Springfield Armory
Saint Pistol AR

Pistol-length ARs are undeniably “hot” right now. Some people prefer to build (actually assemble) their own AR pistol but if quality parts are used the final cost may be higher than an already-assembled gun from a respectable firm. An excellent example is the new SAINT Pistol from Springfield Armory.

Overview

With a suggested retail price of just $849, the SAINT Pistol is designed to offer shooters the quality and performance they expect at an affordable introductory price point. The pistol has upgraded features throughout, ensuring it delivers exceptional value and making it an ideal firearm for home protection and personal defense.

These features include a forged 7075 T6 Aluminum upper and lower receiver which is Type III Hardcoat Anodized, M4 Feed Ramps, Accu-Tite Tension System, Nickel-boron coated GI trigger and an M16 Carpenter 158 steel, Melonite-treated bolt carrier group fed from a Picatinny gas block and bouncing against a carbine “H” Heavy Tungsten Buffer.

The pistol is a direct-impingement, carbine-length gun chambered 5.56x45mm NATO that, of course, also allows firing .223 Remington fodder. Length is 25.75″ to 28.25″ and unloaded weight is 5 lbs., 8 oz.

The SAINT Pistol features a balanced 9.6″ chrome moly vanadium barrel with a 1:8 twist, which is an excellent compromise between the 1:9 for lighter bullets and the 1:7 for the heavier stuff.

At Home On The Range

I also took a 14.5″ barrel BCM carbine with a permanently pinned Battle Comp Enterprises compensator to compare the velocity between carbine and pistol length barrels.

Accuracy tests were conducted from 50 yards. Two, five-round strings of fire were conducted from each firearm. Groups with the pistol averaged 3.5″. Granted not as precise as a rifle, but still well within minute-of-bad guy and capable of making a head shot at 50 yards or less.

The carbine turned in groups averaging just under 2″.

Backing up 10 feet from the screens of my PACT chronograph I shot a 10-round string from each gun. The pistol averaged 2,290 feet-per-second (fps) while the carbine averaged 2,660 fps — a difference of 370 fps.

In terms of foot-pounds of energy, the pistol had 729 while the carbine had 974. Yes, it’s a big difference but considering a .357 Magnum, 125-gr. JHP leaving the muzzle at 1,500 fps produces 625 foot-pounds of energy, the rounds from the SAINT pistol still have more punch.

While 40 rounds can determine a baseline for accuracy and velocity, it does not establish reliability.

I fired numerous drills on my range, expending 300 rounds of reloaded ammunition. I had one double-feed malfunction traced to bad feed lips in an aluminum magazine. I fixed the problem magazine using my standard protocol — placing it on a rock and smashing it with my boot. Aside from this, the SAINT was 100 percent reliable.

The only downside I could see is the muzzle blast from the SAINT’s short barrel is tremendous. The muzzle flash produced could be seen even in bright daylight.

Why An AR Pistol?

Because the terminal ballistics of a carbine is far superior to a pistol, some might wonder why not just stick to the longer gun. The main reason, obviously, is the size.

The compact size makes it a good choice where space is at a premium. This would include an RV, a boat, or a private aircraft. At just over two feet in length, it’s much easier to find a place to fit the SAINT compared to a carbine or rifle. Inserting a 20- or even a 10-round magazine would make storage even easier.

For home defense, the shorter SAINT would minimize the chances of “flagging” yourself while negotiating a corner or possibly bump into something, alerting a ne’er-do-well to your exact location. It would also be easy to deploy it from a vehicle. However, note firing the SAINT from inside any enclosure would undoubtedly cause temporary — if not permanent — hearing loss.

If you are in the market for a compact AR pistol, put the SAINT at the top of your list. It’s on mine!

www.springfield-armory.com

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