Springfield Armory: a buyer's guide
Springfield Armory, Inc. borrowed a famous name, but it built its own following with the M1A rifle, a deep 1911 catalog and the Hellcat micro-compact. Here is who they are and what they make.
Not the original armory
The historic Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts made U.S. military rifles from 1777 until it closed in 1968. Today's Springfield Armory, Inc. is a separate, private company. The Reese family bought the business and the name in 1974, and the company is headquartered in Geneseo, Illinois.
In 2024 it built 183,136 firearms in the U.S., eleventh among American makers (see the full ranking).
What Springfield makes
- M1A: the civilian, semi-automatic version of the M14 rifle in .308, the gun the company was built on.
- 1911s: from basic GI-style models to high-end custom guns. The 911 (2018) is a small .380/9mm take on the design.
- XD series: polymer striker pistols made by HS Produkt in Croatia, including the XD-M (2007) and slim XD-S (2012).
- Hellcat: a micro-compact 9mm introduced in 2019, one of the most popular carry guns of the last few years.
- Echelon: a modular duty-size 9mm introduced in 2023, with a removable serialized chassis.
- SAINT: AR-15 rifles and pistols, first introduced in 2016.
- Hellion and Kuna: a bullpup rifle and a 9mm carbine imported from HS Produkt.
Buying a Springfield
- Hellcat vs. Hellcat Pro. The Pro has a longer grip and slide and more capacity. Hold both to see which fits your carry.
- 1911s: check the slide-to-frame fit and the barrel bushing on used guns, and ask about any trigger work.
- M1A: look at the gas system and the muzzle. Used M1As often come with upgraded stocks or optics mounts; ask what's original.
Springfield Armory at Trademark Guns
We don't have any Springfield Armory items on the rack right now. Ask us about the model you want, or buy it online and have it shipped to us for a $25 FFL transfer.
Common questions
- Is Springfield Armory the same as the old government armory?
- No. The historic Springfield Armory closed in 1968. Springfield Armory, Inc. is a private company in Geneseo, Illinois that has used the name since 1974.
- Where is the Hellcat made?
- Springfield's XD-family pistols are made by HS Produkt in Croatia. Check the slide markings on a specific gun.
- What is the Springfield M1A?
- A semi-automatic civilian version of the M14 rifle, chambered in .308 Winchester.
Sources
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