In a Nutshell
The Springfield Armory Echelon is a 9mm pistol designed for law enforcement but equally as good in a civilian concealed carry context. After 1,000 rounds of testing, our reviewer concluded that the Echelon demonstrated good reliability and accuracy. Despite a minor issue with the slide lock, mostly due to the larger hands of the shooter, the Echelon's capacity and adaptability make it a strong contender in the duty pistol arena.
Springfield Armory Echelon Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fully ambidextrous
- Very accurate
- Reliable
Cons
- Only two magazines
- Slide lock back for big hands
The Bottom Line
We ran over 1,000 rounds through the Springfield Armory Echelon and were very impressed with its reliability and phenomenal accuracy.
Springfield Armory Echelon
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Striker-fired, semi-automatic
- Weight: 1.49 lbs
- Barrel Length: 4.5 in
- Overall Length: 8 in
- Magazine Capacity: 17+1 flush, 20+1 extended
Features
- 17 or 20-round magazines
- Fully ambidextrous controls
- Variable Interface System (VIS) optics mouting
- Interchangeable backstraps
- Central Operating Group (COG) modular chassis system
- Ambidextrous Controls: Slide stop and magazine release for left- or right-handed use
- Tritium front sight and U-dot rear or complete tritium 3-dot sights
Throughout my career in law enforcement, I repeatedly saw a few brands of pistols being carried by fellow officers.
The usual list of suspects was Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, and the occasional exotic carried by some Tackleberry.
I almost never saw Springfield Armory issued to cops — but I suspect that’s about to change. Recently, the Illinois-based firearms giant released the Echelon, a pistol spec’d out for duty use.
We can agree officers need accurate and dependable firearms, but is the Echelon up to the task?
Springfield sent us one prior to the release, and we took it out to the range to find out for ourselves.
Keep reading as we talk about the pros/cons, specs, and features, and take it to the range!
Table of Contents
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Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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How We Tested the Springfield Armory Echelon
For this review, Sean spent hours tinkering with the gun at home to evaluate its ergonomics, ease of takedown, and features. He then took it to the range for an extensive 1,000-round test using 124-grain JHP from Nosler, 124-grain FMJ from AAC, 115-grain JHP from Remington as well as Sig Sauer duty ammo. Range tests were conducted at 7 yards and consisted of 5-shot groups.
Sean Curtis has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns during his law enforcement career of over two decades. He received continued training for his roles in SWAT and as a POST-certified handgun instructor.
Springfield Armory Echelon Background
There is no direct predecessor for the Echelon, though it makes sense that the XD series and Hellcats contributed some of their better qualities.
Just based on looks, the Echelon is very different from anything Springfield has done before.
Who Is It For?
It’s pretty clear from the marketing Springfield is jumping into the law enforcement market in a big way.
But most importantly, the feature set of this pistol is exactly what police agencies are looking for.
It’s one thing to have an accurate and reliable pistol, but making it adaptable to a wide variety of officers is a huge bonus.
Left-handed, big, small, and everything in between won’t have to suffer.
Of course, all these qualities and features make the Echelon a great option for anyone else. Concealed carriers, home defenders, and others will be well-served by this handgun.
Ergonomics: Fit & Feel
Grip
Unlike previous pistols from Springfield, the Echelon has a textured area around the entire base of the grip. The texture is like a medium sandpaper, fairly aggressive without being obnoxious.
The grip angle is fairly steep and points naturally. A moderate-sized beavertail graces the back of the frame, but it was enough to keep my hand from getting bit by the slide.
Springfield placed texture in other places on the Echelon, such as another panel below the slide and above the magazine release, on the takedown lever, and also on the bottom and front of the trigger guard.
They also included the texture in places that might give visual cues for reassembly. The outer portions of the recoil spring and back plate are examples of this.
Frame & Slide
The trigger guard itself is a good size. During the last 500 rounds, we heated up the gun enough to need gloves and had no problems getting to the trigger or controls.
The magazine well is not overtly flared but features some beveled edges on the interior, which aid insertion. There is also a beveled edge on the bottom of the grip that allows shooters to get good purchase on a magazine should it refuse to leave.
The steel-bodied mags fed reliably plus inserted and dropped cleanly when called upon to do so. Our test model included two 17-round magazines.
One had a flat floor plate, and the other featured a +3 extender (though another extender was in the box). Carriers of the Echelon could use the 17-round mag for concealed carry for less printing.
Springfield clearly spent some time on the slide, which features highly functional serrations, front and rear. There is also a shouldered ramp in front of the ejection port press checkers will appreciate.
This shouldered ramp is also present at the very back of the slide. Sling-shotters, or those who manipulate the slide with the thumb and index finger pinch, will rejoice at the extra grip afforded.
Controls & Sights
Controls are all ambidextrous and fully present, so no swapping need to take place. The magazine release has an indexing ramp, and the slide stop has a slightly raised fence around it.
The optics mount, called VIS, is cleanly done, with a series of holes and pins that allow over thirty different optics to mount directly to the slide.
In addition, the deep set of the optic cut allows co-witness with the irons Springfield included.
Our test model included steel, U-notch rear, and night sights– these worked well. It appears another set with a three-dot will be an option too.
Trigger
The trigger is a great example of what can be accomplished with a striker-fired pistol. There is a gentle curve in the bow and a wide, flat surface. Its trigger safety lies flat with the surface of the bow when depressed.
It pulls back to a well-defined wall, then breaks crisply at an average of 3 pounds 11 ounces on a Lyman Digital gauge.
Reset occurs about halfway back and is audible and tactile, though it is light.
How Does the Springfield Armory Echelon Shoot?
I found the Echelon to be a joy to shoot. After getting acquainted with the trigger, I sped up my shooting without accuracy suffering.
Between shots my trigger finger would rest on reset and I was able to break the next shot quickly. The combination of the grip texture and angle helped with mitigating recoil, and I was able to keep my dot in sight.
Trying out accuracy, we set up at our standard 7-yard line and shot three 5-shot groups. In my last group, I was able to put all five shots through a single hole that measured just over a half-inch — some of the best accuracy I’ve experienced in a while.
One issue I found was a failure to lock back on the last round. Despite the raised fence around the slide stop, my big-handed, high grip was able to cause this consistently.
We had another shooter use the gun, and I used a different grip that netted normal slide lock, proving that the issue is particular to shooters with big mitts.
Other than that, all functions were perfect, and we fed the Echelon a diet of varied ammo. We used 124-grain JHP from Nosler, 124-grain FMJ from AAC, 115-grain JHP from Remington as well as some duty ammo from Sig Sauer.
Our total count was just over 1,000 rounds, with the last 500 being almost burndown pace. Prior to testing, I lubricated the Echelon but did not clean it.
9mm Ammo in Stock
What Sets It Apart?
A duty weapon needs to be accurate and reliable; that’s a given. But there are other qualities the Echelon has that will be endearing to law enforcement agencies.
First off is the modularity that enables a good fit for a wide range of different-sized and different-handed shooters.
Department armorers will be able to personalize the best fit for each officer’s hand by using the most appropriately sized grip.
In addition, with the controls being truly ambidextrous (not just ambi-capable), left-handed shooters are accommodated right out of the gate.
Those same armorers will also appreciate the relative simplicity of direct mounting approved optics directly to the slide.
By the Numbers
Accuracy: 5/5
Five rounds in the same hole from seven yards is better than “tactical accuracy”.
Reliability 5/5
We pushed a little further for this review given the intended market and shot just over 1,000 rounds without failure or cleaning.
Customization: 4/5
I’m rating this score not based on an aftermarket but on the different grip modules, optics mounting system, and backstrap pieces.
Ergonomics: 4/5
The controls are all easy to reach on both sides and the grip on the model we tested fit a variety of hands.
Value: 4/5
The Echelon base model has an MSRP of $679 though there are more expensive models based on features.
Overall: 4.5/5
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Final Verdict
Springfield Armory has their work cut out for them. The law enforcement market is often resistant to change.
That said, the Echelon is an outstanding entry that is absolutely capable of serving in the challenging role of modern policing.
It’s reliable, extremely accurate, has good capacity, and it’s adaptable to a wide array of different shooters.
For all these reasons, it’s a great option for the rest of us too.
Are you picking up an Echelon when they hit the stores? Let us know in the comments below! For more duty gun action, be sure to check out Best Duty Weapons: Pistols, Rifles, & Shotguns!
42 Leave a Reply
Ordered mine as well. I'm an absolute beginner but the local range let me rent and try several guns. One day, they had just finished test firing a brand new Echelon to put into the rental pool. So I tried it. It had none of the problems I had with the other guns. It felt right immediately. I have small hands but could easily operate all controls. Good grip and texture on the slide eliminated the hesitancy I had with other guns. And, immediately, I could hit what I was aiming at on the target.
Ordered mine today. Happy Father's Day to me, cannot wait to get it in my hands. Call me crazy, but I ordered the O.D. Green color option, green being my favorite color.
I own the SA .45 Elite and the 10mm. I’m impressed enough that I’m ordering the Echelon 9mm,
Even though I also have a PDP 9mm. I wanted a threaded barrel so I can swap the can I have on a
(Yes, Springfield) 9mm carbine. Am I a fan? Oh, yeah. These firearms ooze quality and are so easy to
Shoot.
Which is the better gun, the Echelon or the Springfield 1911 9mm Ronin?
It was hard to find a 10 rnd version in stock but did find one and am picking it up in 2 days. Yes I live in a blue state but the surfing, beaches and weather here are killer so it's all good. At least no stupid gun roster. I'll check back in after takin her for a test run but am stoked on getting it!
I've been looking for a full size, true ambi pistol that shoots flat and accurate, with a good trigger out of the box, and that will co-witness without plates or suppressor height sights. I'm so excited to hear about the Echelon and can't wait to try one out. It appears to check all of my boxes. If my shooting experience matches what nearly every reviewer is saying, then I will definitely be buying. Plan to use it as a range, field and home defense gun.
This is an excellent choice for what you've laid out Jim.
This one looks pretty good.
With the modular design, is there any word on whether the Echelon will be made available in other calibers (especially a 10mm)?
No indication yet, but based on previous history, if the demand is strong enough, they'll create many varieties.
What sights are better the U or 3 dot
Everybody has their own preference on this one. Let me state mine. If you’re not gonna run optics, I would go U front with big dot front because it’s bright for faster sight acquisition. If you’re running RDS I would go the three dot night sight because they don’t dominate and distract your focus that much on the red dot.
If it does not have a grip safety and/or thumb safety, I'm VERY unlikely to purchase an Echelon, unless it is available sometime in the future with a thumb safety.
I edc my 1911s with loaded chamber and safety on. I always holster with thumb between hammer and slide (which means no contact with grip safety, for those unfamiliar with 1911s).
Everything else can fail but the worst that can happen is the hammer falls onto the nail of my thumb.
What can be safer than that on holstering?
William, I get it. For much of my career, I carried striker-fired pistols and got used to not having an external safety. It can be a challenging transition, as you must rely much on trigger finger discipline. I rotate between a few depending on what I'm wearing, but the one I carry IAWB has an external safety.
So Springfield invented a Sig?
Yes they did. Supposedly a safer version of the Sig P320. Time will tell. I’ll be part of the peanut gallery before jumping in.
For those of us too poor to afford an optic, is there any benefit to the Echelon over an XD?
Check our site for some budget optics first, but to answer your question: I'm not sure. I haven't had a lot of experience with the XD line. I would say the trigger is likely a bit better and the grip is definitely better in my opinion. Capacity is another advantage depending on what model you have. However, if you're competent with what you've got, no need to upgrade.
Thank you.
Echelon looks and reviews great.
And: it's so good it will NOT make The Roster in CA. Sigh....
Escape Fred!
What Sean said haha. But if you have a parent in a more red state they can get one and "gift" it to you legally (as long as it's 10 rnd mags). I do live in a blue state (in the middle of the Pacific) but at least we have no stupid roster. I have "gifted" a couple off roster pistols to my son in Comiefornia...no problems at all.
Spoke with my LGS on 2/17/24, and they said that Springfield is gonna roster the Echelon in CA in the very near future. I believe he said around May 2024 is the goal.
Soo a Sprock? Looks like the slide will fit a P80. Yeah iam a naysayer. Is it reliable? Sure, its the dame pattern as a glock…..
realize that gunpowder has been around for hundreds of years and we have not evolved beyond it. Oh well…
Tony I love Glock and I take your point here. That being said, Springfield took the time to R&D a new firearm and evolve the platform in small increments.
Picking one up this weekend. Almost got a P320 a few months back, but already having a few sigs, I have been waiting for something a bit different. Thinking of getting a Trijicon SRO for optics.
All of my other modern pistols are 3-dot, any complaints about the U-dot? I always like a backup, but a red dot will be primary..
I got my first U-dot back when the Springfield Hellcat first came out and I really enjoy the speed of picking up that front site, it works well for me. Springfield has always made a solid firearm for a very fair price.
That would be a great combo. No complaints, the U-dot is very intuitive.
The U-Dot is very impressive. From the first draw out of the box it was dead-on. Never had to hunt for the front sight. Draw after draw same result. My new best friend!
I would love to see a version with a manual safety!
I'm not sure that will happen, but maybe, if enough law enforcement agencies demand it. The external safety seems to be fading a bit.
That's it? That's all the comments? Well I guess what they say is true, the goal of an accomplished PowerPoint ranger; is that at the end of the PowerPoint no one will have any questions.
Power Ranger 'til the end!
I will be saving up for this one.
Nice.
Sean are you losing weight? Great review
Bless you Eric, the struggle is real. I enjoy tacos and adult beverages very much, but the Texas heat (107 today) is helping! And thanks!
Geneseo, IL. Yes sir.
Hi Sean - great review, thanks! One comment and one question:
1. You mentioned "the Massachusetts-based firearms giant". I believe (not positive) Springfield is based in Illinois.
2. Do you know if Springfield is replacing the XD series with the Echelon? I would think maybe they would discontinue the XD line but keep the XD-M.
Thanks again, sir!
Thanks Kevin, you're right of course! The original Springfield Armory (Circa 1777) is located in Springfield Massachusetts, while the modern firearms manufacturer at the center of this article is based in Geneseo, Illinois. Good catch. Corrected, and you win the no prize!
Regarding the XD line, I'm not sure and I haven't heard anything either way. If we do, we'll be sure to post something so stay tuned.
Will the Echelon fit in any of the XD holsters?
Thanks for the question B. I reached out to Springfield and they said it will no fit in XD holsters, but as indicated in the video, they have been working with holster companies in advance to have some options ready.
Thank you.