One of the hottest items on the firearms market today are semi-automatic, blowback-operated 9mm carbines commonly referred to as Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCCs). Those built on the AR-15 platform are particularly popular. The 9mm PCC has found favor with the shooting public for several reasons.
- Reduced Muzzle Blast: Compared to 5.56mm AR-15s, 9mm PCCs produce significantly less muzzle blast.
- Accuracy: With proper optics, 9mm PCCs are capable of delivering accurate hits out to 100 yards.
- Enhanced Velocity: The 16-inch barrels increase the velocity of the 9mm round over pistols, making it a more formidable defensive round.
- Engagement Range: Most self-defense encounters occur at close ranges and don’t require the extended range of 5.56mm or larger rounds. The FBI’s 2015-2019 Summation Report of Law Enforcement Officers Killed or Assaulted shows that 44 percent of the 237 officers killed in that period had fatal encounters at ranges of 0 to 5 feet. Only 12 percent of the officers were killed at distances greater than 15 feet. These statistics directly correlate with civilian defensive shootings.
- Cost Effective: Currently, 9mm FMJ ammo is pretty reasonably priced. I just picked up 100 rounds of Remington 115-grain 9mm Target for $13 a box at Vance Outdoors in Columbus, Ohio.
About the Springfield Saint Victor 9mm Carbine
The Springfield Armory Saint Victor line features 16 models/configurations of AR-15 rifles chambered for 9mm (carbine), .223/5.56 (short-barreled rifle and rifle) and .308/7.62 (rifle). My Saint Victor sample was the 9mm full-capacity STV91609B, which shipped with one double-column 32-round 9mm magazine.
The 32-round stick magazine, a Colt-marked 9mm submachine gun (SMG) magazine, first caught my attention. Designed for law enforcement and military use, these magazines are known for the utmost reliability. When inserted into the Saint Victor, the magazine is positioned directly perpendicular to the action, rather than at an angle as one finds in carbines that use pistol magazines. This setup enhances reliability.
The magazine wells on M16s and AR-15s were never intended by designer Eugene Stoner to take curved magazines like those used on the AK-47. They were set up for straight 20-round box magazines that insert and drop easier than the curved 30-rounders and feed upward in a straight line. When curved 30-round magazines were introduced, feeding malfunctions increased, though many of the associated problems have been resolved over the years. Still, my defensive ARs stand ready with 20-round magazines.
I checked Colt-type SMG magazine pricing online since only one magazine was included. Springfield offers 32-round and 10-round Colt Pattern magazines for $32 and $42, respectively. A quick internet search showed Colt Pattern magazines are available for $17 to $28 from at least five different manufacturers with capacities of 10, 20 and 32 rounds.
Springfield Saint Victor Carbine Specifications
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Operating System: Blowback
Upper Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized
Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized, Accu-Tite™ Tension System
Handguard: Aluminum Free Float w/ SA Locking Tabs, M-Lok
Barrel: 16 inch CMV, Melonite®, 1:10
Muzzle Device: SA Muzzle Drum
Trigger: Nickel Boron Coated Flat
Sights: Springfield Armory Low Profile Spring-Loaded Adjustable Flip-Up
Safety Switch: Ambidextrous
Grip: B5 Systems Type 23 P-Grip
Stock: B5 Systems Bravo 6-position adjustable
Weight: 6 pounds, 15 ounces
Length: 31.75 inches to 35 inches
The 9mm Saint Victor Carbine is beautifully put together. I am a fan of the slim forends used on modern ARs over the bulkier quad-rail Picatinny rail handguards of the early 2000s. While quad rails required Picatinny rail covers as protection from unused portions of the railing, the M-Lok system on the Saint Victor free-floated handgun gives the shooter greater comfort and versatility with accessory slots at 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 o’clock positions. There is a standard strip of Picatinny rail atop the receiver for mounting optics.
Firing the Springfield Carbine
I previously used the Springfield Saint Victor 9mm PCC to test the new Lucid P8 4x Prism Optic. While the Springfield folding sights are quite good, I needed an optic for indoor testing on an overcast day. The vivid Lucid BLU reticle was perfect for the conditions, outshining standard red reticles.
The Springfield Saint Victor is a dream to shoot. With low recoil, low blast and providing extreme fun, it is the perfect carbine to introduce newer shooters to the wonders of the AR-15. It also doesn’t require the cleanup process of a standard direct gas impingement 5.56mm AR-15. The Saint Victor 9mm is a great introductory or training tool and will more than adequately fulfill any defensive or sporting need inside 100 yards or beyond with little effort.
We tested with Wilson Combat’s 135-grain Remanufactured Hollow Base Flat Nose. Velocity of this excellent practice round is 950 feet per second from a 5-inch barrel and should give you about 1,100 foot-pounds of energy or more from the 16-inch carbine barrel. We couldn’t run those rounds over the chronograph due to the dim light conditions. Functioning was flawless, and the flat-nose bullet design of the Wilson Combat load tells me that the Saint Victor 9mm should run with any type of ball or defensive ammo. The Springfield Armory Drum Muzzle Brake/Flash Diffuser also worked well, eliminating noticeable muzzle flash. Standing at 50 feet and using a two-hand grip, we kept shots centered on the B27 PROS silhouette against which the BLU reticle stood out.
The Best 9mm AR-15 PCC
The Springfield Armory Saint Victor is the best 9mm AR-15 type PCC I’ve tested. Its conventional AR controls, high-quality construction, and reliable blowback action make it a standout. Versatile and ready to handle to handle a wide range of tasks, the Saint Victor 9mm would make a perfect pairing with a Saint Victor in 5.56mm. MSRP is $1,299.
Sources
Springfield Armory Firearms: Springfield-Armory.com
Lucid Optics: LucidOptics.com
Wilson: WilsonCombat.com
