By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Springfield Armory is a relative newcomer to AR 15 manufacture, but lest anyone be mistaken, just because it has taken a while to get in stride, Springfield offers some of the best conceived and manufactured versions of America’s rifle.
I have a growing respect for the Springfield Saint rifle. The Springfield version of America’s rifle has provided the author with good service and more than a little pride of ownership. There are cheaper rifles, affordable rifles, and high end rifles that may prove useful. The Saint is in the position of being a middle of the road rifle with everything you really need in an AR 15.
When Springfield introduced the Edge version of the Saint rifle I looked hard at the concept and found that the rifle really does offer an edge in shooting and an advantage over most rifles in the price class. I have come to like it the best of the Springfield AR line. The Edge is light and reliable and suits what I use a rifle for to a “T.”
The Springfield Saint Edge is designed to offer a competition ready platform for 3Gun competition. As a “go anywhere do anything rifle,” for the less well-defined emergency role, and for recreational shooting the Saint Edge is a fine choice.
When approached with the proper mindset tactical shooting and training is beneficial in a physical and mental sense. Exertion must be part of your physical vocabulary to get things done right. The rifle may be more expensive than some, but you don’t buy cheap gear and expect it to have both longevity and good performance. The Springfield Saint Edge is similar to the original Saint in most regards with a Bravo Company adjustable butt stock, a well designed pistol grip, and a free floating handguard. The forend features M-LOK attachments. M-LOK attachments remain unobtrusive and snag free when not in use and offer a secure mounting platform. The Springfield Saint Edge is supplied with a set of useful adjustable iron sights.
(After the firing evaluation which stretched to more than 400 .223 cartridges and fitting an optic I found the front sight had worked loose. Check your back up sights even if you don’t use them!)
The Edge features a uniquely styled billet receiver. This is a strong receiver well suited to a lifetime of use. The Edge receiver features a cut out that aids in rapid magazine changes. The look is good with a touch of bling. While eye catching and well designed the unique profile is also part of an Edge upgrade. The trigger guard is skeletonized a neat look on a modern rifle.
When you are using a rifle it is best to regard the rifle not as right handed or left handed but to consider the problem to be solved. The hands are forward or rear depending on the situation and angle of fire. The Saint Edge offers an ambidextrous safety lever, a must have on any rifle intended for the emergency/survival role.
The standard Saint AR rifle features a decent trigger that serves well. The Saint is considerably improved with a flat trigger. The flat trigger allows better control by virtue of promoting straight to the rear leverage. Reset is fast. Good trigger reset is as important as the trigger press itself in speed shooting. The Springfield Saint Edge trigger is a viable upgrade and among the best features of the Edge rifle. The trigger action is smooth breaking at exactly 4.15 pounds.
The upper and lower receiver feature a tight fit. The barrel, interestingly enough, is a thin profile contour. As a result of several design features including this lightweight contour barrel, the Springfield Saint Edge maintains a light weight of just under six pounds. Since most of us will mount an optic the rifle features an oversized charging handle. When reaching to rack the bolt and make the rifle ready to fire this charging handle is a much appreciated upgrade.
The 16-inch barrel features a muzzle brake of an interesting new type. The compensator has a square appearance in contrast to the usual birdcage type compensator common to the AR 15. There is no port on the bottom of the compensator. This muzzle brake will not kick up dust and grass under the port. It is loud; not bothersome at all to the author when shooting behind the muzzle, but certainly noticeable to the folks in the next firing position.
While we all agree the .223 Remington/ 5.56mm combination do not exhibit much recoil when running a combat course or firing long strings of ammunition the compensator makes for a more pleasant shooting experience. Speed runs are improved as muzzle rise is controlled more efficiently. An interesting feature is an adjustable gas block. Handloaders will appreciate this feature. I did not experiment with the gas block as function was one hundred per cent with all bullet weights. The rifle is bored with a 1:8-inch twist. This is a versatile barrel twist performing well with bullet weights tested from 50 to 77 grains.
For initial firing most of the ammunition expended has been Black Hills Ammunition 55 grain FMJ. This is an affordable loading with good accuracy potential and a clean burn. For evaluation purposes I used MagPul magazines, the Gold Standard of polymer AR 15 magazines. While round magazines are reliable for my use firing off a bench rest for accuracy testing, I used MagPul 20-round magazine. The iron sights were more useful than most with good adjustment. I was able to zero the rifle from ten yards (for home defense) to one hundred yards, about the useful limit of the author’s ability with any type of iron sights.
I ran a few magazines in the rifle and experimented with different bullet weights with good results. Next the search was on for an ideal optic for a great rifle. My friends Brian and Jeremy, both military veterans of great experience, led me to the Vortex Strike Eagle. Middle priced optics today offer excellent performance compared to anything available just a decade ago. The Vortex scope features an illuminated BDC reticle, clear glass, and easy to use adjustment turrets. A bright red illuminated reticle is a neat trick when you are tracking moving targets or firing for speed. Most of the firing with the Edge has been accomplished at 50 to 100 yards, however, with the Vortex Strike Eagle set at 6X I have taken good shots up to 200 yards. A rugged and robust mount is essential in the rifle/optic interface. The Vortex is mounted to the rifle using a Burris P.E.P.R. The rifle was sighted in first at 50 yards, set to fire high, and then I settled into a 100 yard zero, set high enough to give the author a good chance of connecting at 150 yards using the excellent BDC reticle.
I fired a good quantity of Black Hills Ammunition off the bench using the MTM Caseguard K Zone firing rest. I took my time and practiced both breath control and trigger control. I had on hand several loads that have proven accurate in a practically irreplaceable Colt Competition Ready AR. At 100 yards one of the most useful is the Black Hills Ammunition 60 grain JSP. This is an overlooked combination that is perhaps the finest choice in a versatile and effective service and competition load. The Edge performs well indeed for a lightweight rifle. One three shot group fell into .9 inch, the average was larger at 1.25 inch.
I have fired several other loads including the legendary MK 262. Black Hills Ammunition has secured military contracts with this 77 grain loading. Nothing magic or arcane here simply careful research into components and quality control as good as any in the business and better than most. A rifle with a heavy barrel and long range optics illustrates the accuracy potential of this loading better than my lightweight rifle. Just the same- the Springfield Saint Edge is a very accurate rifle by any standard. I fired a trio of three-shot groups with the MK 262 77-grain load. All were just under one inch and very consistent (0.88 to 0.92-inch. I took a deep breath and relaxed during the 100-yard walk to check targets on this run and was pleased with the results.
I don’t own a rack full of AR 15 rifles. I own a few. This is my light rifle, I own a heavier rifle, and there is a spare proven in reliability testing. The Springfield Saint Edge is a rifle sure to please based on reliability, build quality, and accuracy potential.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
Model: Saint Edge
Type: Direct-impingement semiautomatic carbine
Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 10; 20; 30 rds.
Weight: 6 lbs., 3 oz.
Overall Length: 35.75 in.
Barrel Length: 16 in.; 1:8-in. twist
Trigger: 4.15 lbs.
Handguard: Springfield Armory
