Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire .22LR Bolt-Action Rifle Review

The new Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle is accurate and comfortable to shoot. This is an excellent 22LR to add to your collection.

Springfield Armory jumped into the bolt-action rifle arena a few years ago with the Springfield Model 2020 centerfire rifle. That rifle garnered all sorts of praise, including from this writer. 

More recently, Springfield also introduced the Model 2020 Redline, a lighter, shorter-barreled version resembling a cross between the original Model 2020 and a Scout rifle.

Today, Springfield drops its newest bolt-action, the Model 2020 Rimfire in 22 Long Rifle (LR). The Model 2020 is available in no less than five, yes, five configurations, four of those sporting walnut stocks and two others with a black reinforced polymer stock, the Target models, these rifles designed more for competition shooting.  

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle Review

The Basics of the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle

Springfield groups the four wooden stocked models into its Classic line. All stocks are made from Turkish walnut but are available in four different grades. The grades start with Satin, which is simply a satin-finished version, while the quality of the walnut improves as it moves through Grades A and AA and, the pinnacle, Grade AAA.

I received a Model 2020 Classic, featuring an AA Grade Turkish Walnut stock. The stock was a beauty with grain varying from relatively straight line to darker spiral patterns. For those rimfire shooters who despise the poly and composite stocks so common today, this may be your next rifle.  

The stock also sported a rubber butt pad and sling studs front and back.

Like all Model 2020 Rimfires, my Classic featured a 20-inch free-floated steel barrel, a hard chrome bolt set in a rounded, steel receiver, an adjustable Remington® 700 style trigger, and a toggle-style safety located to the rear and right of the bolt. Ammunition was held in a 10-round rotary magazine of the type used in the Ruger 10/22 rifle.

Springfield press materials noted that Ruger 10/22 magazines would work in the Model 2020 Rimfire, so I used my 10/22 magazine for some of my shooting and it performed fine.

In those press materials, Springfield also noted that “Every [Model 2020 Rimfire] configuration is guaranteed to shoot 1” or less at 50 yards with quality match-grade factory ammunition, in the hands of a skilled shooter.”

That sounded like a challenge.

Specifications: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle – Classic Model

• Part#: BARC92022GAA (As Tested)
• Action: Bolt
• CHAMBERING: 22LR
• RECEIVER: Steel, Round, Matte Blued
• STOCK: Grade AA Turkish Walnut (As Tested), Rubber Butt Pad
• BARREL TYPE: #1 Sporter Contour, 1:16, Matte Blued
• BARREL LENGTH: 20”
• MAGAZINE: 10-Round, Rotary, 1 Included 
• TRIGGER: Adjustable Remington® 700 Style Trigger
• SIGHTS: None
• WEIGHT: 6 lbs., 3 oz. 
• LENGTH: 38.25”
• ACCESSORIES: Interrupted Picatinny Mount for Optic, 2 Sling Studs 
• MSRP: $839.00

Already Scoped

My Model 2020 Rimfire arrived with a scope in place, a Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire 3-9×40 model, mounted on Talley rings. For standard rimfire distances, it was certainly a good and functional scope, delivering sharp images in both sunny and overcast conditions during two shooting sessions at my outdoor range. 

But the standard Model 2020 Rimfires are sold with what Springfield terms a removable “interrupted” Picatinny rail for optic mounting. That interruption is a narrowed section of the rail between the front and rear which sits right over the receiver’s ejection port. 

There was an “interrupted” pic rail included with the rifle, separately. As the Leupold was already mounted, I didn’t see the point in removing the Talley rings, mounting the pic rail, and then finding rings to mount the Leupold. 

Range Time with the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle

I zeroed the rifle at 25 yards using CCI Green Tag 22LR, and then began shooting five-shot groups. Three such groups into my shooting and I saw this was a waste of time.

A waste, as the groups were under one inch with the last two coming in at .580-inches and .470-inches. Clearly, any deviation was going to require me to pull a shot.

At 50 yards, the CCI groups started at 1.3 inches, but I got them to shrink to right around .80-inches.  

I switched my ammo to Euro competition rounds, starting with Lapua Center-X and the groups got even smaller. My best five shots with Center-X drilled in at just .522-inches and the average was approximately .80-inches. I also used SK Long Range Match 22 LR, and this pegged best groups of .74- and .83-inches.

Impressive. 

Winchester’s Wildcat 22 LR didn’t fare as well, though, averaging around 1.3 inches for five shots at 50 yards, with a best showing of 1.13 inches. But really, that was pretty damned good, too! 

The rifle and competition rounds begged me to give them a good workout at 100 yards and see what was possible. But the range was filling up with other shooters that last day and my deadline was calling. I will get back to my range soon, though, shoot the football field distance, and post an update.

Other Features: Trigger, Bolt, Threads

The Model 202 Rimfire’s trigger broke cleanly at 2 pounds, seven ounces, on average, with just the very slightest bit of uptake. It was actually a better trigger than many of the centerfire bolt action triggers I’ve used. 

The rifle’s bolt has a 60-degree throw, leaving ample room between the bolt handle and the optic. No bumping up against the scope tube when I was reloading. And the bolt worked smoothly.

Surprisingly, Classic rifles are not available with threaded barrels. The American Shooting Scene has become steadily more suppressed and gun makers responded with so many rifles offered standard with suppressor-ready barrels. With the rifle’s suggested retail, I also would’ve expected threading on the Classic.

But, as noted earlier, the Target model is manufactured with a threaded barrel.

Pricing for the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle

Turkish walnut and impressive accuracy come at a cost. In this case, just over $800 suggested retail for the Grade AA model I tested. The Satin model is approximately $250 less and the Grade A about $100 less, but the Grade AAA adds on another $250. 

Or there’s the Target model route, with two options both under $500.

Target or Classic, the Model 2020 Rimfires promise great accuracy and years of use. And for those shooters who much prefer wood, the Turkish walnut stocks of the Classic line will be tough to resist.