
I don’t know about you, but I’ve grown rather sick and tired of manufacturers coming out with “new models”, only to have changed one or two small features, and half of the time they weren’t even things the consumers have been asking for.
Thankfully, that is definitely not the case with the new Saint Victor that was just released. Numerous upgrades were made, easily distinguishing it from its predecessor.
I’ve been running a Saint Victor Magpul Edition for the better part of two years now, and I can attest to this new model being a legitimate “upgrade”.

Before we get too far in, I’d like to thank Springfield Armory for sending this Saint Victor out to review. Transparency is key in our industry, so I always like to disclose when manufacturers send things.
Rest assured, as always, Springfield has not given any direction or stipulations regarding how to test or what to say.
With that out of the way, we’ll dive in and look at the new Saint Victor, in addition to comparing it to the prior model, so you can decide which one is worth your hard-earned money!
Despite already having a Saint Victor, as I unboxed this new model, it surprisingly still felt like a true first impression, given all of the differences comparatively.
Upon opening the included soft rifle case and inspecting the rifle, I first noticed how on point the fit and finish were. The Coyote Brown finish had no blemishes and was smooth throughout, and there was no play between the upper and lower receiver.

The entire feel of the rifle changed as well, given the new furniture and uninterrupted Picatinny rail. If you tend to run a C Clamp grip, it makes for a huge difference going from the previous model’s interrupted PIcatcinny rail to this one. However, the extra space for attachments is a welcome upgrade in my eyes, so I like that Springfield did away with the interrupted one.
I was relieved to see that the same flat face nickel boron-coated trigger remained, and the plethora of M-LOK space. As they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Working my way from barrel to buttstock, the first change is in the chosen muzzle devices by Springfield. Sure, going from a brake to a flash hider may have a negligible effect on muzzle rise, but not enough to really matter with training.
Plus, when you’re at your local indoor range, your friend in the next lane will thank you for not being that annoying guy with a loud brake.

You probably just noticed the difference in iron sights, too. I honestly liked Springfield’s prior sights just fine, and always appreciated that they were included (still shocked so many rifles come without any), but the new ones are much more low-profile.
This is especially important when you reach the rear sights, particularly if you use optics such as LPVOs.

QD cups are never bad to have, regardless of whether you use them regularly or not. The Victor now has multiple integrated ones included, both at the front and rear of the handguard. This is one of those features I wish more manufacturers went with standard.

We’re still working our way backwards on the rifle, and we’re at the point of switching over to the lower receiver. One thing you’ll notice is the removal of the giant SAINT logo. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to have as minimal branding as possible on my gear, so this is a huge bonus, even though it doesn’t do anything for the performance of the rifle.

Last but certainly not least, in addition to that new furniture, Springfield also went with a Radian Raptor-LT charging handle this go around.
I almost always will switch out the Mil-Spec charging handles with a Radian or similar ambidextrous option, so this saves some money to be spent on more ammo!

A lot of upgrades are great, but it really matters how the gun handles and performs.
Based on my prior experience with several Saint models, I knew exactly what to expect as I headed to the range. But, we can’t call this a hands-on review without shooting it, and who doesn’t want an excuse for a couple of range trips!?
I’ve put a total of 410 rounds through it so far, without a single hiccup. I made sure to put a variety of ammo through it using several different magazines. From higher-end Hornady loads to PMC X-TAC to Winchester Target & Practice, the Saint Victor enjoyed it all.

My first range trip was indoors, followed by two outdoor excursions. With the included iron sights, I had no problem maintaining tight groupings, as shown below, at 15-20 yards indoors, and once outside, every target within 75 yards was no problem.
Once I added the Primary Arms GLx 1x prism scope, it made transitioning between targets quick and easy.

When I shoot outside, I’m typically not focusing on precision, but rather ensuring that, within reasonable distances, I can knock down and hit items such as pop cans, small gongs, and other random objects with speed and consistency. The Saint Victor made light work of it all.
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Remington |
| Capacity | 30+1 |
| OperatingSystem | Direct Impingement Mid-Length |
| Barrel Length | 16 Inches |
| Twist | 1:7 |
| Upper Receiver & Lower Receiver | Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum |
| Trigger | Nicel Boron Coated Flat |
| Muzzle Device | 4-Prong Flash Hider |
| Length | 34.5 – 36.5 Inches |
| Weight | 6 Pounds 12 Ounces |



At the end of the day, the Saint Victor line delivers exceptional value, and the slight price increase is well justified. It’s one of those ARs that you can grow your skill set with and not feel the need to upgrade down the road.
There are plenty of configurations available, too, so you can find what barrel length and caliber works best for your needs, whether it’s weekend trips to the range or home defense. I’m happy with my 16-inch Saint Victor and can tell it’s going to be seeing a lot more rounds very soon.
As always, stay safe, train hard, and have fun.f