designed and includes a removable bolt-handle knob, a low-profile bolt stop that’s independent of the trigger, and an attractive spiral fluting pattern on the bolt body. This is a two-lug, push-feed action, with a plunger-style ejector, and an extractor positioned within the face of one of the bolt lugs. The Heatseeker feeds from a metal detachable AICS-style magazine with a five-round capacity, and just like other 2020 actions, it is compatible with Remington 700 rails and scope bases. The rifle ships with a 15-slot Picatinny rail already installed.
What really sets the Heatseeker apart from the other 2020 models is its stock. The Heatseeker is a chassis-style rifle. The action is housed in a Sharps Brother’s Heatseeker chassis that is machined from a single block of 6061-T6 aluminum, and it weighs only 19 ounces. Included with the chassis is an AR-style forend also machined from aluminum, and it has M-Lok slots around its circumference, as well as multiple quick-release sling-swivel attachment points. An AR-style adjustable butt stock from B5 Systems is included along with a B5 Systems grip. Separately, the chassis, forend, butt stock and grip would cost about $700.
Other features include a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel with a threaded and capped muzzle that is available in three lengths depending on the chambering. The rifle is only offered in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 16-, 20-, or 22-inch barrel, or in 308 Winchester with a 16- or 20-inch barrel. A Trigger Tech Field Trigger, two-position safety, and a 0.75-MOA three-shot precision guarantee are standard. You can also get a Heatseeker pistol in 308 Winchester with a 12-inch barrel.
Related: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary Rifle Review—Expert Tested
Springfield Armory Heatseeker Test Results
I mounted a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14X40 rifle scope in Leupold Backcountry rings to the Heatseeker’s Picatinny rail and the first load tested was Remington’s 129-grain Core-Lokt Tipped. With a Banish Backcountry suppressor attached to the barrel, that load averaged right at 1.25 inches, which was not very inspiring considering the rifle’s precision guarantee. However, after that first group, every group fired with the Heatseeker measured less than an inch. If you can shoot, you should have no problem meeting the precision guarantee with this rifle.
The recoil of the 6.5 Creedmoor—which is not much to start with—was dampened to almost nothing due to the suppressor and field-ready weight of the rifle. With the scope and suppressor installed, it was pushing 10 pounds. With the suppressor, the rifle balanced perfectly at the front action screw, but without the suppressor, it was substantially butt heavy. Aside from the rifle’s field-ready heft, it performed well for off-hand shooting; I was routinely ringing a 5-inch plate from the standing off-hand position at 100 yards. Without the suppressor—in its more butt-heavy configuration—consistent hits on an 8-inch plate were as easily obtainable.
There were no malfunctions of any kind during testing. The bolt was extremely smooth to operate but had a slight hitch when feeding cartridges from a fully loaded magazine. This will likely smooth with use. Also, with the position of the safety in the traditional, beside-the-action location, it was necessary to remove your shooting hand grip to actuate the safety.
The downside to a 16-inch barreled 6.5 Creedmoor is velocity loss. Form a 24-inch barrel, Hornady’s 143-grain load will generally deliver about 2700 fps, but out of the Heatseeker’s 16-inch barrel that load was running at only 2481 fps. If you’re looking to stretch a 6.5 Creedmoor out to distance, as many shooters and hunters do, you might opt for the 22-inch-barrel model. However, with Federal’s new +Peak 80,000 psi load, the Heatseeker pushed some pre-production 130-grian loads to an astonishing 2900 fps.
Related: Federal’s New 6.5 Creedmoor +PEAK Is the Next Step in a Rifle Cartridge Revolution
Final Thoughts on the Heatseeker
The Springfield Armory Heatseeker has that sort of Sig Cross and Q Fix vibe, and it falls right between both when it comes to price. However, based on the testing I’ve done, I’d expect the Heatseeker to shoot better than both of those rifles. It’s also heavier than the Cross and Fix. Though the Heatseeker gives the appearance of a light- to moderate-weight backcountry rifle, by any modern standard, this is not a lightweight rifle at all, and the 22-inch version is pushing 8 pounds without a scope.
In the end, weight is just one consideration. When you factor in versatility, precision, reliability, and performance tempered by cost, the Heatseeker is one very cool new rifle that reflects the direction modern hunting rifles are trending towards, and it should garnish a lot of attention at deer camp, around an African fire ring, or on the range. What’s more, combined with the new 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak load, a 16-inch barreled Heatseeker in 6.5 Creedmoor is a compact ballistic force.
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Editor’s Note: Richard Mann’s new book, Rifle Cartridges for the Hunter: A Hunting Journal Spanning a Half-Century details 50 rifle cartridges through real hunts, practical insight, and hard-earned lessons. It is essential reading for serious hunters and riflemen who appreciate ballistic science and authentic outdoor adventure.
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