New Echelon 4.0C Comp From Springfield Armory: Full Review

Estimated reading time: 25 minutes

Compensated handguns are all the rage right now, and for good reason! In the case of the Echelon 4.0C Comp, a single, large chunk port is machined into the end of the barrel and slide. This port allows gases to escape and harnesses this large source of kinetic energy to reduce felt recoil and muzzle rise. This small addition to this compact handgun greatly increases its shootability when paired with full-power 9mm ammo offerings. Because this gun is the ideal size for concealed carry, I believe it has high potential for use in self-defense scenarios. Consequently, I looked for the highest level of reliability across all ammunition types/weights, and I focused more heavily on defensive ammo offerings. Spoiler alert: it performed excellently!

Note: Compensators and porting are distinctly different. A compensator is typically an easily removable muzzle device, and porting refers to cuts made directly into the barrel. Both vent gases upward and reduce vertical recoil, meaning they both “compensate” or counteract muzzle rise. To further add to the confusion, a ported gun is “compensated”, which is the terminology Springfield Armory uses when describing the Echelon 4.0C Comp. However, not all compensated guns are ported. What a fun brain exercise!

Echelon 4.0C Comp Overview

The Echelon 4.0C Comp is a compensated, polymer-frame, striker-fired 9mm pistol. This model is a compact-sized handgun, and its standout feature is the ported slide and barrel that it sports. Like all other Echelon handguns, this one also features Springfield’s incredible Variable Interface System, which uses removable pins to accommodate the direct mounting of basically all popular red dot sights. This Echelon 4.0C Comp also features a removable, serialized trigger pack dubbed the “Central Operating Group.” This unique design allows the user to switch grip modules easily and conveniently, if desired.

The Echelon 4.0C Comp is 24 ounces with the flush magazine and 25 ounces with the extended magazine. It measures 7.25″ long, 1.2″ wide, and 5.125″ high with the flush mag. It comes with one 15-round flush mag and one 18-round extended magazine. This handgun also has a full-length accessory rail for mounting an under-barrel light or other accessory. The Echelon 4.0C Comp also has many other features that are worthy of more in-depth discussion, such as its 4″ hammer forged steel melonite barrel, melonite slide finish, tritium front sight, and more.

This handgun is also available in 15 or 10-round-only models for those of you who live in magazine capacity-restricted states.

Key Features of The Echelon 4.0 Comp

The Ported barrel and slide of the 4.0C Comp are the only differences between this new model and the already existing Echelon 4.0C. This one feature alone warrants a new model for those who desire it. This port toward the muzzle of the gun is located in front of the front sight, creating an uninterrupted sight picture. It vents and redirects gases upward, reducing muzzle rise. This creates a very different shooting experience and allows for faster and more accurate follow-up shots. This feature single-handedly makes the Echelon 4.0C Comp the ideal carry gun for self-defense in my mind.

Sights

Springfield Armory chose the sights on the Echelon 4.0C Comp for fast target acquisition and visibility in low light. The rear sight is Springfield’s Tactical Rack U-Dot. This sight has a lip on the front that can be used to rack the slide against an object when needed. It also has a white enamel-filled “U” that draws the eye to the center of the sight. The front sight is Springfield’s Tritium/Luminescent Front Sight that features both tritium center illumination for low-light shooting conditions as well as a yellow luminescent ring for high visibility in all other scenarios. The direct mounting interface on the Echelon allows these sights to be co-witnessed with red dot sights.

Variable Interface System

The Variable Interface System is a patent-pending optic mounting system that is relatively new from Springfield. I do not know of any other optic mounting interfaces that accommodate the mounting of multiple optic footprints directly to the slide without an adapter plate. Because of this, I see the Variable Interface System as a superior optic mounting system since there are fewer points of failure.

The Variable Interface System revolves around interchangeable pins that fit securely into the slide and can be swapped for different shape/dimension protruding lugs, or can be removed altogether. There are also multiple screw mounting locations drilled and tapped into the top of the slide that correspond to the compatible optic footprints. Direct mounting compatibility for optics consists of those that sport the Trijicon RMR, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, or Shield RMSc footprint. Other mounting systems, such as ACRO and Doctor, require an adapter plate. This adapter plate can be purchased through Springfield Armory if it’s desired.

Central Operating Group

The Central Operating Group of compact and full-sized Echelon pistols is the same. Basically, a serialized trigger pack plus some other components, the COG can be swapped between compact and full-sized grips. This opens up different factory grip module options, plus a myriad of aftermarket products that allow the end user to easily customize, modify, or repair their Echelon.

Slide texture

I liked the slide texture on the Echelon 4.0C Comp so much that I figured it deserved its moment in the spotlight. The texturing is deep, sharp, and well placed. The front and rear serrations are not only attractive looking, but extremely functional. The way they are cut deeply and angled would provide a positive grip in wet conditions or with gloved hands. There are also indentations milled into the slide at the rear portion of both the front and rear serrations. These act as cocking wings and are very easy to grab with your fingers.

Warranty

The Echelon 4.0C Comp is backed by Springfield’s lifetime warranty. This warranty applies to the original purchaser’s gun for as long as that person owns the gun. This warranty mainly protects against manufacturer defects. Free shipping and handling for valid warranty claims is also provided. Also note that unauthorized repairs or modifications, hand-loaded, reloaded, remanufactured, or defective ammunition, and carelessness and negligence may void this warranty. Tritium night sights are excluded from this warranty, but may be covered under Trijicon’s warranty for up to 12 years.

Test Ammo Selection & Goal

The Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C Comp is a purpose-built self-defense weapon. Because of this, I focused mainly on testing defensive ammo. Ammo to Go supplied me with a variety of ammunition to complete accuracy and reliability testing. This ammo consisted of Maxx Tech 124gr FMJ, Blazer Brass Reduced Recoil 100gr FMJ, Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 100gr SCHP, Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 124gr JHP, Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 147gr JHP, and Winchester Silvertip 147gr JHP. I threw in a few cheap range ammo options because you should also enjoy and practice with your self-defense weapon. I was especially excited to pair the Blazer Brass Reduced Recoil 100gr FMJ with this compensated handgun, and it delivered. It shot extremely flat!

On a side note, I focused on defensive ammo for this review. But if you want to learn about some great range ammo options, click this link to read about Ammo To Go’s picks as the best range ammo on The Lodge.

Accuracy Testing Results

I performed my accuracy testing at a distance of 17 yards, shooting off a bench and bag, using a Vortex Defender-ST red dot. My goal was to isolate my ego from the gun’s capabilities, which is why I chose to shoot using a rest. I shot 5-round groups and waited for the gun to cool before moving to the next ammunition type.

By the end of my testing, I saw wide accuracy differences between similar projectile designs and weights from different manufacturers. This is a typical result, and is the biggest reason why it is important to test different defensive ammunition in your gun instead of going with whatever is most popular at the moment.

MAXX Tech 124gr FMJ printed a 2.19″ group. This is a cheap range ammo option, so these results are unsurprisingly unimpressive, but would not deter me from using it for practice. Still, this ammo was not the worst performer of the bunch.

Blazer Brass Reduced Recoil 100gr FMJ put down a very respectable 1.06″ group. The Reduced Recoil Blazer Brass ammo not only ranked as the second most accurate I tested, but also performed exactly as advertised. This 100-gr projectile paired with the compensator on the Echelon 4.0C Comp provided very little recoil and was a blast to shoot.

Performing in the middle of the pack, Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 100gr SCHP and Winchester Silvertip 147gr JHP both had a similar group size that measured 1.69″ and 1.53″ respectively. Again, I’d like to point out how dissimilar these projectiles are, yet they had similar accuracy results!

Last, but not least, we have both the 124-grain and 147-grain Fiocchi Defense Dynamics. The 124-grain printed the worst group of all, coming in at 3.67″ of vertical stringing. This group was so bad that it ended up mixing in with another group; this stray shot is labeled as shot 3. On the flip side, the 147 grain Fiocchi Defense Dynamics shot the best of all, grouping 0.76″ at 17 yards!

Specifications and Features

• Compact Dimensions: 4″ barrel and compact frame for improved concealability
• Variable Interface System (VIS):
  • Revolutionary system allowing direct-mount compatibility with leading red dot sights
• Central Operating Group (COG):
  • Self-contained, serialized internal system
  • Patent-pending design housed in a compact frame
• Concealed Carry Engineered:
  • Shortened frame and muzzle without sacrificing full-size functionality
• Magazine Capacity:
  • 15 rounds with flush mag
  • 18 rounds with extended mag
• Optics-Ready Slide: Directly mounts many popular red dot sights
• Included Accessories: Handgun case with soft shell and interior magazine pouch
• Caliber: 9mm
• Color: Black
• Barrel: 4″ hammer-forged steel, Melonite® finish, 1:10 twist
• Slide: Billet machined, Melonite® finish, optics-ready
• Frame: Black polymer with small grip module
• Recoil System: Captive
• Grip Width: 1.2″
• Overall Length: 7.25″
• Height:
  • 5.125″ with flush magazine
  • 6.125″ with extended magazine
• Weight:
  • 24 oz with flush magazine
  • 25 oz with extended magazine
• Magazines Included:
  • (1) 15-round flush-fit magazine
  • (1) 18-round extended magazine
• Sights:
  • Tritium/luminescent front sight
  • Tactical Rack U-Dot™ rear sight
• MSRP: $679

Ergonomics

The Echelon 4.0C Comp is comfortable in the hand, but it can still be modified by the end user with interchangeable backstraps. In the box, you get two different backstrap options to choose from. Swapping these out doesn’t even require tools.

The magazine release is located on both sides of the grip in a truly ambidextrous fashion. A ridge on the grip shields it, preventing accidental activation. The frame also includes a molded gas pedal on both sides of the gun. To continue this trend, the slide release is ambidextrous too. It is easy to activate but is also low profile; a hard balance to reach.

The texture on the slide adds to the ergonomics of the Echelon 4.0C Comp, making press checks and other slide manipulations with weak, wet, or gloved hands easy to do.

I could go on about the flat-faced trigger, undercut trigger guard, aggressive but user-friendly stippling, and more, but you get the idea. Springfield Armory designed the Echelon 4.0C Comp for maximum ergonomics and practicality.

READ MORE HERE: Mantis BlackbeardX For SCAR-L: Full Review

Final Thoughts On The Echelon 4.0C Comp

The Springfield Echelon 4.0C Comp proved itself to be reliable across wildly different ammunition types and capable of extreme accuracy. This gun shoots very flat with the aid of the ported barrel. And on top of being reliable, accurate, and flat-shooting, it’s also very ergonomic. I love how high I can get my hand on the grip relative to the bore because of the deeply undercut trigger guard and high tang. The Echelon 4.0C Comp features a textured gas pedal molded into the frame, which the similarly shaped takedown lever effectively extends. The last feature that I think deserves special mention is the ambidextrous magazine release that can be activated from the left AND right side, not just the left OR right side like most “ambidextrous” magazine releases on handguns.

I wouldn’t just carry this gun as a personal defense weapon during my day-to-day routine, but I would choose the Echelon 4.0C Comp over the myriad of other options for all of the reasons I’ve provided. In a self-defense situation, you need a reliable weapon that you can shoot accurately, or possibly with an unconventional grip (like weak hand only). I am confident that this gun can fill that role. This gun is also comfortable to conceal. It is relatively lightweight while still having a 15-18 round capacity. It’s also short, but still has a bobbed beavertail that protects your hand from slide bite and doesn’t dig into you while holstered.

The Echelon 4.0C Comp excites me in a positive way, not in a way where I don’t know if it will shoot me while holstered. If you are considering this gun as a self-defense weapon, I highly recommend pulling the trigger!

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