[Review] Springfield Armory Saint Victor V2: Best Pinned AR?

If you had to pick one AR-15, what would it be? A 16-inch carbine or an AR pistol? Premium machinery or a functional econo-blaster?

For a lot of people, especially those of you in the market for your first AR-15, those are real purchasing decisions. I might have an answer for you.

The brand new Springfield Armory Saint Victor strikes a balance on both counts. It’s shorter than a standard carbine, more stable than an AR pistol, and doesn’t require SBR paperwork. It has all the upgrades you’d typically want straight from the factory, but doesn’t blow the budget.

Is this the sweet spot of the AR-15 world? Let’s get some answers!

Springfield Armory Saint Victor Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Action: Semi-automatic, direct impingement
• Capacity: 30+1
• Length: 32” – 35.25”
• Barrel Length: 14” (pinned and welded to 16”)
• Barrel Twist: 1:7
• Gas System: Mid-length
• Weight: 6.75 lbs
• Comes With: 30-round Magpul PMAG Gen3, soft case, lock 
• Country of Origin: USA

Features

• 14” barrel with a pinned and welded flash hider
• Pinned gas block, staked gas key
• Durable 4150 CVM barrel in continuous taper profile
• Full-length M-LOK and Picatinny handguard with four QD points
• B5 Systems furniture

Springfield Armory Saint Victor Origins

The Saint Victor series dates back to 2019. The original pitch was simple: pay slightly more than entry-level prices, but get a few popular upgrades right from the factory.

Perks included a free-floating aluminum M-LOK handguard, an “interrupted” top rail that was more comfortable with a modern C-clamp grip than a full rail, a pinned low-profile gas block, a nickel-boron-coated trigger, a muzzle brake, and flip-up sights.

During our initial Springfield Armory Saint Victor review, we praised the carbine for embodying brilliance in the basics.

It wasn’t flashy, but it did everything we asked it to without making us install a bunch of aftermarket parts. In short, it punched above its price tag.

Evolution continued after that iteration with more ergonomic furniture from B5 Systems.

This latest Saint Victor opens the door to a shorter 14-inch barrel, but the four-prong flash hider is pinned and welded for a total length of 16 inches, and no requirement to list it as an SBR.

The redesigned handguard features a full-length Picatinny rail up top and two QD points on each side. Gone is the mil-spec charging handle. In its place is a Radian Raptor-LT, one of the best AR-15 charging handles out there.

Shooting the Springfield Armory Saint Victor: Accuracy & Reliability Analysis

Ammunition for this review included PMC X-TAC 5.56 NATO 55gr FMJ, AAC 5.56 NATO 62gr FMJ, and Hornady Superformance Match 5.56 NATO 75gr BTHP for a total of more than 500 rounds. I also threw in a magazine each of Winchester white box 55gr FMJ and steel-cased Wolf 55gr FMJ in .223 Rem (which is totally safe).  

I conducted most of this review with a Vortex Crossfire red dot. For the accuracy portion, I switched to a Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18×44 to make sure I was getting optimal results with five-shot groups at 100 yards.

Springfield Armory Saint Victor Ballistic Test Results

	Weight	Construction	Accuracy	Muzzle Velocity	Standard Deviation	Extreme Spread
PMC	55 gr	FMJ	1.25″	2,806 fps	42 fps	110 fps
AAC	62 gr	FMJ	1.87″	2,890 fps	28 fps	61 fps
Hornady	75 gr	BTHP	2.39″	2,747 fps	19 fps	51 fps

This carbine surprised me during accuracy testing. Based on the 1:7 twist and my past experience with Hornady match ammunition, I expected it to shoot lights-out with 75-grain Superformance Match ammo – but that wasn’t the case.

While 2- or 3-inch groups (2.39 inches in this case) are pretty common in the AR-15 world, I was still a little surprised. The results were consistent through two boxes of ammo, though, so there you have it.

Stepping down to less expensive 62-grain ammo from AAC, accuracy improved to 1.87 inches — that’s more like it. But, for reasons that are still beyond me, this ammo shifted the center of the group about 1.5 inches to the right.

The Saint Victor clearly has an ammo preference: 55-grain bullets. PMC consistently reigned supreme and checked in with a very nice 1.25-inch group despite an eyebrow-raising extreme spread of 110 feet per second from the Garmin. 

I’ve seen AR-15s that cost twice as much or more than the Saint Victor record two-inch groups, so I’m comfortable with these results.

It wasn’t all calipers and chronographs, though.

For the bulk of my testing, I ran carbine drills at 5 to 25 yards; the kind of training that would best prepare you for a home-defense situation.

This included singles, hammer pairs, failure drills, and box drills from the low and high ready. I also practiced closing with the target and firing while moving with an SG Timer GO.

Not sure what drills to run next time you go to the range? Check out our guide to the Best Shooting Drills for Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun.

How about reliability? For more than 600 rounds, the Saint Victor ran flawlessly. 

I experienced one malfunction while shooting AAC 62gr FMJ from a Palmetto State Armory steel magazine, but that was a magazine issue. The follower got stuck, causing the bolt to close on an empty chamber.

As is typical of the AR-15 platform, inserting a fully-loaded magazine under a closed bolt required a firm smack. In every instance the Saint Victor chambered and fired the first round. Empty magazines, both steel and polymer,  dropped freely.

In the real world, I load my magazines to 29 rounds regardless of the AR-15 I’m using. But if you like stuffing all 30, then live your dream. I’m not the boss of you.

One factor that bodes well for long-term reliability is the bolt carrier group. Components like a hard-chromed firing pin and a staked gas key suggest that this rifle will run as well as it did during my testing for a very long time.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

So, the updated Saint Victor shoots well, but how does it feel?

Overall Feel

Right off the bat, I’m a fan of this B5 Systems furniture.

The nearly vertical P-Grip 23 pistol grip is vastly superior to the old A2-style grips in terms of angle and grip texture. It fills the hand very nicely and stays comfortable in all kinds of shooting positions – both conventional and unconventional.

The Enhanced SOPMOD adjustable stock offers plenty of surface area to acquire a solid cheek weld, and there aren’t any pinch points for the bearded shooters among us. 

Updates to the handguard are subtle, but significant. The full-length Picatinny rail offers more real estate for red dot and magnifier combos, and laser aiming systems if you’re fancy.

Those four QD points might go unnoticed by a casual glance, but they’re a big deal. They let right- and left-handed shooters attach a sling close to the lower receiver or all the way at the far end of the handguard. We usually need to add an M-LOK QD point for that, so I appreciate having flexibility right out of the box.

Between those four, the ambidextrous QD points on the stock, and the one on the rear of the lower receiver, you have plenty of options.

Controls

These days, mil-spec charging handles feel like an unwelcome throwback. There are no retro vibes here; the Saint Victor’s Radian Raptor-LT offers lots of surface area and a smooth pull. It’s a primary touch point that makes the rifle feel more high-end every time you pull the bolt to the rear.

The same goes for that ambidextrous 45-degree safety. In testing, the decreased rotation made it easier for me to engage the safety after firing without breaking my firing-hand grip like most of us have to do with a 90-degree throw.

Interestingly, the right-side safety lever is cut short. Lefties will still be able to reach it with their firing-hand thumb, but it’s not in the way of right-handed shooters.

The single-stage, flat-faced trigger breaks with no discernible creep. Reset is firm and loud. Five pulls with a Lyman digital trigger gauge showed an average pull weight of 3.98 pounds. 

Ease of Use

All this adds up to a rifle that’s more agile than your average AR-15.

Cutting a few inches off overall length doesn’t make an appreciable difference on the range, but it definitely makes maneuvering in buildings and vehicles easier. Between the overall size, vertical pistol grip, and flexible sling-mounting options, the Saint Victor is very easy to work with.

Improvements We’d Like to See

The pinned and welded flash hider is the key to this rifle’s exemption from the National Firearms Act, but it also complicates the process of modifying it.

Not only does it prevent you from simply unscrewing the flash hider, you’ll have legal requirements to navigate if you want to swap it out for another muzzle device or suppressor. That’s not to say it can’t be done; it’s just not as simple as turning a wrench.

I’d love to see some kind of common suppressor mount integrated into the factory muzzle device, but I recognize that’s not as simple as it sounds.

For example, the 14.5-inch Geissele Super Duty comes with a Huxwrx flash hider that lets you screw on a Huxwrx suppressor by hand. The downside of this approach is boxing customers into one style of suppressor.

The good news? The new Saint Victor line includes everything from pistols to 16-inch carbines that make this process easy. There are state-compliant versions, too.

If you have the modding bug, maybe pick up one of those. If you like this version as it is, it’ll treat you right.

Who is it For?

The target audience for this rifle is anyone who wants a one-purchase solution – no upgrading, no modifying, just a quality AR-15 that runs the way it should from day one without blowing your budget.

Comparable alternatives include the IWI Zion-15, Palmetto State Armory Sabre, and Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III. I’d give Springfield an edge based on features, even if it is a little more expensive. It’s far more affordable than the next tier of AR-15s from BCM, Daniel Defense, and Geissele. 

Not sure how to navigate Springfield’s new Saint Victor lineup? Here are a few models you might want to cross-shop in the overhauled family of value-focused ARs.

	Caliber	Barrel Length	Weight	MSRP
Saint Victor Pistol	5.56 NATO	11.5”	5.6 lbs	$1,249
Saint Victor 14″	5.56 NATO	14”	6.8 lbs	$1,279
Saint Victor 16″	5.56 NATO	16″	7.7 lbs	$1,649
Saint Victor AR-10	7.62 NATO	20″	8.1 lbs	$1,689

By the Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

No malfunctions in more than 600 rounds spanning a variety of manufacturers and bullet weights.

Ergonomics: 5/5

B5 Systems upgrades makes this rifle vastly more appealing than competitors with A2-style furniture. Thumbs up to the handguard, too.

Accuracy: 3.5/5

A 1.25-inch five-shot group at 100 yards is nothing to scoff at. Still, the Saint Victor was somewhat picky about ammunition. For four stars, I want a little more versatility.

Customization: 4.5/5

The sky is the limit if you want to modify or upgrade the Saint Victor. Minus half a point simply because changing the muzzle device is more complicated than turning a wrench.

Value: 5/5

This rifle is priced fairly at Springfield’s MSRP of $1,279. Street prices make it a very solid buy.

Overall: 4.5/5

Keep the Saint Victor on a steady diet of M193, and you will be a very happy camper.

Upgrades & Accessories

I appreciate that Springfield gave this rifle quality backup iron sights, but you’re going to want an optic. I used a Vortex Crossfire for this review, and it seems to be a good match in terms of performance and value. It keeps weight down, which is nice because this is a nimble rifle.

Unless your AR-15 is a range toy, it needs a sling. Get the one I used, or snag a Pew Pew Tactical sling and a pair of QD swivels!

As always, train safe. If you don’t have ears and eyes, this kit is a great way to upgrade from hardware store glasses and foamies.

Meet the Experts

At the helm of this article is editor Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Verdict on the Springfield Armory Saint Victor

The do-it-all Springfield Saint Victor is a runner, no doubt. I love the balance it strikes between an AR-15 pistol and a carbine.

For home defense, target shooting, and honing your skills, this is a tool you can count on. There’s a huge segment of buyers who are going to fall in love with the Saint Victor the second they lay hands on it.

What’s your take on the Springfield Armor Saint Victor? Let us know in the comments. Need more information in general? Help yourself to our AR-15 Definitive Resource!