First Look: Springfield Armory Saint AR-15 Pistol

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posted on November 1, 2017
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Springfield Armory announced the addition of a pistol model to its Saint AR-15 lineup, expanding the company's AR offerings to include an option geared toward the popular market for rifle-caliber pistol designs. The new Springfield Armory Saint AR-15 pistol joins the two other models in the company's AR collection, the original rifle reviewed by Shooting Illustrated and a rifle equipped with a free-float handguard.

“The new SAINT pistol delivers high precision and proven AR-15 capability in handgun form,” Springfield Armory CEO Dennis Reese said. “We’re always looking for new ways to give our customers more shooting options, and more firearm for the money. The SAINT AR-15 Pistol does both, and then some.”

The core of the Springfield Saint AR-15 pistol is made up of the upper and lower receivers, built from forged 7075 T6 aluminum and completed with a black hard-coat anodized finish. The receivers are equipped with the company's trademarked Accu-Tite tension setup, which allows owners to eliminate any movement or rattling between the upper and lower receivers.

The Saint AR-15 pistol is equipped with a 7.5-inch barrel machined from 416R stainless steel and finished with a Melonite treatment to provide resistance against corrosion and wear. The barrel features a 1:7-inch rate of twist and is chambered for 5.56 NATO, allowing shooters to use both 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem. ammunition.

One of the unique features found on the muzzle end of the barrel is the company's special blast diverter, which fits snugly into the mouth of the handguard. The blast diverter works to direct propellant gases, debris, concussion and noise ahead of the muzzle, diverting it away from shooters or bystanders along the firing line.

At the rear of the Springfield Armory Saint AR-15 pistol, users will find an SB Tactical SBX-K stabilizing brace. The brace is a BATFE-approved arm brace that allows owners to stabilize their pistol using a third point of contact by equipping the hook-and-loop nylon strap.

Inside of the receiver, observers will notice a few other elements that make the Saint AR-15 pistol stand out. The rifle is equipped with an M16-style bolt-carrier group, which is made from Carpenter 158 steel and Melonite-treated. The rifle ships from the factory with a single-stage GI trigger that features a nickel-boron coating. At the bottom of the lower receiver, users will find a trigger guard made from Bravo Company Manufacturing.

Other features of the Springfield Armory Saint AR-15 pistol include a free-float M-Lok handguard equipped with a forward hand stop and locking tabs, a heavy tungsten buffer system, low-profile pinned gas block, standard AR-15 charging handle and a Bravo Company Mod 3 pistol grip.

The Saint AR-15 pistol weighs in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces without a magazine and measures 26.5 inches in overall length. The pistol ships with a single 30-round Magpul Gen 3 PMag. The suggested retail price on the pistol is $989.

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