First Look: Model 2020 Heatseeker Review

In this Springfield Model 2020 Heatseeker review, author Sean Utley tests the newest bolt action rifle from Geneseo. The rifle, chambered for either .308 Win or 6.5 Creedmoor, has the look of a serious performer. Is it? That’s what Utley set out to discover. The rifle was provided to the author prior to launch for the purposes of this review.

This may come off as a bit cocky, but I don’t care. Springfield’s push, and a very successful one I might add, into the bolt-action fray was anything but a surprise to me. In fact, I had expected it.

The Springfield Model 2020 Heatseeker features a compact chassis and carbon fiber barrel. The lightweight setup makes it easy to carry without giving up accuracy.

Why? I was fortunate enough to get an early insight into the development of the Model 2020 family of rifles before the launch in the namesake year. I, being absolutely smitten by the bolt-action/precision rifle bug, realized then that the market needed more players — and, quite frankly, large manufacturers — to get involved to address the needs of the large array of bolt-action shooters out there. We discussed what was needed, why, and — importantly — where it should land in the grand scheme of capabilities and affordability.

A close-up image of the Model 2020 Heatseeker’s 16-inch carbon fiber barrel and threaded muzzle. The barrel is lightweight and suppressor-ready with 5/8x24 threading. A precision muzzle brake is installed. The carbon fiber wrap and barrel fluting are clearly visible, helping reduce weight while maintaining stiffness. This configuration was tested during the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review in both suppressed and unsuppressed formats. — Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win , the rifle delivers strong performance from a short, suppressor-ready barrel. The threaded muzzle makes adding a brake or can fast and easy.

So, when Springfield released the Model 2020 Waypoint, I knew they had an absolute hit on their hands. To my mind, it was a product with a bright future of developmental growth and expansion. And that clearly looks to be the path and plausible outcome with the release of this newest iteration, the Model 2020 Heatseeker. But more on that in a moment.

A New Direction

In September 2020, I received my first test sample of the original Waypoint 2020. I would go on to test and evaluate it as well as craft an article about its capabilities out to and beyond 1,000 yards — 1,080 yards, to be exact. [See the author’s Model 2020 Waypoint review for that story.]

A shooter manipulates the bolt on a Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker rifle. The bolt handle has a large, knurled knob for better grip. The Model 2020 action is Springfield’s bolt gun platform and has proven reliable during extended shooting. In this review, the bolt cycled smoothly with various types of match and hunting ammunition. Bolt throw and feeding were tested in real conditions for the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review. — This rifle is built around Springfield’s Model 2020 action. The bolt throw is smooth, consistent, and didn’t hiccup during testing.

“Wait,” you might say. The original iteration was a completely hunting-focused platform — lightweight with a carbon fiber barrel and an AG Composite stock. That’s not a 1K-plus set-up, right? That might have been the case, but that didn’t matter to me. A quality-built action with a high-quality barrel can do many great feats, and I was determined to find out if this one was up to the task. Due to my own interests, I may have “griped” at Springfield’s decision to launch with a hunting-focused set-up, but I knew why they did it. It was smart move.

Back then, I didn’t consider myself a hunter, but rather a target shooter first and foremost. My decades-old habit of pressing triggers started in the tactical training arena where I’d graduated from pistols to AR platforms, with a heavy emphasis on NFA firearms.

View of the magazine well and detachable steel AICS-pattern magazine in the Springfield Model 2020 Heatseeker. The magazine holds five rounds and feeds both .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor rounds with ease. It fits flush with the chassis and was tested for reliability and fitment during this review. The mag dropped cleanly with each press of the release. Feeding was 100% with all tested loads during the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review — A five-round steel AICS-pattern mag feeds the Heatseeker reliably. It locked in place cleanly and never failed to drop free.

My about-face from tactical-focused shooting came after precision shooting dug its claws into me. While I still love shooting pistols and AR’s, precision exploits — to include target shooting and hunting — fuel my passion more than the former. And if you’re like me in that regard, this Model 2020 Heatseeker could be the perfect rifle for you.

First Impressions on the Model 2020 Heatseeker

Upon encountering the Model 2020 Heatseeker for the first time — my test sample was in 6.5 Creedmoor — two things were immediately apparent: its insane light weight as well as its head-turning good looks. Featuring a Sharps Bros. Heatseeker chassis and a Model 2020 action with a lightweight carbon fiber-wrapped barrel, Springfield chose the right color in which to release the 2020 Heatseeker — a Coyote Brown Cerakote finish.

Rear section of the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker featuring the B5 Systems CPS stock. The stock includes an adjustable cheek riser and multiple settings for length of pull. It attaches to a standard buffer tube, making it AR-compatible. QD sling points are located on both sides. This stock offered consistent support during the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review. — The B5 Systems precision stock has a comfortable cheekpiece and LOP adjustment. It’s a smart pick for a rifle with this kind of flexibility.

Chambered in .308 Winchester or 6.5 CM, the rifle’s beautiful Coyote Brown finish matches up nicely with the black-colored components. These latter include the buffer tube, top rail, bolt and bolt handle, making for some nice contrasting touches. Add to that the sexy threaded and suppressor-ready carbon fiber barrel, and you have a thing of absolute beauty.

[For additional information on this cartridge, read our article “What Is 6.5 Creedmoor?“]

But, as we know, beauty without performance means nothing. I’m sure you guys with V-6 Mustangs know what I mean. But I digress. In this case, the beauty comes with purpose, and my history with Model 2020 rifles gave me confidence that its shooting performance would only add to the appeal of its physical attributes. More to come on that.

close-up photo of the M-Lok forend on the Sharps Bros. Heatseeker chassis. The free-floating handguard features a 14” length and weighs just 10 ounces. M-Lok slots are cut on all sides for full modularity. Users can attach bipods, lights, lasers, and rail sections as needed. The M-Lok system proved stable and easy to work with in the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review. — The forend is cut for M-Lok across the full length. Add weights, night vision, side rails, or leave it stripped — your call.

The rifle’s light weight — 7 lbs., 7 oz., according to Springfield Armory — stems from the use of the 5/8×24 threaded carbon fiber barrel, which in this instance is a mere 16” in total length. However, this is not the only contributing factor. As noted, Springfield joined forces with Sharps Bros. and added the Heatseeker chassis, which graces the scale at just 1 lb., 3 oz. That’s crazy light. The chassis is made of 6061 T-6 billet aluminum, which is both strong and light weight.

It’s this barreled action/chassis combo that opens up the Model 2020 to an entirely new class of shooter because of its light weight and functionality. The Heatseeker chassis has a 10-oz., 14” free-float handguard and is laden with M-Lok slots on its circumference. This means you can add nearly anything you like as far as accessories are concerned. It’s a bolt-action rifle, with precision as its focus, so a bipod is a must.

Image showing the author shooting the rifle with the B5 Systems P-Grip 23 on the Model 2020 Heatseeker chassis. The grip has a more vertical angle for better ergonomics in precision shooting. It features aggressive texturing for a secure hold even with gloves. This type of grip geometry is common in bolt-action chassis builds. The grip worked well during testing for this Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review. — The vertically-aligned B5 P-Grip 23 gives better trigger access and control. It’s much more comfortable for prone or bench work.

You can attach a pic rail or ARCA/RRS Dovetail Standard rail if you want. I prefer the latter for ease of use and adjustability. I added a Really Right Stuff 5.5” Dovetail section to the 2020 Heatseeker. This healthy forend will allow the addition of night and thermal optics and side rails if desired. You can also add weights to the forend if desired. Yes, add weight. Stick with me and I’ll explain why this may be desired.

At the rear of the chassis is a buffer tube extension, bringing AR compatibility into play. A B5 Systems Collapsible Precision Stock sits here, allowing for length of pull (LOP) adjustability as well as cheekpiece height, and additional LOP adjustment on the buttstock itself. You should have no difficulty finding the right setting for yourself.

A side view of the Model 2020 Heatseeker resting on a bipod and rear bag. Additional weight modules are visible along the handguard’s M-Lok slots. The user has added mass to improve recoil control and shot-to-shot consistency. The modular chassis allows you to configure the rifle for your own needs. This was a key takeaway from the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review. — You can go heavy or light with this chassis. The M-Lok slots make it simple to tune balance and recoil characteristics.

The CPS also has QD points on either side. These, coupled with the QD cups on the forend, make for easy sling attachment. in my professional opinion, every rifle should have at least two QD attachment points on each side, just like the Waypoint 2020 Heatseeker.

Also included is a B5 Systems P-Grip 23 AR-pattern pistol grip. In the tactical space, we have moved slowly away from the standard-angled pistol grip toward more vertical orientations. But in the precision rifle space, we abandoned the angled grip a long time ago. The P-Grip 23 features a more vertical grip angle for ideal trigger interface, and it has excellent texturing. All in all, it feels quite proper for a precision-type rifle.

Tricking It Out

My accessorizing of the rifle continued with the addition of an optic. My first thought was Leupold’s Mark 5HD. I love these optics for several reasons. For their size and magnification, they are lightweight, with this 7-35x56mm version weighing in at just 2.10 lbs. You could opt for the 3-18×44 and save .2 lbs., but I wanted the increased power.

The Model 2020 Heatseeker isn’t just light — it’s compact. That makes it easier to carry through tight terrain or maneuver on the bench.

For serious precision shooting an excellent reticle is a must, and in my opinion the PR2 is the crème de la crème. This tree-type reticle features reduced sized lines. The markings on the MIL version are in .25 MIL increments, which reduces your viewing clutter by some 40%. It’s bright, clear, and precise. I couldn’t help but get it in FDE and, while not a perfect match in color, it amply complements the tones of the Model 2020 Heatseeker.

The Heatseeker comes with a threaded barrel, so it’s ready for suppression. I obliged with the addition of one of the best precision-focused suppressors to be created — the Elite Iron Asset. This .30-caliber suppressor is modular with additional baffle elements and different end caps. I set it up in its short version with the muzzle brake attached on the front-end, bringing the total length to 8” overall. While I can add some length for more suppression, I wanted to keep the rifle as short as possible while maintaining suppression and a good level of recoil reduction.

A shooter lies in the prone position behind the Springfield Model 2020 Heatseeker, firing a suppressed 6.5 Creedmoor load. The rifle is stabilized on a bipod and rear sandbag. Ejection is clean, and spent cases land consistently. The suppressor reduces muzzle blast and helps keep recoil manageable. This setup was part of the real-world evaluation for the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review. — Shot from prone with bipod and rear bag, the rifle handled recoil well. The suppressor helped tame the bark.

Suppressors that have muzzle brakes aren’t as quiet as their standard closed-end configurations, but a good one gives solid recoil performance while giving up only a little bit in the way of noise reduction. To me, the trade-off is worth it as I always (as you should too) wear hearing protection while shooting suppressed — especially with centerfire rifles.

With all my added accessories, including an MDT Ckye-Pod bipod, the Heatseeker hit the scales at 13.1 lbs. For the intended purpose, this is perfectly acceptable for a general set-up with leeway to go lighter if necessary and heavier if desired. This latter point is why I like the M-Lok slots on the forend of the rifle — I like to shoot a heavier rifle for general target use.

A 13-lb. rifle can be somewhat light for extended shooting sessions, but the M-Lok forend will allow you to add weights to the front of the rifle to curtail some of the recoil and smooth things out a bit. You can add or remove them as necessary, making this rifle effectively modular. If you want to go light, go light. If you need the heft, add it. It’s a win-win for the owner/operator.

Performance To Match

Looks and other excellent features aside, any rifle — especially bolt-action types — need to post good numbers in the precision box. The Model 2020 Heatseeker did just that. What most call accuracy testing, I refer to as precision testing as that’s the goal. We want repeated impacts as close to each other as possible. Springfield guarantees three-shot groups to be 0.75″ or less with match-grade ammunition and assuming the operator can, well — operate.

Hornady ELD-X shooting results — The best performing ammunition in the Model 2020 Heatseeker was the Hornady 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter shown here.

While I found several loads of factory 6.5 Creedmoor printing easily below the .75 MOA standard, the Heatseeker achieved a most excellent 0.16” group with Hornady’s 143-gr. ELD-X ammunition. This was the only “hunting” ammo I used as I deemed it appropriate to include since this rifle has a dual personality. This ammo shot decisively better than the target loads, with the next closest group at 0.55”, with another Hornady load. That one was the 140-gr. ELD-M.

6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition Performance

I live in Arizona, so it was sunny (per the usual) at the range. The temp this day was 84° at roughly 10:00 am. I mention all of this to say that mirage was a real thing on this day. It was actually quite bad, with my point of aim dancing up to at least .5 MIL in several directions. This observation gives me confidence that the rifle is likely even more accurate than this outing shows.

Federal Premium match ammo testing — The Federal Premium Gold Medal Berger AR Hybrid 130-grain OTM load performed very well in the Model 2020 Heatseeker.

During shooting, I found this set-up to be quite manageable and with much less recoil than I expected due to its light weight. Bolt throw was smooth and sure, with no issues feeding from the five-round AICS-pattern steel magazine. Recoil was linear, just the way you want it. There were no anomalies or surprises; just a solid-shooting rifle that was a pleasure to pilot.

Berger 130 grain Hybrid Tactical ammunition testing — Shown here is the performance on target by the Berger 130-grain Hybrid OTM Tactical ammunition shot from the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker.

I had a hunch that the Model 2020 Heatseeker had a little more in it. So, I took the rifle out on another outing, this time in the morning when mirage wouldn’t be an issue. I loaded up the Hornady 143 gr. ELD-X and coaxed a five-shot, 0.4” group from the Heatseeker at 100 yards. Yes, it was against the three-shot protocol, but I needed to know. Four of the rounds were stacked on each other, with one landing left, opening the group up. Regardless, I was happy with the result, and it told me that with the right load the rifle can perform consistently well.

Final Thoughts on the Model 2020 Heatseeker

The Model 2020 Heatseeker represents a rifle category that can be hard to nail down properly. As I ponder, I consider this to be a working man’s rifle, meaning it can do many things and adapt to them with little to no effort. Its light weight and compact size make it easy to lug around, the only thing I would change would be a folding stock option. But, as we all know, folders come with their own challenges.

Detail shot of the Springfield Model 2020 Heatseeker’s receiver area. The Coyote Brown Cerakote finish covers the aluminum chassis and action. The black bolt handle, top rail, and grip provide contrast. Controls, such as the safety and mag release, are also black. The finish was tested during the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker review and held up under field conditions. — The Coyote Brown finish looks sharp and holds up well to range use. It’s a nice contrast against the black components and carbon fiber barrel.

If you’re looking to get into a solid bolt-action rifle but aren’t willing to make a hard commitment to any singular path or use-case, the Model 2020 Heatseeker could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. And at a suggested retail price of $2,355, it offers you a great solution.

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