TFB Review: Springfield Armory Saint Victor 5.56 Pistol

I know what you’re thinking, not another AR-15 review, because that’s what I was (albeit very briefly) thinking as I sat down to write this, but my time with the new Springfield Armory Saint Victor 11.5” 5.56 Pistol has been positive enough to compel my hand, or hands in this case. As it was my first time shooting a Springfield AR, I set aside peer reviews from previous models and focused on my personal experience with this new pistol variant, one that I found very useful as a general setup for anyone looking for home defense or a great time at the range.

Springfield Armory chose well in deciding to release a model with an 11.5” barrel, striking a balance between performance and maneuverability. As shorter barrels can cut weight and add convenience in tight spaces, declining velocity takes its toll on terminal ballistics, especially when we drop below the 11.5” mark. But the new Saint Victor isn’t a long-range solution, and depending on the ammunition, it’s more than enough to ring steel and defend the homestead well within defensible range and easily out to 300 yards or a bit further. 

How’s it built?

The Saint Victor 5.56 Pistol features a Chrome-Moly-Vanadium (CMV) steel barrel with a universally adept 1:7” twist rate for use with pretty much any 5.56 ammunition typically found on the shelf. The barrel is configured for a carbine-length direct impingement gas system, featuring a low-profile pinned gas block for enhanced durability and performance in adverse conditions. Although carbine-length systems typically demonstrate more of a recoil impulse compared to a mid-length, I didn’t find the new Saint Victor giving me much of a fuss in that department, especially considering Springfield capped the barrel off with what looks to be a standard A2 flash hider, known for being great with cutting flash but not so much hiding recoil. I found the   Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6 LPVO I used throughout most of the review remaining squarely on target between shots, making an immediate follow-up pretty effortless. 

Speaking of the Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6 LPVO, which I will be reviewing shortly, the experience thus far is one I’d recommend. It features a unique ability to illuminate the reticle in either green or red, depending on the direction you turn the dial, premium Japanese multicoated glass for clarity and optical performance, and a first-focal-plane Tactical Mil-Dot (TMD) reticle, ideal for ranging and calling elevation and windage holds. Once I had the optic firmly nestled in and leveled in my go-to   American Defense Manufacturing (ADM) Delta Cantilever Mount, it was off to the races.

Getting into the features of what initially looks to be a modern Milspec AR-15, I started to notice the value-added aspects of the Springfield Armory Saint Victor 11.5” Pistol, beginning with the included set of front and rear flip-up iron sights. While I would have opted for something with a lower profile if I were shopping, I appreciate the ability for anyone to buy ammo and be ready to hit the range right out of the box. The sights were easy to adjust and featured a push-button, spring-loaded action for quick deployment. I did end up removing them for a good portion of the review, as I tend to run a 1.5” height optic mount, but under most circumstances, and especially with a red dot, I would leave them mounted as they come. Thanks for this inclusion, Springfield Armory.

I also appreciate the ergonomics of the slim, 7-sided M-LOK handguard, which feels solid and provides a full-length Picatinny rail at the 12 o’clock position, with plenty of room to mount lights, lasers, forward grips, or whatever else you need to attach to the front of your gun. In addition to comfort in the hand, it features built-in QD sling attachment points at the front 3 and 9 o’clock positions. These are machined into the aluminum without steel inserts, but they work while helping to keep the Saint Victor 5.56 Pistol’s MSRP at a cool $1,150. Another observation is that the handguard lockup is not the typical clamp-on friction style. Instead, it secures using a pair of Torx head screws on both sides, indexing to the upper receiver and around the dust cover pin on the ejection port. The setup felt robust, and I suspect it will serve well as a capable laser host for holding zero. Lastly, the Saint Victor 5.56 Pistol comes with a small hand stop mounted at the front bottom of the rail, a nice addition that keeps you from cooking off your support hand.

The forged 7075 T6 aluminum type III hardcoat anodized receivers and respective controls feel like a mostly Milspec affair, with the upper featuring M4 feed ramps. Taking a closer look, however, you’ll find Springfield Armory’s Accu-Tite Tension System in the lower receiver, providing the ability to snug up any play between the receivers that may develop over time or simply allowing adjustment with a variety of upper receivers. Also included are the addition of an ambidextrous 45-degree safety selector and a   B5 Systems Type 23 P-Grip with B5’s oversized polymer trigger guard for use with gloves. The charging handle is a simple Milspec unit, which I generally prefer for my use and find helpful in that it allows the user to keep it or install one of their choosing without having to pay for someone else’s preference when purchasing the gun.

At the Range…

Getting out to the range, I had to sit down with my available ammunition and decide on something common, but with the quality necessary to gauge the SAINT Victor’s performance. This was a simple task, thanks to   HOP Munitions providing me with their affordable yet high-quality   55gr FMJ range ammunition. The combination felt smooth, with no noticeable recoil or malfunctions throughout the review. Although I shot this review unsuppressed, which I rarely do, this compact setup was a joy to shoot and could benefit further from a quality suppressor and perhaps a heavier buffer to counter the additional back pressure.

Accuracy with this combo was better than I expected. The setup achieved an average velocity of 2782.5fps, which resulted in a Point Blank Range (PBR) near zero of 40 yards, a far zero of 231 yards, and a maximum PBR of 266 yards given a six-inch circle. This means that I am clear to shoot using only the crosshairs or a dot and make hits out to 266 yards within an acceptable circle three inches in all directions from my point of aim, only needing to compensate for drop beyond that range. With the SAINT Victor’s 11.5” barrel, I’m not really intending on engaging targets much beyond that, making this an effective setup for fast target acquisition and follow-up shots.

At 40 yards, most shots were right on top of each other, thanks in part to the 6x magnification and a diopter compensating for my aging eyesight. This eliminated the guesswork of obtaining a good zero, and I spent the rest of my time shooting steel without using a rest or my tripod, you know, the fun part. Here’s another aspect where the 11.5” barrel shines for many shooters. Aside from being compact and maneuverable, the decrease in weight up front is likely also to reduce fatigue for those who shoot less often or don’t make it to the gym. The entire experience felt exceedingly easy, so much so that I wouldn’t hesitate to hand it to my better half for an afternoon, and she likely wouldn’t complain.

Final Thoughts…

What can I say? The Springfield Armory Springfield Armory shot well without any malfunctions. While I only ran a total of 400 rounds, taking note of the platform’s accuracy, ease of staying on target, and solid, confidence-inspiring build. I’m all for a simplified system without distractions or other extraneous bells and whistles that years of shooting have revealed to me I do not need. On the other hand, the improvements made to the SAINT Victor 11.5” seem focused on general ergonomics, out-of-the-box usability, and overall reliability, where the effort is truly appreciated.

Would I recommend the SAINT Victor 11.5” Pistol? For the aforementioned $1150 MSRP, you bet I would. I know there’s someone out there reading this right now who thinks they can put together a better AR-15 with $32 and some chicken wire, and to that I say knock yourself out. However, this is a review of a factory gun that comes nicely upgraded and backed by a warranty from one of America’s major firearms manufacturers. Since prices tend to increase rather than decrease over time, I’d say the new SAINT Victor Pistol is a solid purchase for the price, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to shooters of varying experience levels.

Let us know in the comments below if you have had time on any of the new SAINT Victor series of AR-15s from Springfield Armory, and give us your thoughts on the overall quality and shooting experience. Until next time, keep your head on a swivel and watch out for wasp nests on your barricades.