The company provided a loaner pistol to the author for this review.
Introduced in the second half of 2023, theSpringfield Armory Echelon 4.5F pistolhas already had a darn good run.
First,Guns & Ammonamed it the 2023 Handgun of the Year.
The manual safety on the new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.5F is unobtrusive yet simple to operate, and adds another layer of security for shooters who want it.
Then the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers ranked it as the Best New Handgun for 2023.
Springfield announced in late May that they would be offeringOD Green and Desert FDE colored versionsfor those so inclined.
Basics of the Echelon 4.5F
First, the basics.
The Springfield Armory Echelon ships with two magazines, two extra grip inserts and a selection of pins and mounts for the Variable Interface System for optics mounting.
The Echelon is a full-sized, polymer-frame, striker-fired 9x19mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistol.
Overall height (without theTrijicon RMR sightwe mounted) is 5.5.
Overall length of the pistol is 8.
The manual safety-equipped Echelon 4.5F comes with all of the standard features you have come to expect with this line of pistols, including the Adaptive Grip Texture and Variable Interface System.
The slide is made of billet machined steel with a tough Melonite finish.
The barrel is 4.5 long (unless you get the5.28 threaded barrel Echelon).
Both are hammer-forged for accuracy and durability.
The Springfield Echelon pistols are true duty grade handguns that blend accuracy with reliability, and they are now available with a thumb safety. Shown with extended 20-round magazine.
The pistol comes with two magazines one flush-fit that holds 17 rounds, and one extended that holds 20.
Reduced capacity 15-round and 10-round models are also available for restricted locales.
Modularity seems to be the current theme for handguns, and I understand why.
The Echelon pistol is shown here in a Comp-Tac holster, making a great rig for competition. For law enforcement use, theSafariland 6360RDSis a great retention holster option.
Handguns that dont fit your hand correctly are much more difficult to shoot well.
Grips that are too large or too small dont index well on the target for anyone.
My dad had long piano-player fingers.
The author found the Echelon trigger was smooth and consistent to operate and broke at the vertical part of the stroke.
He didnt pass that gene along.
Im a big guy with wide hands and short fingers.
Handgun fit can be problematic for me.
The author measured the accuracy of the Echelon from a bench rest for three, five-shot groups with each ammunition load at 15 yards. Shown topped off with a Trijicon RMR red dot.
Not so with the Echelon.
It comes with ones in small, medium and large sizes, and each features an integrated armorers tool.
The medium size it shipped with worked great for me.
Although it is perfectly suited as a duty pistol, the Springfield Echelon 4.5F with a manual safety is also a great home defense handgun option.
The grip module had several more features I liked.
If you are not familiar with it, think of it as having two layers of fine bumps.
The first layer features flattened tops that provide a good grip when held lightly.
Shooting the Echelon in Texas during high summer makes for hot work. The author found the gun’s texture was aggressive enough to be effective without being obnoxious.
The second/deeper layer has sharpened points that come into play when I use my death grip.
I dont intend for handguns to move in my hands, and I squeeze them accordingly.
The design on the Echelon made it easy to control under recoil.
Shown here is the ammunition the author used in his testing of the new manual safety version of the Springfield Echelon 4.5F.
It has also been sculpted to bring the support hand higher.
The slide is also designed to help the shooter.
I understand that Rule #1 states that every gun is always loaded, but I want to know.
Im also more than slightly paranoid about letting my hand come near the muzzle through this process.
The sighting system is another place where Springfield Armory shows some serious ingenuity.
The iron sights are excellent.
The rear sight offers a sharp ledge to allow one-handed manipulation as necessary.
Then they beveled the corners to keep you from slicing up your hand clearing a malfunction.
The notch is a deep U shape that mates up well with circular insert in the front sight.
Unique Features of the Springfield Armory Echelon
Remember I mentioned about direct-mounting the Trijicon RMR?
Frankly, the optics mounting system for the Echelon is simply magic.
Ive railed at optics manufacturers for years about developing a universal system for mounting handgun optics.
Screws are great, but red dots really need a recoil lug to stabilize the whole arrangement.
The Echelons system also provides a couple of posts that fit in mortises on the top of the slide.
These posts have tabs inboard of the recoil stud that impinges on the base of the optical sight.
My experience has shown the system to be rock solid thus far.
And it does all this without adapter plates for the vast majority of popular red dot optics out there.
Like I said, magical.
This is the serialized part that ATF considers to be the actual firearm.
It also contains many slightly important working parts for the pistol like the trigger and the sear.
Or should I say, sears?
More on that in a moment.
Also, this system allows you to easily swap outgrip modules in different colors and sizes.
It is wide with curved edges, making it comfortable to manipulate.
They also designed the striker so that it is fully tensioned when cocked.
Simply rack the slide and everything is good to go.
On my sample, required trigger compression averaged a smooth 4.7 lbs.
No, Ive never heard of that happening.
Its located at the rear of the frame, similar in position to that of a 1911.
Springfields take on this useful little gadget is different than most Ive seen.
Textured tabs are mounted on both sides of the frame at the rear.
Flipping up the safety locks the trigger, though not the slide.
The Echelon can still be loaded, unloaded or chamber-checked with the safety engaged.
The safety can even be engaged when the striker is at rest.
The lever is thick enough to be activated easily with a very positive click when done.
It is also small enough that the shooting thumb can ride on the outside of the lever.
Everyone has their own idea of what a perfect safety is.
If thats you, you gotta try the Echelon.
The manual safety on the new Echelon provides extra back-up in the event of a critical incident.
I love a good 1911 and the manual safety thereon when adrenalin is ramped up.
All my experience has been in the competition world.
I cant imagine what it must be like when the threat is real.
Shooting Results
I tested three different kinds and weights of ammo.
The first is the new 80-gr.
screamer from G9 Defense.
These pint-size little pills averaged 1,536 fps.
which generated 419 ft lbs.
of energy and grouped just under 2.
Next, we selected the tried-and-true Remington 115-gr.
These mid-weight loads chronod at 1,171 fps with 350 ft lbs.
of energy and averaged 1.41 groups.
Looking like a great subsonic option, the Fiocchis chronographed 966 fps.
with 305 ft lbs.
of energy and 1.49 groups.
Average group size across all three types was just over 1.6.
Of course, this Echelon functioned perfectly and we gave it plenty of chances to fail.
Springfield Echelon 4.5F with Manual Safety Performance
Conclusion
So there you have it.
Springfield Armory has taken an already great 9mm duty-style pistol and added an appealing new feature to the platform.
The list price for the standard capacity as well as restricted locale-capacity guns is $679.
