Adam Scepaniak 04.06.23
Springfield Armory has made themselves a stalwart contender in the arena of AR-15s and AR-10s. They took their battle rifle legacy of the past – which formerly included M1 Garands and now they craft M1As – and stepped into the modern age in recent years by fabricating some of the best value modern sporting rifles on the market. With varying configurations, options, colors, and cartridges available they had everything to offer as any other premium manufacturer except for one chambered in 9mm similar to a PCC (pistol caliber carbine). That all changed last December when they unveiled the Saint Victor 9mm Carbine! Now, you can have all of the desirable attributes found in the Saint Victor series of rifles with our favorite handgun cartridge of 9mm. So, today we will deep dive into what the Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine is all about!
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Specifications – Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine
The Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine is extremely comparable to its 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem counterparts except for a few key 9mm features. For one, it utilizes 32-round Colt-pattern magazines which are very reliable, and are decently available on the internet (or directly through Springfield). It also deploys a simple yet functional blowback design that is common for innumerable 9mm carbines and PCC rifles. The rest of the specifications for the Saint Victor 9mm Carbine can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:
- Cartridge: 9mm
- Barrel: 16″ CMV, Melonite®, 1:10
- Sights: Low Profile Spring-Loaded Adjustable Flip-Up
- Upper Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized
- Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized, Accu-Tite™ Tension System
- Bolt Carrier Group (BCG): 9mm Blowback
- Handguard: Aluminum Free Float w/ SA Locking Tabs, M-Lok
- Stock: B5 Systems Bravo
- Trigger: Nickel Boron Coated Flat
- Muzzle Device: SA 9mm Forward Blast Diverter
- Receiver Extension: 6-Position Adjustable
- Receiver End Plate: QD
- Charging Handle: Standard
- Safety Switch: Ambidextrous
- Trigger Guard: B5 Systems, Polymer
- Grip: B5 Systems Type 23 P-Grip
- Magazines: (1) 32-Round
- Weight: 6 Lb 15 Oz
- Length: 31.75″ – 35″
“The SAINT® Victor 9mm Carbine is designed to deliver a PCC (pistol caliber carbine) with all the performance and capabilities you have come to expect from the SAINT Victor line. From its full-length free-floated handguard with ample M-Lok® real estate for accessories to its forged upper and lower receivers designed around pistol-caliber cartridges, this 9mm carbine is built to deliver. Featuring a rugged direct blowback system of operation that ensures rock-solid reliability, the SAINT Victor 9mm Carbine feeds from durable steel 32-round Colt®-pattern magazines. The quick-handling package is rounded out with a B5 Systems Grip and five-position adjustable stock.”
First Impressions – Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine
When it came to my first impressions and handling of the Saint Victor 9mm I really liked the lean aesthetic of this carbine. It is not bulky, chunky, or fat. It is trim, lean, and fast. Whether you are looking to deploy this rifle for PCC competitions, put it to work for home defense, or even use it as a truck gun this is a firearm that has no wasted material or bulk. It is all business and everything is purposeful.
Another staple for many firearms is the use of B5 furniture. It is reliable, comfortable, and the texturing is a little more aggressive for better dexterity than competing furniture brands. Whether your palms are sweaty, its hot out, frigid out, or you’re fatigued from a long range day, this furniture should ensure you have positive manipulation of your firearm at all times. From the feel, handling, and aesthetic alone I liked the Saint Victor 9mm before I even sent rounds down range.
Range Time – Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine
Once we got to the range portion of this review the fun finally started. The optic we utilized was a simple Vortex Crossfire 2 MOA red dot. We were not looking to do hyper-accuracy testing on this rifle because it is not a bench gun (so we’re not going to hold it to bench standards). Nevertheless, we did want to get a feel for this rifle’s capabilities and we got some loose accuracy testing accomplished.
Whether you have this on the back of your 4-wheeler as a varmint rifle or are engaging steel targets in a PCC match, you’ll likely be shooting off-hand so that is how we conducted our accuracy testing. We shot 25 yards off-hand with both iron sights and our given red dot to see what we could achieve and this is what we got:
- 2.111″ – Iron Sights @ 25 yards
- 1.517″ – Red Dot @ 25 yards
For shooting off-hand with no magnification in either instance, I was very pleased with these results. Whether you are clapping steel for competitions or recreation, you definitely aren’t missing at 75 yards and in. If you shoot further, I’d opt for an LPVO (low-powered variable optic). Simultaneously, if this is your ranch rifle it would serve you equally well in dispatching varmints that might be bothering your homestead.
Aside from the pleasing accuracy, I also liked the simple blast diverter Springfield uses on the Saint Victor 9mm. It charges all of the carbon, gas, debris, and gunk forward of the shooter for a cleaner shooting experience. Moreover, the recoil impulse is very smooth cycling so your stay on target really well also.
As we mentioned earlier, I also enjoyed the B5 Systems Type 23 P-Grip because of its more aggressive stippling. When we were testing this rifle it was a balmy 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside in Minnesota so we needed all of the dexterity help we could get. As a result of the B5 texturing, weapon manipulations and control were never an issue.
Also, near the grip was Springfield’s Nickel Boron Coated flat trigger which was buttery smooth. We were not doing rapid engagement shooting sessions, but the repeatable tactile feel gave us a consistent trigger press every time. A small upgrade of the trigger in a factory package makes me a happy-camper because nothing grinds my gears more than when a gun is gorgeous, smooth operating, and reliable yet it features a sub-par trigger. That is not the case here.
Final Thoughts – Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine
So, what are my final thoughts on the Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine?… We got a deal of trigger time behind this rifle in the past several months and I am authentically a fan. The only negative I can speak to this rifle about is that the blast diverter is inside the handguard; thus, you cannot easily suppress this rifle unless you have a very narrow diameter silencer or replace the handguard entirely. Other than that, I applaud it in all other aspects across the board. With an MSRP of $1,299 it remains competitive with numerous other PPC rifles on the market today and it is a great value proposition. You get a lot for your dollars spent.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Springfield Armory for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm Carbine is something worth spending your money on for competition, recreation, hunting, or simply shooting with friends? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
