TFB Review: Springfield Armory Coyote Brown SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO

The AR-15 market continues to be saturated, but one thing will always remain: threading the needle of quality and affordability will always matter. Very few people are looking to spend $4K - $5K on a rifle; conversely, you feel pretty worried if you’re purchasing one for around $400 - $500. The sweet spot that most buyers are looking for is $1,000 - $1,500 in price. That territory is where Springfield’s AR-15s have lived for a long time. We’re going to review one of the newly announced Springfield Armory SAINT Victor V2 rifles in a Coyote Brown Cerakote today, which retails for $1,279 to see if it, too, can thread the needle on quality and affordability. Let’s dive in!

Springfield Armory @ TFB:

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• Springfield Armory Introduces New SAINT Victor 8.5” 9mm Pistol

Specifications - Springfield Armory SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO in Coyote Brown

This new series of AR-15s in the SAINT Victor V2 line carries over quite a few popular and quality-laden features from the former firearms while being imbued with new desirable traits as well. The forged upper and lower receiver sets are a hallmark for Springfield, and new Cerakote finishes are a much-requested, modern improvement. The complete specification listing for the SAINT Victor V2 in a Coyote Brown Cerakote (SKU: STV916556CB-V2-B5) that we are reviewing here today can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:  

• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO (.223 REM)
• Colorway: Coyote Brown
• Barrel: 16" CMV, Continuous Taper, Nitride, 1:8
• Sights: Aluminum Adjustable Flip-Up
• Upper Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized, Forward Assist, M4 Feed Ramps
• Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized, Accu-Tite™ Tension System

• Bolt Carrier Group: Enhanced M16 w/ 9310 Steel Bolt, HPT/MPI, Melonite®
• Operating System: Direct Impingement Mid-Length, Taper-Pinned Gas Block
• Handguard: Patented Aluminum Free Float, QD, M-Lok
• Stock: B5 Systems Enhanced SOPMOD
• Trigger: Nickel Boron Coated Flat GI
• Muzzle Device: 4-Prong Flash Hider
• Receiver Extension: Mil-Spec
• Receiver End Plate: QD

While we are looking specifically at the SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO model in a Coyote Brown Cerakote today (standard, high capacity magazines), Springfield Armory has 16 new offerings in this new SAINT Victor V2 series. Again, for clarity, we are playing with the SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO model in a Coyote Brown Cerakote (SKU: STV916556CB-V2-B5). The other offerings are listed below:

AR-15 Pistol

• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black | SKU: STV9115556BPV2SBA3 | MSRP $1,249
• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black (Low Capacity - 10 RD) | SKU: STV9115556BPLCV2SBA3 | MSRP $1,249

AR-15 SBR

• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black | SKU: STV9115556B-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,249

AR-15/AR-10 Rifle, Cali Compliant

• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black | SKU: STV916556BCA-V2 | MSRP $1,249
• SAINT Victor V2 7.62 NATO, Black | SKU: STV916308BCA-V2 | MSRP $1,649

• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black | SKU: STV914556B-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,279
• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black (Low Capacity - 10 RD) | SKU: STV914556BLC-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,279

AR-10 Rifle

• SAINT Victor V2 7.62 NATO, Coyote Brown | SKU: STV916308CB-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,679
• SAINT Victor V2 7.62 NATO, Black | SKU: STV916308B-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,649
• SAINT Victor V2 20" 7.62 NATO, Black | SKU: STV920308B-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,689
• SAINT Victor V2 7.62 NATO, Black (Low Capacity - 10 RD) | SKU: STV916308BLC-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,649
• SAINT Victor V2 20" 7.62 NATO, Black (Low Capacity - 10 RD) | SKU: STV920308BLC-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,689

AR-15 Rifle

• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Tungsten Gray | SKU: STV916556T-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,279
• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Coyote Brown | SKU: STV916556CB-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,279
• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black | SKU: STV916556B-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,249
• SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO, Black (Low Capacity - 10 RD) | SKU: STV916556BLC-V2-B5 | MSRP $1,249

As always, in the rare event that you should ever need service for your firearm, Springfield Armory has a Lifetime Warranty that stands behind all of their firearms. While I have never experienced any issues with the various SAINT rifles and pistols from Springfield Armory that I have reviewed over the years, it is nice to know that you have that safety net and support from Springfield.

A Word from Springfield Armory on the New SAINT Victor V2 Series of Firearms

“Geneseo, Illinois - September 2nd, 2025 - Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the launch of a collection of newly redesigned SAINT Victors. Made up of 5.56mm rifles and pistols with 11.5”, 14” and 16” barrels as well as 16” and 20” 7.62mm rifle variants, these new SAINT Victors feature enhanced components and professional-grade reliability. The result is a full line of top-tier defensive AR-pattern firearms.

A recipient of the top “gold” ranking in the “Member Tested and Recommended” (MTR) program of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), the new Victors are built on a solid foundation of forged 7075-T6 Type III hardcoat anodized aluminum receivers. Featuring low-profile, minimalist-style markings, they also feature the Accu-Tite™ tension system for an accuracy-enhancing fit between the receivers.

“Since its launch in 2019, the SAINT Victor line has proven itself as a market leader by providing premium features and impressive performance,” said Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “With these enhancements and updates, the new SAINT Victors — in 5.56mm or 7.62mm — stand ready to deliver professional-grade capabilities.””

What’s the Upsell? What’s the 30-Second Elevator Pitch?

So, what’s the upsell? What’s the metaphorical and literal 30-second elevator pitch? For the SAINT Victor V2, you’re looking at several prominent traits that might tip the scale in favor of Springfield as opposed to a competing manufacturer at a similar price-point.

• Tapered Contour Barrel - The SAINT Victor’s 4150 CMV barrel features a continuous tapered profile for optimal heat distribution and rigidity. With a durable nitride finish, taper-pinned gas block, and crowned muzzle, it delivers precision and reliability for demanding AR-15 enthusiasts.
• Flash Hider - The 4-prong flash hider on the SAINT Victor greatly reduces muzzle signature by effectively dispersing and cooling burning gasses exiting the barrel.
• Cerakote® Finish - A protective coat of Coyote Brown Cerakote® is applied to the upper receiver, lower receiver, and handguard.
• B5 Systems Furniture - The SAINT Victor rifle ships with a B5 Systems stock, pistol grip and trigger guard.
• Forged Receivers - Forged 7075-T6 aluminum upper and lower receivers provide a durable foundation for consistent performance.

What’s in the Box?

One of the most common and recurring questions I receive reviewing firearms and their related products is, “what’s in the box?” Meaning, what do you all get with your purchase. This is important because what you do and do not get will dictate what type of accessories you need to additionally buy depending on what you want your end-product or concealed carry setup to look like. All this being said, this is everything that you will receive:

• Owner’s Manual, Chamber Flag, Cable Lock
• (1) Nylon, Padded Rifle Case
• (1) 30-Round Magpul PMAG Gen M3
• (1) SAINT Victor V2 Rifle

***Trijicon MRO SD 1x25 Red Dot Sight w/ 3x Magnifier sold separately***

Range Experience - Springfield Armory SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO in Coyote Brown

So, how did this new rifle perform out on the range?... To kick things off, I headed to my favorite shooting range in MN, the F5 Range. They offer machine gun days, private events, classes, and quite a bit more with their range allowing for shooting out to 500 yards.

In testing this rifle, I used a Trijicon MRO® SD 1x25 Red Dot Sight w/ 3x Magnifier. This was utilized for everything 300 yards and in. The bulk of my shooting was on defensive-sized gongs (5” or smaller) at distances of 10 to 75 yards. I also shot man-sized silhouette gongs out to 300 yards with this optic/magnifier set from Trijicon.

When it boiled down to sheer accuracy, most of my 5- to 10-shot groups at 100 yards were dropping in at a hair under 1” to a hair under 2”. While I wanted to deliver this review to you as close as possible to the announcement date, I do only have ~500 rounds through this rifle and would need a few more range days dedicated to accuracy to figure out the best grain weight or recipe to make this rifle an utter tack-driver. Overall, I was very happy with the accuracy because it’s unrealistic to hope for the AR-15 platform, in general, to shoot much better than an inch. That’s what bolt guns are for.

Final Thoughts

So, what are my final thoughts on the Springfield Armory SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO rifle in a Coyote Brown Cerakote?... Overall, this new rifle has a lot of nuanced improvements. They’re subtle - and if you’re not familiar with the former SAINT firearms - you would simply see this new model and think: “This is a well thought-out and put together rifle. The asking price is fair, and preliminary testing shows that it delivers.”

I fail to find any glaring error in the construction of this rifle, or a significant point of constructive criticism. Things like the furniture and color are shooter preferences - and for me - I’m as happy as a clam with the B5 pieces and the Coyote Brown Cerakote. The next shooter might toss that stuff and elect for different furniture. So, its shooter preference. At a full street MSRP of $1,279, I believe this rifle is definitely worth it, and if this one reviewed here today doesn’t trip your trigger, they do have 15 other variants to choose from.

In closing, I want to say thank you to Springfield Armory for allowing TheFirearmBlog and myself the opportunity to try out their new Springfield Armory SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO rifle in a Coyote Brown Cerakote. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think?

Do you believe that the Springfield Armory SAINT Victor V2 5.56 NATO rifle in a Coyote Brown Cerakote is something worth spending your money on? Would you potentially deploy it to shoot a league or competition? Use it for home defense? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Springfield Armory and their SAINT Victor V2 series of firearms in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.