Wilson Combat Model 20S Rifle Review

In 2022 Wilson Combat purchased New Ultra Light Arms from Melvin Forbes, and in 2023 they introduced their version of his famous Model 20 rifle. We reviewed that rifle in August of last year and it received our “Editor’s Pick” as the best rifle of 2023. Sadly, in June of 2024 Melvin Forbes passed away, just a little too soon to see Wilson Combat’s rendition of what I’ve always thought was the best of the rifles made by New Ultra Light Arms (NULA)—the Model 20S. Forbes perfectly down-sized the Model 20S to work with smaller AR-15 compatible cartridges. For 2024, Wilson Combat has remade the Model 20S in the original’s image, and I don’t know if a lighter, better-shooting rifle exists.

Wilson Combat Model 20S Specs

Length: 35.0 inches
Weight: 4.80 pounds
Barrel: 16.25 inches, w/ 5.8×24 threaded muzzle and thread protector
Action: NULA Model 20S
Trigger: 2.75 pounds (as tested) adjustable
Capacity: 5+1
Finish: Armorlube DLC (action) Armor-Tuff (barrel) Hard Anodized (floorplate)
Stock: AG Composite
Available Chamberings: 300 HAMR (tested) 22 ARC, 223 Remington (Wylde), 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 300 Blackout
Price: $2995.00

Wilson Combat Model 20S Overview

Shooter holding the new Wilson Combat Model 20S rifle at arm length in woods. — The author hold up the new Model 20s with suppressor attached. (Photo/Sabastian “Bat” Mann)

As with the Model 20, Wilson Combat builds the new Model 20S around an CNC-machined and EDM-cut cylindrical action of 4140 steel, with a bolt that’s machined from 4340 barstock. The push-feed bolt has two lugs, a Sako-style extractor, and a single, plunger ejector, with a bolt handle that’s mechanically attached to the bolt body. It’s also fitted with a swappable and grooved bolt knob that’s slightly oversized, and there’s a red “cocked” indicator visible on the cocking piece.

A user-adjustable Timney Elite Hunter trigger, with a safety that locks the bolt handle down when set to “safe,” is standard, and Wilson Combat drills and taps the action at 8×40 for their proprietary, Talley manufactured, Wilson Combat one-piece scope rings. These rings weigh only 2.0 ounces per set. Also like with the Model 20, the barreled action is pillar bedded to an AG Composites’ carbon-fiber stock that’s fitted with a featherlight hard-anodized aluminum floorplate. The barrel is free floated, and the AG Composites’ stock comes with one of two camo patterns or a charcoal-grey finish. The complete rifle weighs in at less than 5 pounds.

Grid of closeup photos showing the Wilson Combat Model 20S's action, bolt face, hinged floor plate, and threaded barrel. — Close-up looks at the Model 20S’s enlarged bolt handle, tigger, and safety; it’s two-lug, push-feed bolt; hinged floor plate; and threaded barrel. (Photo/Sabastian “Bat” Mann)

Wilson Combat uses their own barrels, and they make them from 416R stainless steel, but they do things a bit differently than most. Instead of using standard contours, they contour each barrel individually, based on caliber, which helps keep weight down. Wilson Combat will offer various barrel lengths and muzzle threading at 5/8×24 is an option. Our test rifle was in 300 HAMR, had a 16.25-inch threaded barrel, and weighed a scant 4.8 pounds.

With original and Wilson Combat NULA Model 20 rifles, the action is sized to work with 308-Winchester-length cartridges, but Forbes used a magazine box that’s 3 inches long to allow handloaders to use a longer cartridge overall length. With the Model 20S, Wilson Combat does essentially the same thing. Although AR-15-compatible cartridges have a maximum overall length of 2.60 inches to work in AR-15 magazines, the Model 20S has a 2.45-inch magazine box.

Related: Beretta BRX1 Rifle Review

Wilson Combat Model 20S Shooting Results

A shooter test fires the new Wilson Combat Model 20S bolt-action rifle from a bench rest. — The author test the Model 20S for precision from a bench rest. (Photo/Sabastian “Bat” Mann)

Let’s get one thing straight right from the jump—this rifle will shoot. Every load we tested averaged less than an inch at 100 yards for five-shot groups. Another undeniable feature of this rifle is how incredibly light and handy it is. Some folks claim lightweight rifles are too difficult to shoot offhand, but this is mostly because most lightweight rifles are just cannibalized versions of heavier rifles and their balance sucks.

A rifle target showing five bullet holes in a group with a box of ammo and three loose cartridges. — The Model 20S’s average five-shot group size with three different loads was 0.90 inch. (Photo/Sabastian “Bat” Man)

With it’s 16.25-inch barrel, my test rifle balanced just 0.75-inch behind the front guard screw, which made it very slightly butt heavy, but I still had no problems whacking an 8-inch steel plate from standing offhand at 100 yards. The little rifle was also snappy-fast and deadly on the running-deer target. When we added the 7.8-ounce Banish Backcountry suppressor, the rifle became just slightly muzzle heavy. This helped the rifle sort of hang on target, but it did not terribly sacrifice its handiness. Even with the suppressor, the rifle—which is really a carbine—was only 40.5 inches long.

Chart showing the rifle's average five-shot group sizes with three different loads.

Our only disappointment was the stiff bolt lift—the force required to cock the action—after firing the rifle. It was almost too stiff to operate the bolt with the rifle on your shoulder after shooting, which is the way you should operate a bolt-action rifle in a hunting situation. Admittedly, the force seemed to lessen slightly with use, and I also got more used to it the more I used the rifle.

Final Thoughts on the Wilson Combat Model 20S

A shooter fires the Wilson Combat Model 20S with suppressor from the offhand position. — The author tests the rifle’s balance and handling from the offhand position, with suppressor attached. (Photo/Sabastian “Bat” Mann)

Pros

Incredibly light and compact
Great trigger
Outstanding precision

Cons

Light-duty cartridges only
Heavy bolt lift

As a general purpose big-game rifle, the Model 20S is a bit limited due to the cartridges it is compatible with. The best big-game hunting option is likely the 300 HAMR, which will just slightly outperform the best 30-30 Winchester loads. You can do a hell of a lot of things with a 30-30 Winchester, but it’s undeniably limited in reach. The 6mm ARC and 6.5 Grendel cartridges will extend your range, but regardless the cartridge you choose, from a practical standpoint, this is a deer or black-bear rifle with limited (close-range) application on larger beasts.

My Model 20S test rifle in 300 HAMR was every bit as good as the Model 20 NULA we reviewed last year, with one exception: the force required lift the bolt handle after firing. According to Bill Wilson, the stiff firing pin spring responsible for this is necessary to guarantee 100% primer ignition, particularly when combining the harder to ignite CCI 450 primers with the minimally shouldered 300 Blackout and 300 HAMR cartridges. Of course, some folks don’t cycle a bolt with the rifle on their shoulder and along with accuracy Wilson Combat priorities reliability more than anything else.

Aside from the limitations imposed by AR-15-compatible cartridges and the stiff bolt lift, this is a fantastically light, great handling, tack-driving rifle. Not only would it be a great feral hog or deer rifle most anywhere, but it could also make a great companion rifle to an AR15 when chambered for the same cartridge. Folks in the scout rifle community who worship lightweight compact rifles that shoot well should take note: I don’t know of a lighter, better-shooting rifle. Wilson Combat is continuing the Melvin Forbes/NULA rifle tradition of building the pound-for-pound most accurate bolt-action rifles anywhere in the world.