Accurate-shooting .22 rifles never wain in popularity, and Springfield’s Model 2020 Rimfire series stands tall in this segment with its classic bolt-action design and quality construction
by Bob Campbell
For most of my professional writing career, I have concerned myself with personal defense and training. But that certainly isn’t the whole of my shooting experience.
I grew up hunting small game with a number of ordinary rimfire rifles. These were mostly bolt-action types. I just felt that a bolt-action .22 offered the best accuracy and reliability. Sure, there are ultra-reliable semi-automatic rifles, but only if fed a steady diet of high velocity .22 LR ammunition. Change the fuel to .22 Shorts or CBs and a bolt-action rifle offers feed and cycle reliability…not to mention excellent accuracy. When Springfield Armory introduced a high quality rimfire rifle, I was intrigued. A few months later I owned two and am quite pleased with each.
The rifle, offered in several variations, is the Springfield Model 2020 Rimfire. The 2020, as I will refer to it for brevity, is presented in two main versions.
Model 2020 Rimfire Target
The Target model is the more affordable choice. Its polymer stock features reinforcement for accuracy. There is also a wood-stocked Classic rifle. The Classic comes in several grades of wood. Both styles are quite attractive. My Classic hosts a beautiful AA-grade Turkish walnut stock. Either is a good rifle, depending on personal tastes.
The Target model features a flat forend and a vertical grip. The barrel is a heavy threaded version. As I learned, the Target rifle is well suited to firing from a solid rest or a braced position.
Model 2020 Rimfire Classic
The Classic features a modern sporter outline best suited for hunting and off-hand fire. The Classic is accurate off the bench and the Target is a credible hunter, but it is possible to fine tune your shooting style with either rifle choice. The Springfield 2020 has good features that are more evident after a bit of study. As an example, you may not really need a recoil pad, but the .25-inch-thick pad helps keep a solid purchase in the shoulder. The Classic rifle also features a 13.45-inch length of pull. With this LOP, there isn’t any reason a youth could not also use the rifle.
Quality Bolt
The 2020 Rimfire is high on function as well as aesthetics. The hard-chromed bolt is ideally shaped for sure, rapid manipulation. This is true of either rifle. The bolt’s fine finish makes it easy to clean and to keep lubricated and ready for hunting. A .22 rimfire doesn’t need much lift and travel in the bolt, so the 60-degree lift and short stroke make it easy to manage. There are also dual locking cams distributing force over the cocking stroke. After 1,180 mixed loads in two rifles, I can say this is the smoothest bolt-action rimfire I have experienced.
Moving to the magazine release, the Target model release lever is large and easily manipulated. The Classic magazine release is a standard plunger type. I don’t foresee a speed load with this rifle. Yet, with a stack of magazines on the bench and testing different loads, the larger release made shooting chores far more pleasant with the Target model. The magazines are Ruger 10/22-compatible, making for easy access to plenty of affordable magazines. You may use the Ruger X Mag variations with up to 25 cartridges on tap. That is a lot of plinking for fun or for squirrel hunting.
Optic Mounting
The optics rail is unique to rimfire rifles to the best of my knowledge. The design is termed a removeable “interrupted” Picatinny. There is simply a narrow section in the middle of the rail for easy access to the chamber.
As for expected accuracy, the rifle comes with a 1-inch group guarantee at 50 yards. This is impressive for a rimfire rifle. I am certain that the rifle demands quality ammunition with outstanding accuracy potential to meet this standard.
A bargain bin scope is a waste of time — about as useless as a congressional sub-committee. Concentrating on the Classic wood stocked rifle, I mounted a Burris Fullfield E1 6.5-20x50mm. The scope may be overkill, but I did not feel that way when firing at 50 yards. I even ventured into 100-yard territory with good results.
I test many firearms and tend to order an optic with stretch and versatility. As it turned out, I am certain this combination will ride with me for a while. I can snag the X ring or bull and smaller, more difficult targets fairly easily. A fine crosshair reticle with six holdover lines is a good touch, although you must learn the holdover.
It isn’t difficult to keep track of the slightly different points of aim and point of impact. The Burris turrets are easy to adjust, with each offering ¼ MOA for each click, 30 MOA total. I stayed at 6.5x for most shooting, being mindful of the adage “beware the man with one gun…he probably knows how to use it.”
The Springfield 2020 Rimfire is a rifle for serious rimfire shooters who will dedicate themselves to accuracy. I became that man for a couple of weeks and may remain so with this rifle on the front line.
Concentrating on the Classic rifle in this report, I fired the rifle off-hand for the most part and explored trigger adjustment. In the end, this course of action proved profitable.
A Good Factory Trigger
Practical accuracy is how well you can shoot the rifle; intrinsic accuracy is the mechanical accuracy of a firearm. Many factors make for a good-shooting gun. Life holds few surprises after decades of shooting, but the Springfield 2020 Rimfire proved more accurate than I expected. The original trigger offers good adjustment, from just under four pounds to five pounds. The Classic trigger, as delivered, is clean and sharp-breaking at an even 4 lbs. as measured on the scale. I did not adjust the trigger until somewhat late in the test as the factory setting seemed fine for evaluation purposes.
Easy Aftermarket Upgrade
Springfield chose to manufacture the 2020 with a Remington 700-compatible trigger. This gives the shooter the option of fitting a premium aftermarket trigger action such as those from Timney.
With acclimation improving performance, I decided to install a Timney trigger. Installation is simple enough. I ordered the Elite Hunter Remington 700 as it seemed to suit my needs best. The Timney trigger breaks at a clean 1.5 pounds of compression and I did not adjust it after installation. I had considered mounting the Timney in the Target gun, but I became quite attached to the Classic during the test program.
During initial testing, I found the advantage of the Target version apparent — mostly with bench rest shooting. I fired most of the ammunition expended in off-hand fire with the Classic simply because it is such a joy to fire and use off-hand. Shooting from a bench is imperative for a proper evaluation — the nuts and bolts of a firing test. Firing off-hand and connecting often is your reward for attention to detail.
The 2020 Rimfire’s action is smooth and responds well to a trained shooter. I managed to short-cycle the action a few times and put dents in a few cartridge cases. There is a lot of camming force in a bolt-action rifle, and perhaps I did not always slap the magazine home. I had to get used to the relatively short lift and stroke of the Springfield. In any case, I was swiftly burning up ammunition at a fast cycle rate and having a blast in the doing.
Likes
- This a great rifle without flash blast and recoil, well suited to fun shooting. It is accurate, which makes it interesting. The rifle feeds all loads without complaint and without respect to bullet weight or velocity. (Be certain to play a bit with how you load the magazine with .22 Shorts to convince it to feed.) In the case of the Classic rifle, it is aptly named.
Don’t Likes
- In the context of design and the intended audience, I cannot find anything I really don’t like.
What I Would Change
- I may eventually ask Springfield if they would offer the rifle in .22 Magnum, but that is way ahead of the game. Bolt throw and feed is fine. There is just nothing to argue about in this rifle.
Compare To
- Compared to the excellent CZ 455 rifles, the Springfield is at least as accurate and easier to mount with an optic. The magazines are much more modern and more affordable. Bergara has a good bolt-action .22, but I like the Springfield a little better. Some of the upgraded Savage rifles are pretty good. They cost a little less yet are not quite as accurate. The Springfield is in a good spot.
If you enjoy firing different loads for accuracy testing, the .22 LR cartridge allows you to do so with minimal expense and never with a sore shoulder. My results are tabulated below. I really like the rifle and cannot imagine anyone who has a fondness for accurate rifles not enjoying the Springfield 2020 rimfire.
Springfield Model 2020 Classic Specifications
- Action: bolt-action rimfire rifle
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Magazine: 10/22-style; detachable; 10-rd. capacity
- Barrel: 20-in.; blued carbon steel; No. 1 sporter contour; free-floated; button rifled; 1:16 RH twist, 6 grooves
- Trigger: single-stage; adjustable pull weight 3 lbs., 1 oz. – 7 lbs., 3 oz.
- Sights: none; drilled and tapped for optics bases; interrupted Picatinny rail included
- Safety: two-position; push-button; cross-bolt
- Stock: straight comb; multiple walnut grades; satin finish; 13.45-in. LOP; sling-swivel studs
- Metal Finish: matte blued
- Overall Length: 38.25 in.
- Weight: 6 lbs., 3 oz.
- Accessories: soft case, cable lock, bore brush
- MSRP: $529-$1,099
Accuracy Test
All shots were fired from a solid bench rest using the MTM Case-Gard K-Zone shooting rest and the Model 2020 Classic. All groups are three shots at 50 yards.
Load / Velocity / Group Size
- CCI Quiet 40-grain Segmented / 754 fps / 2.3 in. (Traveling at .22 Short velocity and intended for suppressor use, it is asking a lot for this load to maintain accuracy past 25 yards. At close range, it breaks up in gelatin — sure killer for pests and rodents.)
- CCI Mini Mag Segmented / 1221 fps / .9 in.
- Federal Small Game MATCH 40-grain HP / 1155 fps / .8 in.
- CCI Velociter / 1366 fps / 1.1 in.
- Winchester Super X 37-grain HP / 1255 fps / 1.25 in.
- Winchester M 22 40-grain / 1202 fps / 1.6 in. (Designed for bulk use in AR type .22s. Not a dog, but not the best for accuracy. Plenty accurate for practice.)
- CCI Stinger 32-grain / 1505 fps / 1.1 in. (Not often the most accurate of loads in .22 LR but among the fastest.)
