In 2023, Springfield Armory introduced a complete line of .22 Long Rifle-chambered rimfire rifles, available in both Target and Classic variants. In the latter models, the traditional styling has been paired with some great design elements to create one of the best bolt-action rimfire rifles available today. Watch our “American Rifleman Television” Rifleman Review segment above to see what the company builds into its Model 2020 Rimfire Classic.
“ I am a big fan of full-size adult rimfire rifles, and by adult, I mean it’s just scaled like a big-game hunting rifle,” NRA Media Editorial Director Mark Keefe said. “And the latest that we’ve seen is the Springfield 2020 .22 rimfire. And this is an entire line of guns.”
Built in Turkey by Retay for Springfield Armory, the Classic variant comes in three different grades of walnut. Pictured in the review above is the AA grade design, which includes some nice figure, as well as traditional checkering on the forearm and stock wrist.
“We have a very interesting trigger design, which actually is based on the Remington Model 700. It’s a Model 700 style, the later style, and there is some compatibility if you want to swap it out for an aftermarket trigger,” Keefe said. “That said, the trigger on this is actually excellent. It’s a single-stage. You have a nice, wide groove trigger blade here. This one came out at about 4 lbs., 1 oz. But if you take it out of the stock, you can actually adjust it to add a little more pull weight.”
One of the most notable design elements of the Springfield Model 2020 Rimfire line is the use of a Ruger 10/22-style rotary magazine. Springfield includes a single rotary magazine with each rifle, complete with the company’s crossed-cannons logo on the bottom, but all Ruger 10/22 rotary magazines are compatible with the rifle.
“Now this is a complete line from Springfield. It includes the walnut stock guns, but also there’s a target version with a synthetic stock, a reinforced synthetic stock, that has a medium-contour, almost bull barrel,” Keefe said. “Springfield Armory puts an accuracy guarantee on every one of these guns, and they guarantee three shots within a half inch at 50 yards. With the target version that I’ve been shooting, and with one of the walnut guns, that’s pretty conservative. With the target model, I’ve had 10-shot groups that come in underneath a half an inch, which is remarkable.”
Springfield also includes an extra cocking cam inside the bolt, allowing for an easier bolt lift and smoother operation, mechanically. A two-position safety selector is located just to the right of the receiver tang within easy reach of a shooter’s thumb, and the 13.45″ length of pull can be adjusted with the addition of a spacer block.
“ You don’t see walnut stock guns, especially .22s, very often,” Keefe said. “And this gun is just a delight to shoot, it’s a delight to carry, and I must say that this fall, no squirrel is safe.”
To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/videos/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.
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