The Springfield Saint series of rifles is almost a decade old (which, consequently, makes me feel old). Over the past decade, Springfield has updated the Saint series with various furniture options, colors, barrel lengths, and more. Currently, the mainline model is the Saint Victor. I’ve always believed the Saint offers excellent value, especially during Springfield’s Gear Up promotion (they do it so often they might as well make it standard), where you receive an extra magazine, sling, and a Vortex optic. I believe our sales reflect that sentiment. Springfield previously offered Saint pistols, which were discontinued during the Pistol Brace ban that doesn’t really exist anymore (I mean, technically it does, but injunctions by federal courts have rendered the ruling moot). The pistols, like their rifle counterparts, were of great value and popular among enthusiasts. However, they haven’t been available for a few years. Therefore, it’s interesting that Springfield has decided to rerelease them, but this time, it’s built on their Saint Victor PCC in 9mm.

A New Kind of Pistol

From Springfield: The SAINT® Victor 9mm Pistol delivers rugged performance in a compact, hard-hitting package. Its direct blowback system ensures rock-solid reliability while feeding from durable 32-round Colt®-pattern magazines. Equipped with an SB Tactical SB-A3 brace for enhanced stability, this pistol variant is engineered for those who demand SAINT performance in a compact form.

Sounds good, right? Let’s dig into some other features:

• 5.5” barrel made of CMV with a Melonite Finish.
• Forged 7075 T6 aluminum upper and lower receivers that have been Type III Hardcoat Anodized (standard amongst many AR manufacturers).
• 45-degree ambidextrous safety.
• Adjustable SBA3 pistol stabilizing brace with ambi QD sling sockets.
• Free float M-Lok handguard
• B5 Weapons Systems grip and triggerguard.
• Nickel-boron coated flat-faced trigger.

Overall, it's a decent option for a compact 9mm AR pistol. If anything, the mil-spec charging handle should be replaced with something more ergonomic. Personally, I’ve never liked the SBA3 brace; I prefer the SBA4 or their new A5 version. The only downside of Springfield’s latest offering is the weapon’s simple blowback operation. While reliable, it doesn’t recoil as softly as one might expect from a 9mm. To explain, direct blowback uses all the energy of the fired round to push the bolt rearward, slowed only by the buffer's weight and the spring's tension. This means that all the energy of the round goes into your shoulder. Conversely, systems like CMMG’s radial delayed system mechanically delay the pressure build-up in the chamber before the bolt unlocks, slowing bolt speed and reducing felt recoil. But I digress.

One of the most significant advantages of the gun is its compatibility with Colt SMG magazines. While many may prefer Glock-style magazines, these were never designed for use in a rifle. In contrast, Colt SMG magazines were explicitly built for this purpose. They function reliably and keep the bolt open on empty without needing a stopgap solution (as is necessary with a Glock magazine). Therefore, kudos to Springfield for challenging the status quo on this.

Final Thoughts

It’s great to see Springfield reviving the Saint Victor pistol line. I believe the 9mm version was the right choice. It offers a compact and ergonomic option for a truck gun, a backpack gun, or within the confines of a home. Not to mention, it's fun to shoot. While I’m not the biggest fan of direct blowback operation, it is a straightforward and dependable system. However, if you suppress the weapon, you’ll want to change the springs and buffer weights to slow the bolt further. The MSRP for the Saint Pistol is $ 1,099.99, and I anticipate this price will decrease over time.