New Product Highlight: Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC

Springfield Armory is expanding the Echelon family of pistols as fast as possible, and I’m here for it. The more options, the better!

The latest addition is the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC. It’s a bit of a parts-bin special, in the best kind of way.

Let’s take a closer look at why this mashup is so compelling.

Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Semi-automatic, striker
• Capacity: 17+1, 20+1
• Optic Ready: Yes, Variable Interface System
• Barrel Length: 4”
• Overall Length: 7.25”
• Weight: 24 oz (flush magazine), 25 oz (extended magazine)
• Country of Origin: Croatia
• MSRP: $710

Features

• Full-size grip module, compact-length slide
• Variable Interface System
• Central Operating Group
• Tritium front sight, U-Dot rear sight

The recipe is simple: stack a compact slide on top of a full-size frame to provide more agility and concealability than a full-size pistol, and better grip and capacity than a compact pistol.

We’ve seen all these components before, but not in this combination.

The full-size grip is the same one we tested in our original Echelon 4.5F review (although, back then, it was just called the Echelon).

It’s great ergonomically, thanks to adaptive grip texture, a gas-pedal takedown lever, ambidextrous controls, and three sizes of backstrap inserts.

Magazine options include 17-round flush mags and 20-round extended mags. The Echelon 4.0FC comes with one of each.

The slide comes to us from the Echelon .40C we reviewed. 

A 4-inch barrel makes it CCW-friendly. Tucking this pistol into an IWB holster or AIWB holster will be totally doable.

The tritium front sight, U-Dot rear sight, and ergonomic slide serrations performed great in our testing, but Springfield’s Variable Interface System steals the show.

This clever approach to mounting optics opens up your options to a huge range of pistol red dots and eliminates the need for an adapter plate. It’s super convenient, and keeps most optics low enough that you can co-witness with the factory sights.

As someone who’s spent too much money on plates and suppressor-height night sights, this is music to my ears every time I handle an Echelon.

Springfield Armory lists an MSRP of $710 for the Echelon 4.0FC.

The combination of a full-size grip and a compact slide isn’t for everyone, but it happens to be one of my favorite configurations. It feels like a great way to squeeze a duty pistol into a concealed carry role.

Think of the Springfield Echelon 4.0FC as a direct competitor to the Glock 45 Gen5 MOS.

What do you think of the new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC? Let us know below. For more of our favorite do-it-all handguns, check out our guide to the Best Striker-Fired Pistols!