Springfield Armory Echelon


The Springfield Armory Echelon is a polymer frame striker-fired semi-automatic pistol line sold in the United States by Springfield Armory, Inc., and manufactured in Croatia by HS Produkt. Introduced in July 2023, it is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and primarily intended for duty sidearm and defensive use and secondary for concealed carry, with 10-, 17- and 20-round magazines.

Design details

In an effort to appeal to future military and law enforcement tenders as well as introduce a forward-looking new modular design, the company has brought out a pistol based on a serialized chassis like that of the SIG Sauer P320/SIG Sauer M17, Beretta APX and AREX Defense Delta Gen.2 series. The serialized chassis allows relatively easy customization and creation of variants with fewer legal complications.

Chassis

The Echelon has a modular, stainless steel self-contained fire-control chassis that is removable for cleaning and maintenance.The manufactory designates the chassis module as the Central Operating Group.

Trigger

To achieve a constant trigger pull, the striker mechanism's striker spring is kept under its final firing tension.

Safety

The Echelon pistols are designed with independent safety mechanisms to prevent uncommanded discharges. The systems consist of an external integrated trigger safety and automatic internal safeties: a firing pin block safety and a drop safety. The trigger safety tab and innovative dual-sear system provide enhanced drop safety. Optionally, an additional manual frame-mounted ambidextrous thumb safety can be provided.

Loaded chamber indicator

The firearm has a loaded chamber indicator. By protrude from the right side of the pistol and displaying a red surface, the extractor/loaded chamber indicator provides tactile and visible confirmation/warning of the presence of a chambered round.

Controls and grip module configurations

The Echelon pistol features fully ambidextrous controls and was introduced with a medium grip module with small, medium and large sized back straps. Small and large grip modules can be purchased separately for further user selectable and changeable grip module configurations to promote comfortable grip and operation for different sized/shaped hands.

Sights

The stock iron sights consist of a big green tritium/luminescent circle set in the front post and a U-notch rear with white outline. The handgun can also feature three-dot tritium sights as an option.
The optics direct mounting system offers adaptability with most red dot sights, that often can co-witness with the stock iron sight line. Some red dot sights require adapter plates for indirect mounting.

Barrel and slide

The hammer forged barrel and billet machined steel optics ready slide undergo treatment with a proprietary nitriding process called Melonite. The Melonite ferritic nitrocarburizing process used by the manufacturer produces a matte gray non-glare surface with approximately 68 Rockwell C surface hardness rating.
The barrel features traditional/conventional 6-groove button rifling with a 250 mm or 28.3 calibers twist rate.
The Echelon’s slide features four engagement surfaces. A trench cut forward of the action gives an index location for press checks and charging the firearm. The back of the slide is flared for purchase. Forward and rear serrations are carried through the corners for slide operations and disassembly and reassembly.

Accessories

The factory extended capacity staggered-column single feed steel box magazines add 3 rounds capacity and add 1 inch overall height to the handgun. For jurisdictions that do not allow high capacity box magazine possession, 10-round reduced capacity magazines are available.
OEM grip modules and slides are available in black, olive drab green and flat dark earth colored surface finishes. The colored sides receive a Cerakoate ceramic surface finish. Other OEM and third party after market accessories and customization part kits include threaded barrels, screw on compensators, trigger parts, iron sight lines and magazine funnels and plates.

Variants

Echelon 4.5F

This basic full-size version has a 4.5-inch barrel and comes with a flush-fit 17-round magazine and an extended 20-round magazine. It weighs 677 g with the flush magazine, and 688 g with the extended 20-round magazine.

Echelon 4.5F Comp

This full-size integral compensated version has a 4.5-inch compensated/ported barrel and slide to reduce muzzle rise and comes with a flush-fit 17-round magazine and an extended 20-round magazine. It weighs 677 g with the flush magazine, and 688 g with the extended 20-round magazine.

Echelon TB

This full-size version has a 5.28-inch threaded barrel and comes with a flush-fit 17-round magazine and an extended 20-round magazine. It weighs 694 g with the flush magazine and 705 g with the extended 20-round magazine. The overall length is 223.5 mm.

Echelon 4.0C

This compact model has a 4-inch barrel and a 15-round capacity with the flush magazine. It weighs 24 oz with the flush magazine, 25 oz with the extended 18-round magazine, is 7.25 inch long and 5.125 inch high. The reduced height and length make concealed carry easier. It is possible to mount a full-size slide on the compact model grip module.

Echelon 4.0C Comp

This compact integral compensated version has a 4-inch compensated/ported barrel and slide to reduce muzzle rise and comes with a 15-round flush-fit magazine and an 18-round extended magazine. It was released in August 2025.

Accolades

The Echelon was named Guns & Ammo handgun of the year and won the NASGW-POMA 2023 award for best new handgun.

Users