Springfield Armory SAINT AR-15 Receives Golden Bullseye Award
Kevin Felts 02.08.17
Even though Springfield Armory, Inc. produces the M1A rifle, the 1911 and imports the XD line of handguns, The Saint is Springfield Armory’s first AR-15. So far the Saint is making some good impressions.
GENESEO, IL, Springfield Armory is pleased to receive the 2017 American Rifleman Tactical Gun of the Year Golden Bullseye Award for the company’s newest rifle, the SAINT. Designed and built for those who unapologetically assume the responsibility to protect themselves and those they love, the SAINT redefines what an AR-15 rifle should be.
“We’ve worked very hard to create an AR-15 rifle that stands out in a crowded field,” stated Springfield Armory CEO Dennis Reese. “We’re honored to accept the 2017 Tactical Gun of the Year Golden Bullseye Award from American Rifleman magazine. The award validates all the hard work we’ve done to design a rifle that brings all the right advanced features to law-abiding citizens at a very reasonable price point.”
The SAINT is Springfield Armory’s first entry into the Modern Sporting Rifle market. It’s an optics ready flat-top design that includes an A2-style front sight and gas block. A standout feature of the SAINT is its exceptionally tight and shake-free feel, a result from Springfield Armory’s Accu-Tite receiver locking system and the precisely engineered fit between the Bravo Company BCM Gunfighter stock and receiver extension tube.
The SAINT features a 16-inch Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel with a 5.56mm NATO chamber and 1:8 twist rate rifling to properly stabilize the widest range of bullet types. For longevity and corrosion resistance, the chamber, bore, and barrel are treated with Melonite.
Customers will also appreciate the outstanding trigger on the SAINT. Micro-polished components and Nickel Boron treatment yield a trigger press with mil-spec weight, but the smooth and crisp feel of a competition upgrade. Rounding out the SAINT is a set of high-end furniture from Bravo Company including the Bravo Company PKMT two-piece handguard with KeyMod-compatible attachment points. The Bravo Company Mod 0 Pistol grip provides grip-enhancing texture and a vertical orientation designed to complement the modern combat stance.
The Golden Bullseye Awards will be presented at a special breakfast event on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the National Rifle Association Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia.
“We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Golden Bullseye Awards,” said Doug Hamlin, Executive Director of NRA Publications. “This year’s winners exemplify what NRA members want in their shooting and hunting equipment—outstanding performance, innovative design, and value. We congratulate those who have created the industry’s best new products and look forward to recognizing them in Atlanta.”
The criteria for earning a Golden Bullseye Award is rigorous, with product required to be tested by staff members or contributors to American Rifleman magazine, demonstrating reliability during field use, and showing innovation and value to the customer. Most importantly, award winning products must show overall benefit to the shooting industry and its enthusiasts. For 15 years, award winners have been selected by a seven-member committee representing more than a century of collective experience in the shooting and hunting industry.
Created for the free and independent, Springfield Armory’s SAINT represents the next generation of America’s personal defense rifle. Built with relentless dedication to reliability, it’s made to support the awesome responsibility that comes with defending one’s legacy. For more information on the Springfield Armory SAINT please visit springfield-armory.com.
About Springfield Armory
“The First Name in American Firearms,” Springfield Armory was founded in 1777, when George Washington ordered the creation of an armory to store ammunition and gun carriages during the American Revolution. In 1794, the armory began to manufacture muskets and spent the next 150 years supplying firearms for every major American conflict. The original armory closed in 1968. In 1974, the Reese family took ownership of the Springfield Armory name and began making the M1A rifle. Today, Springfield Armory develops many products loyal to the company’s heritage, like the 1911 pistol, while ensuring its future with innovative products, including the XD, XD Mod.2, XD(M) and XD-S polymer pistols and now the new SAINT AR-15 rifle.
Special thank you to Ammoland for letting everyone know about the award.
Saint Specs
- CALIBER: 5.56x45mm NATO (.223REM)
- LENGTH: 35.5″ Fully Extended / 32.25″ Collapsed
- WEIGHT: 6lbs 11oz
- UPPER RECEIVER: Type III Hard Coat Anodized Aircraft Grade 7075 T6
- BARREL: 16″ Chrome Moly Vanadium, 1:8 RH Twist, Melonite
- GAS SYSTEM: Direct Impingement Mid-Length Gas System, .750 Diameter Gas Block
- TRIGGER GUARD: Bravo Company
- PISTOL GRIP: Bravo Company Mod 3
- BUTT STOCK: Bravo Company 6 Position
- BOLT CARRIER GROUP: M16 BCG w/ Carpenter 158 Steel Bolt, Shot Peened & Magnetic Particle Inspected
