New for 2019: Springfield Armory SAINT Victor .308

Springfield Armory expanded its AR-style rifle lineup in 2019 with the company's first short-action AR offering in the form of the Springfield Armory SAINT Victor .308. The all-new SAINT Victor challenges the concept of a big, heavy, short-action battle rifle by providing shooters with a .308-compatible rifle that's lightweight and easily handled, offering the same look and feel as a traditional AR-15 while loaded with a heavier, .30-caliber punch.

Each Springfield Armory SAINT Victor .308 is constructed on 7075-T6 forged-aluminum upper-and-lower receiver sets, which are equipped with the company's Accu-Tite tension system that allows users to eliminate any rattling or movement between each receiver half. The upper receiver is paired with a 16-inch lightweight-profile barrel machined from chrome-moly vanadium steel and treated with a Melonite finish on all internal and external surfaces. The barrel is rifled with a 1:10-inch twist rate designed to work with all of today's popular .308 Win. rounds, and the muzzle is topped with a proprietary muzzle brake design that reduces recoil and muzzle rise.

Completing the semi-automatic system on the SAINT Victor .308, the lightweight barrel is paired with a mid-length, direct-impingement gas system and features a pinned, low-profile gas block. The gas system and barrel are surrounded by a 15-inch free-float, aluminum handguard equipped with Springfield Armory's locking tabs that align the handguard perfectly with the upper receiver. Each handguard features M-Lok attachment slots along seven sides, while the top of the handguard is trimmed away to save weight. A short section of Picatinny rail near the muzzle end allows users to add sights, and each SAINT Victor ships with spring-loaded flip-up irons at the front and rear.

Other features found in the Springfield Armory SAINT Victor .308 include a single-stage, flat-faced trigger with nickel-boron-coated sear surfaces for a smooth, grit-free trigger pull, as well as a Bravo Company six-position buttstock and a single-sided safety selector. The short-action rifle is also equipped with a mil-spec charging handle and features a Melonite-finished bolt-carrier group, complete with a 9310 steel bolt, and a "H" Heavy Tungsten buffer.

Each SAINT Victor .308 weighs 7 pounds, 11 ounces, unloaded, and ships with a single 20-round Magpul PMag.