Saint Edge, review, Springfield Armory,
Guns & Stuff

Tabletop Review: Springfield Saint Edge 5.56 Pistol

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I recently had the opportunity to get a close look at a Springfield Saint Edge AR pistol. This 5.56mm “pistol” is the top of the line, high-end AR offered by Springfield Armory. The Edge series of forearms offer billet lowers and premium components. Springfields goal is to provide the highest end forearms with the utmost reliability and accuracy. After handling the Saint Edge I have to say from the looks of it they reached their goal.

Below is a photo slideshow of the gun as I take a look at it. A full review is coming up as I take I to the range and send some Freedom Seeds downrange. Of note – Ammo.com was gracious enough to donate some ammunition for the upcoming review. Thank you Ammo.com!!

 

A few words from the Springfield Armory website:

The SAINT® Edge pistol combines the most popular features of the premium Edge rifle with the compact shootability of a pistol platform.

The newest self-defense legend, the SAINT Edge pistol in 5.56 gives maximum portability and ease of use in close quarters, where it matters most. The Maxim Defense™ CQB adjustable pistol brace reduces size, stabilizes recoil, and enhances accuracy, so the next time you need to deliver in a pinch, you’ll be in good hands.

The SAINT® Edge pistol features a 10.3″ lightweight 1:8 twist CMV barrel and delivers a comfortable, quick-handling and versatile platform. Brace yourself — fully collapsed the pistol measures in at just 24.6″.

  • Machined Billet Lower
  • 10.3″ Barrel(CMV)
  • Nickel Boron Coated Flat Trigger
  • Enhanced M16 BCG
  • Mid-Size Charging Handle
  • Ambi Safety
  • Maxim Defense CQB Brace

Saint Edge, review, Springfield Armory,

I can’t wait to get to the range and get some rounds through the Saint Edge pistol.

Rourke

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23 Comments

  1. CaptTurbo says:

    While rifle platform pistols are cool, I don’t get the current enthusiasm for them. If I need a rifle I pick up a rifle. The pistol is always on my person. I do however like the 9mm carbines which amps up a pistol. That makes more sense than diminishing a rifle.

    Reply
  2. JBernDrApt says:

    Anxious to hear your thoughts and read your review. I’ve thought they would be a lot of fun but like CaptTurbo keep a pistol on me and would grab a rifle if one were needed. Trust you are well and everything with the job going great.
    – Keep Looking Up

    Reply
  4. John Gault says:

    Wow that’s sexy! Being honest AR pistols are essentially SBRs, and they’ve become my favorite. I’ve built two pistols so far, one with an 11.5″ barrel, and one with a 12.5″ barrel. I’ve read a good bit of ballistic testing on AR platform barrel length performance, as long as you don’t go shorter than 10.3″ you really don’t lose much in usable performance and that some (Garand Thumb in particular) consider a 12.5″ barrel length ideal for the pistol/SBR. A little lighter, a little more maneuverable, win..win! SBRs have a pretty long history of use in the military (remember the CAR-15), and with Special Operations. In 2017 SOCOM put out a request for a new short barreled PDW using the M4A1 lower, and easily suppressed. Not sure if they ever picked one, I know they were testing a 300 Blackout version, which has me thinking 😉

    Reply
  5. JR says:

    Mr. Gaullt echoes most of what I was going to mentioned in response to CaptTurbo and JBernDrApt.

    A few thoughts:

    First – as Mr. Gault pointed out – forget the term “pistol”. These are rifles – with shorter barrels. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. The advantages are primarily in weight, portability, and maneuverability. The main disadvantage is reduced muzzle velocity which equals reduced power.

    Accuracy is effected very little when compared to a 16″ carbine.

    Something to consider is out of a 10.5″ barrel the energy from the .223/5.56 round is substantially more than a 9mm coming out of a pistol caliber carbine. It’s not even close. With a 5.56 out o a 10.5″ barrel traveling at 2750fps you are looking at close to 925 foot-pounds of energy. A 9mm traveling out of the same length barrel will hit with approx 350 foot-pounds of energy.

    Of course, the decision on what to arm yourself with is yours and the answer for me is always, “Yes” – just be armed. The reason for the popularity of AR “pistols” should be clear – weight, portability, and maneuverability. Those can be advantages and if they fit philosophy off use.

    Reply
    1. 3rdMan says:

      Yep, do not go under 10.5 on the barrel. The 5.56 is effective from a trauma standpoint at 2200 fps or faster. Slowing it down below that just gives you and expensive .22lr. The craze over the 7″ AR pistols out there is driven by people who don’t understand ballistics. I have a 11.5 SBR and love it!!!

      Reply
  6. John Gault says:

    A little more info I read this morning. One benefit of the short barrel is of course if you wish to run a suppressor it’ll help keep the overall length from getting to unwieldy. Better still is going to a 300 blackout which reaches peak ballistic potential from a 9-inch barrel, and apparently the 220gr round is subsonic from the get-go. Converting a AR to 300 blackout requires as little as a barrel/gas block change.

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      My 2 cents – I do not like the situation that presents itself with two firearms excepting the same magazine but different calibers. This can be handled with marking the magazines, however, I’ll choose the route of no .300 Blackout. Another caliber that would have to be stocked up on(and expensive at that).

      Who knows? I might change my mind some day.

      Reply
      1. John Gault says:

        Good point, though old I hope I have a few years left before senility sets in. Once it does I’ll have my caregiver give you all my 5.56 chambered AR’s🤗. Yes the ammo is expensive! Not sure yet what I’ll do, just trying to figure out the most affordable way of going silent. Converting one of my existing AR’s to 300 blackout is pretty inviting.

        Reply
  7. ralph k says:

    Recently picked up a ATI 7.5″ pistol in 5.56, for 350$, just couldn’t resist at that price.
    I would take exception to a comment above that anything under 10.5″ is an expensive
    .22LR. Muzzle velocity of the 5.56, 55gr is ~2150-2300fps depending on the ammo, translates into ~550 to 650 foot pounds of energy. The .22LR at ~1300fps with 40gr bullet, runs at best 150-200 foot pounds energy. Thats a huge discrepancy. I would not feel under gunned with it at all, especially as it is my ‘in house’ gun, highly maneuverable at 23.5″overall length. With a 30 rnd mag, light attached, fast follow up shots. No problema in my estimation. I did one modification that really helped. Added a KAK flash can in place of regular flash hider. Tames the muzzle blast and noise a lot, directed forward and away from the shooter. Highly recommend this mod. Its a fun gun to shoot and is essentially a SBR without the tax stamp. Not sure about how the Saint pistol has a adjustable stock and not be classified as an SBR. Length of trigger pull? The regulations about these seem confusing, but understandable since it is coming from the ATF folks. Just my humble opinion on the matter, YMMV.

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      ralph k –

      Have you shot that ATI 5.56 with the 7.5″ barrel yet?

      Regarding the Saint – and other guns with adjustable stocks – the ATF can go pound sand. They keep changing their position on things and even Springfield continues to manufacture the firearm regardless of the recent ATF letter. I believe the ATF ruling will be changed.

      Reply
      1. ralph k says:

        Hi JR,

        Yes, it is loud, as one would expect with that length of barrel, but otherwise no issues, i.e. FTF, FTE etc. Quite frankly, concerning what the ATF rules or not on these firearms, gun control issue is dead now. After all the violence, police stand downs, blatant corruption of public officials and judiciary, no one is going to give up their only alternative to safety.
        Add in the fact that no one is going to attempt confiscation, they don’t have the manpower or the huevos to do so, at the first intervention where LE are shot, no one will want that assignment. Our 2nd amendment is now functioning again and no one is going to override it now. The first amendment needs help now more than ever. Lets face it, revolution is not coming, it is here now.

        Reply
        2. JR says:

          Yup ralph k – you knew right away why I asked if you shot it…LOL. Loud is an understatement.
          Agree on your assessment of gun control. With all this shit going on right now any and all gun control efforts will be met with resistance the Left has never seen before.

          Reply
    2. John Gault says:

      The Saint Edge doesn’t have an adjustable “stock”, it has an adjustable brace😏. Adjustable braces are legal (at least for now) as long as the Length Of Pull doesn’t exceed 13.5”. The LOP is measured from the face of the trigger to the back of the brace with the brace fully extended. 🤮

      Reply
      1. ralph k says:

        Yea, and I don’t own a firearm, just a pellet gun using chemical propulsion technology. Its all a question of semantics.

        Reply
    3. 3rdMan says:

      ralph k

      “.22LR. Muzzle velocity of the 5.56, 55gr is ~2150-2300fps depending on the ammo”

      Not sure what you mean by this as the .22lr and 5.56 are not one in the same, maybe a typo on your part. The 5.56 out of a 7.5″ barrel will not break 2200 feet per second, which is the magic number when it comes to wound ballistics and the 5.56. Also the 7.5″ AR pistol is horribly loud and the concussion will give you a headache.
      Go put a couple hundred rounds through that 7.5″ barrel in an indoor range and report back!

      Reply
      2. ralph k says:

        Hi 3rdMan,
        My first sentence somehow got separated so it looks like I have .22lr and 5.56 together, wasn’t intended, just how it comes out after I hit the post comment button.
        Links to ballistic info I read:
        https://www.mcarbo.com/22LR-Ballistics-Charthttps://rangehot.com/5-56-223-ballistic-test-carbine-vs-sbr/#lightbox/4/http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/barrel-length-studies-in-5-56mm-nato-weapons/
        I am not denying that you may not get the hydrostatic shock pressure of the 5.56 Nato from a 16″ barrel at 2900-3200 fps, but looking at the data from above sites and more I have perused, the foot pounds of energy are there. Besides, when push comes to shove, the intended targets are going to get multiple acts of love until climax occurs anyway. A 22LR can kill squirrels and such, been used up close for personal work, but is still lacking punch unless hits the CNS control center. As to the loudness, reason I mentioned the KAK flash can. Pushes everything, blast, noise out and away from shooter so it isn’t quite so unpleasant. I am not saying it is something I want to do 300 rnds a day with. Yes, it has some flash as well, not denying that either. But as I said, would not feel under gunned at all. Out past maybe 50, 75 meters and beyond, would just want a real rifle. And yes, I have fired it in an indoor range. Its like having body odor, no one wants to dance with you.

        Reply

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