New member, new rifle

[TEXASforLIFE]

There are many places online that can be between $6 to $15 depending on sale or not.
mag warehouse
midsouth shooters
midway usa
brownell's
natchez
and an endless list.

Also, not sure if you live in a round limit state?
Check with local mag suppliers and save on shipping?

 

[10mmLife]

Any suggestions as the best place to buy magazines at?

Hoping to buy more this week

Palmetto State Armory typically offers free shipping with mag bundles. The prices are usually lower than most also.

If free shipping isn't offered right now wait until the weekend.

 

[Bassbob]

Most of the usual places have sales. Watch for them. You can get Gen 2 PMags for usually $10/each. Cheaper if you buy 10 packs.

 

[Bassbob]

Just recently I ordered from Magshack.com. I inquired here and was told they're good so I ordered and the transaction went real smooth and they had great prices I got 10 Magpul Gen 2 30 round mags for $99 bucks. Just my two cents worth.

I wouldn’t lie to ya.

 

[wolfpack076]

Couldn't remember who referred me Thanks Bassbob. Guess I'm getting old and dementia but they were great to deal with plus they had Glock 22 Gen 5 mags which i was on the hunt for since I bought the weapon.

 

[javbike]

Welcome from crazy California

 

[javbike]

Any suggestions as the best place to buy magazines at?

Hoping to buy more this week

You know who had pretty good prices on mags is kygunco also check them out

 

[Bassbob]

Couldn't remember who referred me Thanks Bassbob. Guess I'm getting old and dementia but they were great to deal with plus they had Glock 22 Gen 5 mags which i was on the hunt for since I bought the weapon.

I've bought a ton of stuff from them. They had Walther PPQ 17 rd. mags on sale awhile back for like $25.

 

[JustanaberageJoe]

How difficult is it to find Keymod accessories for the Saint?

Is it worth changing out the hand guard for another system? Never done it on any rifle so not sure how difficult it is.

 

[greywolf1961]

Just bought my first Springfield rifle today, a Saint ( base model ST916556BM ).

It was a toss up between the Saint and a Ruger 556.

It’s been 20+ years since I used an AR platform rifle so I’m a bit rusty to say the least.

Any suggestions as far as set up, ammo to use/not use, etc I know when they first came out there were issues.

I, personally, think you picked the better of the two. I bought one of the first SAINTS when they came out in 2016. They hit the market in November of 2016. In California, you only had 40 days in which you could purchase one.

A lot will depend on what you want to do with your new SAINT. .

If you don't need glasses, then the iron sights will be just fine. If you are looking at being more precise, then put a good quality red dot on it. Holosun, Sig Sauer, and Trijucon all make good red dots. Some even have solar panels on them. When I have the Holosun on it, I am able to co-witness with it.

As for ammo, if it will be for plinking, then most any ammo will do. 55 grn 5.56 is more than adequate. For distance and more accuracy, look at 62 grn or even as high as 77 grn. Ammoseek.com will be your friend when looking for good ammo prices. Before you buy 1000 rounds of steel cased ammo, try some first. I have had some of my ARs that didn't like the steel cased ammo. It would cycle no problem for the first 30 or 40 rounds, but than you might get some cases that fail to extract as the chamber gets dirtier.

Make sure that you are using a good chamber brush when you are cleaning.

If you are going to try to shoot distance for accuracy, a good quality scope would be recommended.

You will find that the SAINT is plenty accurate. I have a Holosun Red Dot on mine, and I was hitting a steel target that was only 6 inches wide at 400 yards with great consistency. I was using the Iron Sights at 350 yards on a 24-inch target, standing unsupported and hitting 90% of the time.

It is a great rifle.

 

[greywolf1961]

Depending on how you want to use your new Saint, I would recommend a Sig Romeo 5 red dot to get yourself started. It is very good quality and very reasonably priced and will cowitness with your BUIS. I’m sure many others will be along shortly to advise you on how to spend your money too!.

Welcome from DFW.

I don't have BUIS, I have MIS (Mechanical Iron Sights). I prefer them over the red dots just to keep myself in practice. The red dot is my backup in case my eyes get tired. I may be old and have to wear glasses, but I can still hit a clay pigeon at 200 yards with iron sights.

 

[greywolf1961]

It will be for plinking and HD. Our current HD setup without the Saint is adequate but a little more oomph never hurt. I also work at a jail( non correction capacity) and while problems with inmates are rare it does happen on occasion. So I’m not trying to be too paranoid

My next purchase is more mags for it and then I’m not sure. Either red dot or vertical foregrip( to make it easier for my wife) although no clue how to install the foregrip on the base model.

Thanks everyone for the advice/thoughts so far.

I would say the red dot is more important than the forward grip.

The first generation of SAINT uses Key Mod, not M-Lock. Those holes are where you would attach things like forward/vertical grips. You can also mount a light there as well. You may need to look for key-mod rails. They have fallen out of favor in the last 5 years and M-Lock has taken over.

I added pictures of the Key Mod and the M-Lock slots. The Key-Mod is on the original SAINT and the M-Lock slots are on the newer SAINT, in this case, the FDE colored one. That way you can see the difference. In either case, you will need to get the appropriate rail sections to mount your accessories. The advantage is that you can get rails and place them where you want them and they don't add as much weight as the full length rails.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[JustanaberageJoe]

I would say the red dot is more important than the forward grip.

The first generation of SAINT uses Key Mod, not M-Lock. Those holes are where you would attach things like forward/vertical grips. You can also mount a light there as well. You may need to look for key-mod rails. They have fallen out of favor in the last 5 years and M-Lock has taken over.

I added pictures of the Key Mod and the M-Lock slots. The Key-Mod is on the original SAINT and the M-Lock slots are on the newer SAINT, in this case, the FDE colored one. That way you can see the difference. In either case, you will need to get the appropriate rail sections to mount your accessories. The advantage is that you can get rails and place them where you want them and they don't add as much weight as the full length rails.

Hope this helps a little.

Thanks for the replies, it’s appreciated.

The foreword grip would be more for my wife and oldest son( 14 ) to use than myself. I’ve never used one.

Red dot/holographic will likely be next on the priority list after I get some more magazines.

All of us wear glasses, and my wife struggles with iron sights.

It’s main purpose will be for plinking and alternative home defense. I don’t relish the idea of firing an AR-15 indoors with my 2 kids without hearing protection.

Thanks again for the replies

 

[greywolf1961]

Thanks for the replies, it’s appreciated.

The foreword grip would be more for my wife and oldest son( 14 ) to use than myself. I’ve never used one.

Red dot/holographic will likely be next on the priority list after I get some more magazines.

All of us wear glasses, and my wife struggles with iron sights.

It’s main purpose will be for plinking and alternative home defense. I don’t relish the idea of firing an AR-15 indoors with my 2 kids without hearing protection.

Thanks again for the replies

If you wear glasses, something to be aware of. If you have astigmatism, some red dot sites will have a "flair" effect. In other words, the dot will not be crisp and clear. You will want to do some reading.

The Best Red Dot Sights for Astigmatism in 2024 [Blurry to Clear] - Scopes Field

Is your red dot blurry, fuzzy, or smeared? If so, you probably have astigmatism. I'll cover what it is and the best red dot sights for astigmatism...

scopesfield.com

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

Strike industries sells pic rails that's a "1 size fits all" type. The rail sections fit both type. I have them and use them for both keymod and mloc's that I have.

https://www.strikeindustries.com/

 

[Jfal]

If you wear glasses, something to be aware of. If you have astigmatism, some red dot sites will have a "flair" effect. In other words, the dot will not be crisp and clear. You will want to do some reading.

The Best Red Dot Sights for Astigmatism in 2024 [Blurry to Clear] - Scopes Field

Is your red dot blurry, fuzzy, or smeared? If so, you probably have astigmatism. I'll cover what it is and the best red dot sights for astigmatism...

scopesfield.com

You don't need to wear glasses to have astigmatism. I have it in both eyes and I do not wear corrective lenses (and do not need them). I love dots, but they smear almost 1/2 a full silhouette at 100 yards for me...

Theres a dot that astigmatics can use without having the smear/starburst issue, reflex? holographic? don't know which, but check 'em all out at the LGS before buying. Check out the link that greywolf supplied...

 

[JustanaberageJoe]

Anyone use the M-lok system from kinetic development group?

Looks like it could be easier than other M-lok mounting

 

[Bassbob]

Anyone use the M-lok system from kinetic development group?

Looks like it could be easier than other M-lok mounting

$55 for a QD Mount ? Literally 10 minutes ago I moved a Magpul M- Lok QD mount on a carbine. It wasn't hard. Took about a minute. I think I paid $15 for it. And I probably have 4 or 5 more of them in a parts drawer.