Springfield Armory SAINT revealed (It's an AR)

[Trebor]

I was at the media event for the Springfield Armory SAINT in Vegas a couple weeks ago.

It's an AR, priced at the $899 level, with what I think is a decent feature set and build for the cash.

Here's my first brief write-up with the features outlined and a couple photos. I'll have a more hands-on report later today. Just wanted to get the specs up first.

And yeah, I know, "Meh, another AR." It's a crowded market even at that price point. I think they did a good job on it though and I expect it to sell well.

Springfield Armory SAINT Revealed

 

[Varminterror]

Funny as it is, my wife called it. She said it would make sense Springfield would be the last to come to the party. Admittedly, she's a credentialed shooter and firearms instructor herself, so she's a little more in the know than most wives, but it was an angle I hadn't considered.

 

[MistWolf]

I'm surprised as well. I thought it was going to be another handgun

 

[C-grunt]

The specs actually sound decent. Could be a great rifle if their QA/QC is up to snuff.

 

[Open Carry Jenkins]

They announced it to the firearms media a while ago, and many of us got to test fire it. The consensus is that it's firmly good-but-not-great; nice starter/tactical AR and a good platform to build the one you want.

I didn't get to test-fire it, and I'm not likely to be selected to review it. However, given my experience with SA, I have not doubt that the quality will be excellent.

 

[Cannibul]

I nailed it. It's a decent looking rifle. I wonder what the street price will be?

 

[Llama Bob]

It's another AR, and not a particularly exciting one. 1:8 twist? Non-free-float with the swivel on the gas block? Yawn. Good to have another manufacturer though - we're going to need all the ARs in circulation we can get.

Now the Colt Combat Unit carbine is very interesting and truly revolutionary in terms of price vs. performance. It's going to be a couple hundred more though.

 

[Captain33036]

Well...I guess I am the one who is disappointed at all the hype, for just...yet another AR.

If I am correct in what I saw, the MSRP is $899. While some features are nice, that is too much for what is essentially an entry level AR. [Note added: for $161 more than the M&P15 (MSRP), the difference seems to be in the furniture...which can be personal preference. The specs state a polished trigger group...but the firearm blog states that the pull is still 7 lbs]

The money that SA put into this rifle, adding cost, ...to ME....is wasted. The very first thing I do with an AR is replace the trigger group and free float the forearm (both areas SA put money....therefore cost...into). And I would rather a low profile gas block, so that I can put a flip up sight there.

No doubt many will appreciate these features. But, to me, adding these costs to a low end AR is a waste.

Just my $0.02...as someone who was anticipating something interesting from SA...from all the hype.

 

[chicharrones]

It looks like th Firearm Blog has a pretty in depth 3 parter on the Saint.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/01/revealing-the-springfield

EDIT: First link is now broken. Good link here.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...ield-armory-saint-part-1-of-3-event-coverage/

 

[wow6599]

MId-length and 1/8 twist......if the street price is around $750, it's a good base rifle - still too much anticipation for another AR with a stupid name

 

[Varminterror]

It's interesting to me to see the impressions in this thread - in most threads, if it's not a 6920 with a pony on the side, it's not a good AR, whereas the majority opinion in this thread seems to be espousing the notion Springfield Armory should have gone "non-mil spec" with the SAINT...

 

[Kingcreek]

A few folks might remember that Springfield inc was in the AR market years ago. I had a Springfield Armory labeled AR15 about 30 years ago. Assembled from outsourced and surplus parts.

 

[Omaney]

Not gonna lie. Another AR? Meh...

 

[wojownik]

I nailed it. It's a decent looking rifle. I wonder what the street price will be?

$899 MSRP, probably a street price of $799, plus or minus.

 

[chicharrones]

It's interesting to me to see the impressions in this thread - in most threads, if it's not a 6920 with a pony on the side, it's not a good AR, whereas the majority opinion in this thread seems to be espousing the notion Springfield Armory should have gone "non-mil spec" with the SAINT...

I kinda like it. If it would have come out a few years earlier, it would have been exactly what I was looking for. Except for the handguard melting the forward mounting tabs as shown in the Firearm Blog write up. Is that common with other makes of handguards?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Looks like an awesome tactical battle weapons system platform system platform that will be a revolutionary game changer in executing core tasks for force domination mission warfighting tactical advanced elite operators operating operationally.

 

[Nature Boy]

The hand guards melted in this test.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...ield-armory-saint-part-1-of-3-event-coverage/

 

[Speedo66]

Brownell's is selling a decent entry level Anderson AR for $459, what makes this one worth another (street price adjusted) $250-$300 more?

 

[MrCleanOK]

Looks like an awesome tactical battle weapons system platform system platform that will be a revolutionary game changer in executing core tasks for force domination mission warfighting tactical advanced elite operators operating operationally.

Hilarious. But obviously that marketing angle works on somebody because the head shed at SA bought it. And we all know there are consumers out there who buy into it too. It's pretty underwhelming for all the marketing hype they put behind it, but I hope they sell a boat load of them.

 

[chicharrones]

The hand guards melted in this test.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...ield-armory-saint-part-1-of-3-event-coverage/

Yeah, I'm wondering if that is common with other handguard makers.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Looks like an awesome tactical battle weapons system platform system platform that will be a revolutionary game changer in executing core tasks for force domination mission warfighting tactical advanced elite operators operating operationally.

I need to brush up on my Art of the Mag Flip technique for this new gun.

 

[tarosean]

Wow, can hardly contain my excitement....

 

[Gtscotty]

Does it have that special Springfield Armory touch? Maybe a nice stamping on the charging handle that says "CHARGING ZONE".

 

[Cannibul]

It's interesting to me to see the impressions in this thread - in most threads, if it's not a 6920 with a pony on the side, it's not a good AR, whereas the majority opinion in this thread seems to be espousing the notion Springfield Armory should have gone "non-mil spec" with the SAINT...

Mil-Spec =lowest common denominator.

Mil-spec is highly over rated IMHO

 

[MistWolf]

The rifle has good features, including an H buffer, something not seen on other bargain brands and is backed by Springfield's excellent customer service. I call that a solid win