Those who have been blissfully asleep since the beginning of 2024 might not remember the introduction of the Echelon 4.5F. That full-size 9 mm from Springfield Armory was a big hit, but not everyone appreciates the work of carrying a big gun. So, the logical folks at Springfield Armory did the obvious, and we now have the Echelon compact—dubbed the Echelon 4.0C.
The 4.0C has all the good points and de- tails of its full-size brother, starting with the sculpted slide that features cocking serrations in front of and behind the ejection port. On top, there is the Springfield U-sight, a rear fixture with a U instead of a square-cornered notch, and a blade up front with a tritium insert. You can opt for a full, three-dot tritium setup if you wish. The top rear deck of the slide has a removable plate covering the location to enable mounting a red-dot optic. The Echelon 4.0C slide is not just machined with a flat spot as a place to bolt on a red-dot; it has the Springfield Armory Variable Interface System, or VIS. This was designed to, and does, permit the direct mounting of more than 30 different red-dot brands and models without the use of an adapter plate. De- pending on the particular optic you choose, the VIS allows for co-witnessing with the irons.
Lastly, the rear of the slide, at the back edge of the cocking serrations, Springfield machined the ledges to add an extra gripping edge for slide manipulation. Inside the slide is an integrally ramped barrel, in 9 mm, and to match that there is a stout extractor to haul out spent casings. The recoil spring is a captured unit, so you won’t have guide rod or spring parts hurling themselves across the room (or into your face) on disassembly.
On the 4.0C, the slide and barrel have been shortened so the barrel is now an even 4 inches long, and the slide is trimmed back to match. The shorter barrel and slide make it easier for everyday carry of the Echelon, as you have half an inch less of slide and barrel to lever off your hip when holstered. Or, if you are a fan of AIWB, there’s a half inch less to push the holstered Echelon up whenever you sit down.
Dovetail-mounted and drift-adjustable, the rear sight features a U-notch rather than a square one • A tritium dot adorns the front post to assist in low-light environments • With the cover plate removed, the Springfield’s VIS is ready to direct-mount a multitude of red-dot sights • The multi-slot accessory rail accommodates lights and/or lasers in the proper position • Adaptive Grip Texture offers good purchase without abrading skin • Widening at the rear, the slide forms beveled, abbreviated ledges to aid in manipulation.
Similarly, the frame retains the Echelon’s many excellent features. First of all, it is fully ambidextrous, with controls for slide and magazine release on both sides. Adding to the ambi nature are textured pads above and forward of the trigger, at the top of the trigger guard, so you have a place to park your thumb and trigger finger. (Their roles reverse depending on whether you are right- or left-handed.) The thumb one keeps your thumb off of the slide-stop lever and gives you an index point on the frame. The trigger-finger pad provides you an index point for your trigger finger when that digit is out of the trigger guard.
The only control that isn’t ambidextrous is the takedown lever, but who needs an ambidextrous take- down lever? It is on the left side of the frame, directly above the trigger and far enough forward that even my long fingers don’t easily reach it when I have a firing grip on the pistol.
And the frame, or grip shell, is not the complete pistol. No, the Echelon 4.0C is just like the original, the 4.5F, in that the fire-control unit is a chassis assembly riding inside of the polymer shell. Its Central Operating Group is the serial-numbered part, and thus is legally the firearm.
The texture of the index points, indeed, the panels on the grip shell itself, are the Springfield Armory Adaptive Grip Texture. It gives you a non-slip grip without abusing your hands. Variably sized backstrap inserts assure the grip can be made to fit practically any hand. The frontstrap rises behind the trigger guard (which is curved up at the rear) to let your hand ride higher on the frame. Also, the tang is wide and extended just a bit to give the web of your hand better leverage, allowing you to resist muzzle rise during recoil.
All of this is what you would find on the Echelon 4.5F, so are there any negatives to the shorter gun? Well, theoretically. The shorter gun is going to give you slightly less velocity, but it’s difficult to determine how significant that difference will be. One could, of course, opt for lighter bullets. Furthermore, the shorter slide means a shorter sight radius, likely of no consequence in a defensive use of the pistol and moot if you’ve mounted an MRDS. Overall, the faster draw, quicker handling and easier concealment of the 4.0C largely counter if not negate the drawbacks of the smaller pistol.
The 4.0C may be said to be in the “Goldilocks” class of pistols: not too big to be a hassle to carry, not so small as to be a hindrance to shooting well.
A holster for the 4.5F will work with the 4.0C, but be a little long. Safariland has already introduced its IncogX IWB in a length for the 4.0C, and other models from other makers are certainly soon to follow.
Starting at $679 and rising with options, and retaining most of the best qualities of the 4.5F while adding the advantages of compactness, make the Echelon 4.0C quite a deal.
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