My very first handgun was a Springfield Armory XD in 9mm. It was around 2007, I was shopping for a home-defense solution and I’d read positive reviews about the XD line in American Rifleman and Guns & Ammo magazines.
At decision time, it wasn’t much of a competition. The XD I acquired was sold in a package with extra magazines, a loading tool, a holster and dual magazine pouch. It was range-ready, right out of the box, and seemed to come with everything except the ammo. For a new shooter just starting their firearms journey, it was exactly what I needed.
Now, with a couple decades of added experience, I still appreciate a well-equipped firearm. Sure, I will likely tinker down the road, and I definitely have favorites when it comes to gear and accessories. But I love an “easy button” option — everything I need to start shooting right away. That is exactly what Springfield provided with that XD, and I’m pleased to see that value consideration return in the company’s Gear Pac program.
Featuring the firearm, four magazines and a factory-mounted optic, as well as a durable range bag to carry them all, Springfield Armory first rolled out the Gear Pac upgrade for its most popular pistols and has now extended the offerings to include select SAINT Victor firearms. The range-ready introduction provided me an excellent opportunity to test out a SAINT I’d been eyeing for a few months — the SAINT Victor 14” Pinned & Welded rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO.
Wait, What Length?
Within the annals of arbitrary federal firearm regulations, 16” barrel length requirements rifle rifles remain one of the most sensitive subjects and non-sensical statutes in my opinion. That being said, I was immediately intrigued when Springfield Armory introduced the SAINT Victor 14” carbine.
Typically, an AR-style rifle would have at least a 16” barrel, the end of which would be threaded (usually 1/2×28) to accept a muzzle device such as a brake or flash hider. With the accessory installed, the overall length of the barrel assembly ends up in the neighborhood of 17” or 18”. For the SAINT Victor 14” Pinned & Welded, Springfield opted for a shorter barrel length and permanently affixed — pinned and welded — the flash hider to the end of the barrel.
Thus, the length of the barrel assembly still meets the requisite 16”, overall, and the total length of the rifle is reduced by around 2”, making the gun a touch more portable and noticeable more maneuverable, especially in tight, indoor environs.
The only downside to the pinned-and-welded arrangement is that the rifle cannot be considered suppressor ready. If you are one who likes trying new muzzle devices or plans to suppress their AR, I’d recommend checking out the 16” SAINT Victor rifle, or the 11.5” SAINT Victor pistol for 5.56 NATO options that will more easily accommodate those accessories.
Pac’d Out
In addition to the rifle itself, the SAINT Victor Gear Pac includes additional perks that really add to the value of the package.
First, although the SAINT Victor includes an excellent set of iron sights, the Gear Pac option also includes Viridian Venta reflex-style “green dot” optic. Make no mistake, the original equipment is very good. The low-profile flip-up irons include an elevation adjustable front post and a dual-aperture, windage adjustable rear. But let’s be honest, we live in the age of electro optics, and the Viridian Venta is an easy-to-use high visibility sight.
The Venta is an unobtrusive, all-business rifle optic. Its hard anodized aluminum housing and water-tight construction ensure tough terrain and wet weather won’t impede its operation. For a clean sight picture, the Venta offers fully multi-coated glass lenses and utilizes a 2 MOA green-dot reticle.
Rubberized buttons, “+” and “-”, on top of the optic cycle through 10 illumination settings, the bottom two being night-vision compatible. Too, well-marked radial dials allow for elevation (top) and windage (right) adjustments. The right-side battery compartment houses a single CR2032 battery that can provide up to 30,000 hours of power thanks to its auto-shut-off and instant-on technology.
For mounting, the Venta utilizes the same common footprint as the Aimpoint T2, and it ships with a 1.41” riser that affixes the sight to standard Picatinny rail. Gear Pac customers, however, won’t have to worry about setup because the optic comes installed on the SAINT from the factory.
A note of praise for Springfield Armory and Viridian; out of the box the Venta does, indeed, allow for co-witnessing the SAINT’s flip-up irons. So, if the batteries ever do run low, users can simply transition to their backup sights. When not needed, the stowed iron sights rest well below the optic and do not obstruct the sight picture. It’s a good combination.
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Next, four 30-round Magpul PMAG Gen M3 units are included. These are considered by many to be the “gold standard” in AR magazines and are constructed from crush-resistant polymer. They feature anti-tilt followers and optimized geometry for reliable functioning.
And lastly, storage and transport are well considered with the inclusion of a heavy-duty rifle case with storage pockets for all those magazines you are getting.
Range Ready
Heading to the range with the SAINT Victor Gear Pac, it’s easy to see the appeal. In one box comes everything I need to start shooting my new rifle and upgrading my defensive posture. Everything except the ammo, that is.
To test the 14” SAINT Victor, the first step was to get it zeroed. Right out of the box, the Viridian Venta was nearly spot-on with bulk NATO-spec 5.56mm 55-gr. FMJ ammunition at 100 yards. To make final adjustments I simply inserted the rim of a spent cartridge case into the cross slots on the Venta’s windage and elevation dials.
Once zeroed, I conducted an abbreviated accuracy test to confirm that the optic was mounted correctly, and the rifle wasn’t exhibiting any unusual behaviors. You may be thinking, accuracy tests are for testing accuracy, right? That is absolutely true. However, I’ve been shooting and testing Springfield Armory SAINT rifles since they were introduced in 2016, and at this point I don’t have any doubt the rifles will be accurate. Included in that experience are probably a dozen 5.56 NATO-chambered rifles, and every one has averaged 100-yard five-shot groups between 0.75” and 1.75”. They have always outperformed the rifles I was issued in the Army and have far exceeded accuracy standards for defensive use.
The SAINT Victor 14” was no different, neatly punching sub-2” groups at 100 yards with a variety of 5.56 and .223 Rem. ammunition. And remember, this was with a non-magnified optic.
So why accuracy test, at all, with platforms that as consistent as the SAINT? Primarily, I treat it as a gear check. For example, if I examine my target and I’m printing what looks like two different groups, separated by an inch or so, I’m going to suspect my optic or optic mount is a little loose. If my target resembles a fist-sized shotgun pattern, I’m betting the gun has some issues beyond surface level — but not with this or any other SAINT I’ve run.
Moving on from the accuracy bench, fully confident my sights were dialed and the rifle was ready to rip, I set up a series of reflex and transition drills to test the optic and enjoy the handling of the SAINT. The Venta’s green dot was easy to see and fast to acquire on target, and I like the overall slim dimensions of the optic as it did not obstruct my vision or diminish my situational awareness.
The Victor proved light on the shoulder and easy to “drive” from target to target. Its free-floating aluminum handguard was easy to grip and its plentiful M-Lok slots and full-length Picatinny rail provide a lot of options for future accessorizing. Slings, lights, lasers and forward grips would all be easy to add to the Victor.
And I think that’s the point.
Conclusion
For both experienced shooters or those looking for their first AR, Springfield Armory’s SAINT Gear Pac models are fantastic foundational defensive tools offered at exceptional value. They include everything you need to start shooting, and are so reliable and fundamentally sound that the options for future customization are limitless. You’ll definitely be squared away — short of the ammo, of course!
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