New for 2018: Springfield Armory Saint SBRs

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posted on April 30, 2018
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In designing the all-new Springfield Armory Saint and Saint Edge short-barreled rifles, company engineers sought to find the perfect balance between preserving the performance of the 5.56 NATO cartridge while providing professionals and consumers alike with a compact, easily handled AR-15 that fits a range of uses, from home defense to competition to law-enforcement applications.

The two resulting models in the Springfield Armory Saint lineup are outfitted with 11.5-inch barrels, deemed the optimum length for such a platform. The Saint SBR is equipped with a government-profile barrel design, while the Saint EDGE SBR is outfitted with a lightened, thinner-profile barrel that reduces overall weight and shifts the balance point of the rifle rearward. Both barrels are machined from CMV steel and feature a Melonite-treated surface that enhances hardness and provides protection against corrosion. The barrels are rifled with a 1:8-inch twist rate to optimize performance across a range of bullet weights. Each barrel is topped with a standard A2 flash hider.

Attached to the barrel is the company's carbine-length gas system complete with a low-profile, pinned gas block. The gas system is a multi-mode design that's completely adjustable by the end user, enabling them to fine-tune the system's performance for suppressed or unsuppressed use. Surrounding the barrel is the company's free-float handguard, using a proprietary, four-point attachment system that anchors the fore-end to the receiver and keeps it secure under hard use. The handguard is compatible with all M-LOK accessory attachments.

Differences between the standard Springfield Armory Saint SBR and the upgraded Saint EDGE SBR start in the construction of the receiver. The standard Saint offering is constructed with a forged lower receiver, while the EDGE features a lighter billet lower receiver. The EDGE also received lightening cuts that shave two ounces off the weight of the gun over the standard Saint model, and QD mounts are also machined into the receiver for added flexibility in sling attachment. Other upgraded features on the Saint EDGE include an ambidextrous safety selector, extended charging handle and a proprietary single-stage, short-reset trigger.

Both Springfield Armory Saint SBRs are loaded with a Melonite-treated M16 bolt-carrier group machined from 9130 steel and include a Bravo Company buttstock and pistol grip. Each Saint SBR ships with a single 30-round Magpul PMag, and the suggested retail price on the platform starts at $1,049.

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