Springfield Armory has delivered on a dream that I’ve had since they launched the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint, a protracted motion model of one among my favourite bolt motion rifles.
We’ve seen an virtually seismic shift within the timing of product bulletins with many manufacturers foregoing SHOT Present and choosing launches all year long or on the NRA Annual conferences. Springfield Armory has been releasing new merchandise over the previous few years on their very own schedule and it has paid off in an enormous manner. They’ve had a string of very profitable launches together with the Hellion, Mannequin 2020 Redline, and the Mannequin 2020 rimfire rifles. One product specifically has been on my thoughts very often and this week, Springfield Armory has launched it. That product is the all new Lengthy Motion model of the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint.
Over the previous 3 years, just a few of us at OutdoorHub have been touring and testing the bolt weapons that Springfield Armory has been releasing and I can say with nice confidence that they’ve executed an incredible job with the design and manufacturing of the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint. From accuracy to weight, Springfield’s imaginative and prescient for this product line has been nothing in need of a house run. Now, with the discharge of the Lengthy Motion variants, the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint has, for my part, develop into top-of-the-line bolt weapons available on the market.
I’ve stated lots with out getting in to why I believe this rifle is a good choice for hunters so, let’s get in to it. After I’m evaluating a rifle, accuracy is simply a portion of what’s essential to me. I discover myself looking in a variety of completely different areas all year long and one thing that’s positioned excessive on my listing of fascinating options is a lightweight weight platform. Weight is a killer within the subject however, if you’re flying it can be a killer in your case as you begin to pack and put together for checking your rifle case in to your airline of alternative. The brand new Mannequin 2020 Waypoint lengthy motion ideas the scales simply north of 8 Lbs and while you pair the rifle with an optic, you’ll nonetheless be comfortably under 10 lbs.
Not solely is weight an important function, however the steadiness of the rifle can also be actually essential to me. A recent development hitting the market is looking rifles constructed with a heavier folding chassis system and I’ve discovered that carrying a rifle like that over longer durations of time can really feel awkward. These new rifles are constructed like PRS weapons and is often there’s extra weight surrounding the motion and butt inventory. The Mannequin 2020 Waypoint line of rifles, together with the latest Lengthy Motion variants, really feel like a dream to hold. I believe quite a lot of this is because of Springfield Armory’s alternative of inventory.
Springfield Armory has tapped AG Composites for his or her shares and the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint makes use of a hand-layed, 100% carbon fiber inventory that not solely seems nice, but additionally feels nice. There’s something distinctive to those shares that I’ve seen and that’s that they appear to have a barely bigger width when in comparison with different rifle shares I’ve used prior to now. It’s a function that’s considerably troublesome to translate into textual content however, what I can say is that the rifle inventory fills your hand in a manner that I’ve not skilled with different rifles. While you get behind a Mannequin 2020 Waypoint the accessible space that your taking pictures hand can seal round feels substantial and evokes confidence.
The Mannequin 2020 Waypoint relies off of the Remington 700 platform and this opens up a variety of potentialities for aftermarket elements and equipment. Whereas there are a selection of unbelievable triggers available on the market which are appropriate with the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint, Springfield Armory went straight to the highest and features a manufacturing facility put in TriggerTech set off. The one stage set off is adjustable from 2.5 – 5lbs and has a patented free-floating curler that delivers a crisp and dependable pull.
What’s a set off with no nice barrel? The all new Mannequin 2020 Waypoint rifles can be found with both a fluted metal or carbon fiber barrel each of which provide .75 MOA ensures. The mannequin I’ve readily available is a .300 PRC with the carbon fiber barrel. Not solely does it really feel nice, nevertheless it seems unbelievable and I can’t wait to get out and apply it to a hunt.
That is undoubtedly one of many extra thrilling product releases for me that has dropped this yr. Thrilling as a result of I’ve sufficient expertise with the Mannequin 2020 to know I actually just like the platform and that it’s correct, snug to hold, and constructed to final. With the addition of magnum calibers, I can go after bigger recreation and nonetheless carry one among my favourite rifles on the hunt!
For extra info on the Mannequin 2020 Waypoint lengthy motion rifles, you’ll be able to head over to Springfield Armory’s web site.
