Springfield Model 2020 Boundary Review

By Wayne van Zwoll

In today’s article, veteran hunter Wayne van Zwoll reviews the new Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary rifle. Designed with an internal magazine and other features sportsmen will appreciate, the rifle promises an exciting new addition to this bolt-action line. Springfield Armory provided a loaner gun to the author for this review.

The new Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary is a winner according to the author. It blends classic style with modern features. Image: Max Jacobsen

If I were to be granted a wish, I might mention something like my youth back, or maybe a Porsche. But, if I really had a little time to think about it, I might just simply say a good hunting rifle. You know, one with traditional lines and classic styling, but with something “new” to offer.

Springfield Model 2020 Boundary hunting rifle — The Springfield Model 2020 Boundary might make the perfect hunting rifle. It’s easy to carry in the field, readily accepts a sound suppressor and is extremely accurate. Image: Max Jacobsen

Well, I recently had that wish come true when a long box turned up at my local gun-shop. Inside was a heavy black soft case, the kind Springfield Armory ships. However, its “2020” tag threw me, though; my wish was for a new rifle.

But indeed, it was.

The Boundary Rifle Comes from Good Stock

The 2020 Boundary is the newest sibling of Springfield’s first bolt-action rifle, the 2020 Waypoint, introduced in … well, of course. I’d been impressed enough with a Waypoint in 6.5 Creedmoor to report on it, then to snare two more, in .308 and 6mm Creedmoor.

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary bolt action rifle — The Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary bolt-action rifle can be had with a fluted stainless steel or a lightweight carbon fiber barrel (shown).

The Boundary has the same bones as the Waypoint — a good thing, because they’re good bones. The Springfield-built action — offered in both short- and long-action variants — shares the Remington 700’s footprint, so it fits stocks and accepts triggers designed for the 700. Not that you’ll wish upgrades.

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary bolt action rifle with suppressor — The 2020 Boundary has an internal magazine with a hinged floorplate and is offered in seven chamberings. Image: Max Jacobsen

Like the Waypoint, the Boundary features a hand-laid, pillar-bedded, carbon-fiber stock. The stainless receiver has an integral recoil lug. A TriggerTech trigger adjusts externally down to 2½ lbs. if you so desire. A lock time of just 1.9 milliseconds helps you hit where you’re looking as the trigger breaks. The two-detent side safety permits cycling when it’s “on.”

Springfield Armory Boundary rifle fluted barrel and brake — Every Springfield Armory Boundary rifle comes with the SA Radial Brake and a thread protector. A suppressor can also be used.

As in the Waypoint, a twin-lug bolt, spiral-fluted and nitrided, slides piston-smooth through the Boundary’s EDM-cut races. Dual cocking cams help with bolt lift. The bolt disassembles easily without tools. Like the receiver, it is machined after heat-treating to ensure finished dimensions match specs. The receiver, bottom metal, barrel shank and brake are Cerakoted. A 6” Picatinny rail accommodates scopes.

hunter with Springfield Boundary hunting rifle — Springfield Armory offers the Boundary hunting rifle chambered for many popular short-action and long-action chamberings including .308 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. Image: Max Jacobsen

Springfield lists both BSF carbon-fiber and fluted stainless barrels for all seven of the Boundary’s chamberings — .308 Winchester, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC, .300 Win. Mag. Mag. and .300 PRC. The .308’s barrels are 20” long, the 6.5 CM’s 22. Springfield settled on 24” for all the others.

[Be sure to read our article What Is 6.5 Creedmoor? for additional information on that cartridge.]

The radial brakes, on 5/8-24 threads, are removable. Rifling twists stabilize long, ballistically efficient bullets. Each carbon fiber-barrel has a stainless core “in a roll-wrapped carbon-fiber sleeve loaded under tension.” Almost the entire length of the sleeve is free of the core, the gap conducting heat away. Fluting under the sleeve trims weight and speeds cooling.

Model 2020 Boundary review — A 6″ Picatinny-type rail allows you to easily mount a scope onto the Model 2020 Boundary rifle. Image: Jeremy Tremp

Springfield’s accuracy guarantee for the Boundary is the same as for the Waypoint: .75 MOA with match-grade factory loads for a three-shot group with a skilled shooter.

Diverging Point?

But there are differences between these 2020s.

First: magazines and stocks. The Boundary has an internal magazine, its hinged steel floorplate secured by a guard-bow latch. For hunting, I personally much prefer it to the Waypoint’s detachable single-stack box that protrudes 1¾”. With the Boundary, I can more easily carry the rifle with one hand at its balance point. [Ed. note: Be sure to read What Is the Difference Between a Clip and a Magazine to better understand the two things.]

comb and stock of Springfield Armory Boundary rifle — The Boundary’s comb aligned the author’s eye quickly and naturally and works well with scopes in low or medium rings.

The Boundary has a trimmer buttstock, smoothly ovoid in cross-section (the Waypoint’s has six angles). The straight comb is more slender, though well-rounded and supportive. It has no cheekpiece. It naturally aligns my eye with scopes in low and medium rings. There’s no comb nose cut-out to allow for bolt removal, as the bolt clears the nose easily.

Springfield Boundary rifle stock — The Springfield Boundary rifle has a pear-shaped bolt knob that is removable. The stock has a buttpad and a traditional grip that makes it comfortable to carry and fast pointing.

Instead of sling swivel pockets on both sides and in front of the toe, the Boundary has one pocket on the left side. The buttstock’s bottom-line rises at a pleasing angle from the 1-inch black Pachmayr recoil pad to a traditional “sporter” grip. (The Waypoint stock is much deeper behind a thick, near-vertical grip, whose trailing edge drops very low from the tang.)

Boundary rifle review trigger guard — Nicely shaped to follow the trigger’s curve, the Boundary’s triggerguard bow also includes the floorplate release. Image: Jeremy Tremp

The Boundary’s fore-stock is trimmer and less angular in cross-section, also 2” shorter than the Waypoint’s. It has two 1¼” M-Lok slots up front instead of three, and a single left-side sling swivel pocket instead of one on either side. The Boundary’s stock is finished in what’s described as Rogue camo. It’s attractive; but so are the other finishes on Waypoint stocks.

Other disparities: The Boundary’s detachable bolt knob is smoothly pear-shaped and a tad shorter. The triggerguard is rounded, not square and, praise be, was thoughtfully profiled to follow the curve of the trigger. These changes may seem small; to my eye they’re cosmetic improvements. For me, blocky is good if you’re building a guard-house; not so shaping a guard bow. If unnecessary angles were beautiful, Porsche Roadsters would have had them by now.

I like the Boundary’s dimensions and balance. It points naturally and absorbs the shock of firing well. The trigger arrived with a clean break just shy of 4 lbs. — exactly the same as on my Waypoint in 6mm CM. Adjustment, should I want it, is easy.

Springfield has a winner in the 2020’s push-feed action. After four rifles and loads now totaling in the dozens, I’ve had no failures to cycle, not even a hiccup. Bolt travel is piston-slick, with almost no rattle. There’s negligible end play at full retraction. From both the Waypoint’s AICS and the Boundary’s internal box, cartridges slide seamlessly up and in. While the ejection port isn’t huge, top-loading with single cartridges is easy.

shooting the Springfield Boundary hunting rifle — A scope such as the Leupold VX-6HD 3-18×44 scope pairs well with the Model 2020 Boundary. Image: Jeremy Tremp

The bolt-face extractor is stronger than the Mauser faithful might assume. Inserted through a slot in the center of the right-hand (lower) locking lug, it’s secured by its own beefy shoulders. The claw is a generous 6mm wide across most of its face, 5mm at its leading edge, and is designed to prevail over case-sticking handloads. The face angle makes for easy push-feed engagement. A peppy plunger ejector boots from 4 o’clock.

Model 2020 Boundary Specifications

Chamberings	.308, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, .300 Win. Mag., 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC
Barrel	20”, 22”, 24” (stainless steel or carbon fiber)
Weight	6 lbs., 10 oz. to 7 lbs., 2 oz.
Overall Length	41” to 46”
Sights	N/A, Picatinny rail
Stock	Carbon fiber
Action	Bolt-action
Finish	Cerakote
Capacity	3-4
MSRP	$2,173-$2,599

Time Spent on the Shooting Range

How does the Boundary shoot? The sample I received was a short action in .308 Win., and I’m pleased to report it went from good to great. Early groups were capable for a hunting rifle firing my assortment of factory loads, most intended for big game. But I wanted even better. To ensure it got a fair chance to shine, I enlisted a sharp-shooting friend, Sam Shaw, to share time on the rifle and my Oehler 35 chronograph. Evidently, the barrel likes to send bullets, as groups tightened during our range session. The prelude ate enough cartridges to limit some multiples of groups, but enabled us to tap the Boundary’s inner self.

Springfield Boundary rifle 5-shot group test Hornady ammunition — The Boundary drilled half-inch knots with several loads, easily beating the .75 MOA accuracy guarantee.

The rifle was delightfully un-fussy about the loads it gobbled, with us trying a broad range of 16 loadings ranging from 110 grains up to 185 grains. Over the course of our shooting, the rifle punched near-minute five-shot groups at either end of the 110- to-185-grain bullet-weight spectrum.

Springfield Boundary ammunition test on shooting range Fiocchi ammo load — Springfield’s Boundary bolt-action hunting rifle drilled this tight group with this Fiocchi load that used middle-weight Swift Scirocco bullets.

All told, we ended up with three of the best loads hovering at half an inch with three-shot groups — well under the .75 MOA accuracy guarantee. This is excellent accuracy for a 6½-lb. sporter fed a variety of commercial loads!

Shooting Performance

Final Thoughts on the Boundary Bolt-Action Rifle

I’m certainly pleased with the Boundary. Surely other hunters will give it high ratings in regards to function, accuracy, balance and pointing qualities. Its profile makes it more trail-worthy than the Waypoint, which isn’t as easy to cradle. Its light weight suits it to long treks in steep places, weighing from 6 lbs., 10 oz. at the lightest up to just 7 lbs., 2 oz. at the heaviest.

review of the Springfield Boundary rifle — The Springfield Armory Boundary rifle is suitable for most any hunting challenge you can throw at it. According to the author, “It’s a lot of rifle for the money.” Image: Jeremy Tremp

With its four powerful 7mm and .30-caliber chamberings, it has enough reach and power for any game anywhere, save Africa’s thick-skinned brutes. And with the .308 and 6.5 chamberings, you have even more options. Springfield has done itself proud with this hunting rifle! And with an MSRP ranging from $2,173 to $2,599, it’s a lot of rifle for the money. Magazine capacity is four in rifles bored to .308 and 6.5 CM, three in all the others.

Failings? None. But as I often shoot with a sling and carry a rifle in traditional fashion in the hills, QD swivel studs, front and rear would be most helpful. I’d move the comb nose a half inch back and flute it generously, straighten the top-line of the grip slightly and round the forend belly a tad. But, I might just be nit-picking here. I guess I should have mentioned these things in my first wish … .

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