The familiar formula a manufacturer follows when launching a new pistol is to first build a service-size model and, if it gains traction, follow up with a compact version. With that in mind, I made note of all the positive feedback the Springfield Armory Echelon was receiving when it was introduced in 2023 and looked forward to the day a compact version hit the market.
To my thinking, a compact-size pistol remains my ideal choice for everyday carry as it typically — if designed well — gives very little up to a full-size service pistol, yet is easier to conceal. My dream is now a reality with the new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C, introduced in late 2024.
For me, the pistol hits all the right points on size. Compared to the 4.5” barrel of the full-size Echelon, the 4.0C features a slightly shorter 4” barrel. In addition, the length of the grip has been shortened to accommodate a flush-fitting 15-round magazine, down from the 17-round magazine of the full-size pistol. In addition to the 15-rounder, the Echelon 4.0C also ships with an extended 18-round magazine. MSRP for the pistol starts at $679, and runs up to $739 for the threaded barrel model with tritium three-dot sights.
I took delivery of my Echelon 4.0C a short while ago and, to date, it has met all my expectations. Human engineering on the 4.0C is a cut above, complete with a great trigger and fast-to-read sights. To date, I have run a bucketload of rounds through mine, and reliability has been 100% with ball, frangible and hollowpoint duty quality ammunition.
Other firearms instructors on my job have also given it a go and have had nothing but good things to say about it. Clearly we are in good company taking this position, and recently the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) Member Tested and Recommended (MTR) program took their own hard look at the Echelon 4.0C.
A Big Deal
The mission of the NTOA is to enhance the performance and professional standards of law enforcement personnel by providing training resources as well as a forum for the development of tactics and information exchange. To serve their membership, the NTOA puts out The Tactical Edge magazine, offers webinars on a variety of topics, provides continuing education through NTOA Tactical Command College, and conducts an annual Law Enforcement Operations Conference and Trade Show.
Additionally, NTOA has the MTR Program, where products are given a hard look by experienced members of the law enforcement community to see if they are up to the rigors of police work.
To be evaluated in the NTOA MTR Program, a company must submit multiple examples of the product for review. These products have to be exactly the same as those sold or available to law enforcement without any special bells or whistles that would stack the deck. Products are then assigned to field testers chosen by the NTOA who evaluate the product and complete an online review.
The products submitted are tested and scored on a scale ranging from 0.0 to 5.0 in numerous categories. Depending on the item being tested, all categories may not apply. At the end of the testing, scores are averaged both individually and cumulatively for a final rating.
Products that score lower than 3.0 do not receive the NTOA Recommendation. A score of 3.00 to 3.99 receives the standard logo, while a 4.00 to 4.49 rates a silver logo. A rating 4.50 to 5.00 receives the covered gold rating. After NTOA field testing and evaluation, the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C received that very coveted gold logo, with a final rating of 4.51.
Although NTOA itself does not endorse products, achieving the highest rating from these selected reviewers and being made part of the MTR program does speak very well for the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C. In a market rich with different types of autopistols, having seasoned professionals weigh in on the practicality of a product and state that it meets the demands of law enforcement is extremely important.
Contact Points
A great handgun is comprised of many well-thought-out features, but none is more important than how it connects to the shooter. Quite simply, if a pistol is too big or too small for the hand, has a less than optimum gripping surface or has poorly placed controls, the shooter will never be at their best and performance will suffer.
The 4.0C pistol comes with three differently sized backstraps (small, medium and large) that can be easily fitted for optimum fit. Also, the pistol features the Central Operating Group serialized chassis that sits within the polymer grip module. This design allows for easily swapping out the module for different sizes and colors. A small-size grip module is standard on the 4.0C (a medium comes standard on full-size Echelons), and small and large alternative grip modules are also available on the Springfield Armory Store for a very reasonable $64.99. The modules come with the ambidextrous magazine release installed.
The end result is a pistol that can be adapted to the widest range of hand sizes. One of the evaluators reported that he fitted the large backstrap to the pistol before beginning his test to create the optimum connection.
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Not only is the size of the grip important, but also that skin-to-gun contact. Springfield Armory’s Adaptive Grip Texture — as first seen on the Hellcat pistol — is another understated touch that registered with the evaluators. One of the test participants stated, “the grip texture was just rough enough, but not so rough that it’s going to ruin clothing like I have had with other factory direct stippling”. Another tester remarked, “I appreciate the unique grip texture more than a checkered pattern. It is comfortable without giving up a useful bite.”
I couldn’t agree more. Many early polymer-framed pistols had grips I can only categorize as slippery, and it wasn’t unusual to encounter users who put a strip of skateboard tape or stair tread on the grip frame to get a positive hold. I have also encountered pistols with a too-aggressive a surface that proved uncomfortable in very short order. The Echelon 4.0C hits all the high notes and sports a no-slip surface that has proven very comfortable.
The placement of vital controls was also considered. And I want to point out that all the controls — both the slide lock and the magazine release — are fully ambidextrous. One tester reported that the slide lock initially “looked way too small and that it would be hard to find and manipulate, but I was wrong”. This southpaw shooter had similar concerns, but the ambidextrous slide lock provided a positive release every time. High marks were also given for the aggressive slide serrations that make manual manipulation a snap.
Downrange
Today, reliability with modern service-caliber pistols is usually very good. However, you cannot take it for granted as I have witnessed many pistols from major manufacturers with teething problems. Always make sure yourself that your firearm runs with your selected ammo.
One evaluator reported he ran 1,500 hundred rounds through his test pistol with zero malfunctions. This too mirrors my own experience, and I have yet to experience a stoppage of any kind with my Echelon 4.0C.
One evaluator noted that “the most intriguing technology of this pistol was the optics mounting system”. The Echelon’s Variable Interface System allows the end user to mount more than 30 different popular optics directly to the slide without the use of an adapter plate (although plates are available for the few optics that don’t direct mount).
This is accomplished through the use of this patent-pending system under the cover plate that employs multiple interface holes and interchangeable/movable pins to fit a broad range of footprints. The system also employs self-locking pins that exert lateral pressure when tightened down, eliminating variance and left/right movement.
The end result is a low, direct mount and the ability to co-witness the factory iron sights through the optic in many to most cases. One evaluator mated the Echelon 4.0C to a Trijicon RMR red dot sight and had no issues with the optic coming loose or coming off.
One of the advantages of compact-sized pistols is that they are equally well suited for carry in a duty holster or concealed, and I feel the Echelon 4.0C could easily fill both roles. In fact, left to my own designs, a compact-size pistol is tough to beat for EDC, for either the law enforcement officer or responsible citizen.
Final Thoughts
In a crowded field of compact-sized 9mm pistols, the Echelon 4.0C is a standout. Its ergonomics are top shelf, particularly the way it fits the hand, and the ambidextrous controls are yet another nice touch. Aggressive fore and aft serrations on the slide make the manual racking of the pistol a snap. No doubt, the ability to swap out the interchangeable backstraps and different grip modules will make this pistol extremely appealing to law enforcement agencies
I plan on running my 4.0C without an optic for the time being, but Springfield Armory’s Variable Interface System is truly a game changer. This is particularly true for the law enforcement officer who regularly subjects his pistol to hard knocks.
Rest assured, the NTOA’s MTR gold logo recommendation is a solid indicator that the gear tested is top shelf and should not be confused with “hobby grade”. They have concluded, as I have, that this is a pistol you can count on.
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