The Springfield Echelon 4.0C is the next wave of CCW. We give you the details to make an informed purchase.
Springfield released a new CCW this spring in 9mm and it is proving to be another success story for this Illinois-based gun maker.
The Springfield Echelon 4.0C ushers in a new way of naming firearms. In this case, the 4.0 is the barrel length. If all gun makers adopted this system, choosing a gun based on barrel length would be incredibly simple. The C stands for compact.
Quick Overview...
What I Like: Excellent grip texture
Best Uses: Concealed carry and everyday personal defense
- Barrel Length: 4.0 inches.
- Overall Length: 7.25 inches
- Width: 1.2 inches
- Height: 5.13 inches
- Weight: 24 oz (unloaded)”
ECHELON
The 4.0C is a scaled-down model of the already proven Echelon. That one got renamed to be the 4.5SF, a nod to the barrel length naming convention and the FS means Full Sized.
While a lot of the parts are cross-compatible on the Croatia-made Echelons, the backstrap is not. The FS is 5.4 inches tall and the C is 5.125. You can get small, medium and large palmswells for the C. It ships with the small grip.
The replaceable strap is also smaller on the C compared to the FS.
The Echelon 4.0 addresses these issues.
The grip has a ledge right above the mag release. The takedown lever also has a small shelf on the bottom side. Both of these provide a place for the thumb to rest.
The forward piece on the takedown resembles an aftermarket Gas Pedal attachment for many people. You can buy generic versions of the Gas Pedal.
It is not the Gas Pedal because you cannot push down on the slide release with your thumb. If you need that type of control, you will have to wait until the aftermarket comes up with this device, or figure out how to make one on your own.
If you have a good 3-D printer or know someone with one, this could be an interesting project.
Novice shooters may not notice a difference in the two rests. Veterans will feel the difference.
The mag and slide release are both ambidextrous.
A feature shooters with large hands will like is the beavertail that extends past the rear of the slide. Getting a case of slide hand is much harder because of that extension.
Before picking your next optic, it’s worth reading how to mount a scope correctly to make sure you’re getting the best accuracy out of your setup.
SPECS
- Recoil operated
- Striker fired
- 9mm
- Mag capacity 15+1, 18+1
- 4 inches in a steel alloy
- 7.25 inches long
- 1.2 inches wide
- 5.13 inches tall
- Empty weight 1 lbs., 8 oz.
- Steel alloy side, melonite-coated
- Frame: Chassis, stainless steel
- Interchangeable backstraps
- Tritium/yellow (front), white-outline U-notch (rear)
- Optic ready
- MSRP: $679
GRIP
Part of the Echelon 4.0C grip solves a problem that is found in compact guns.
Shooting compact handguns can be a challenge. People with big hands find such guns a bit hard to hold. The hand swallows the gun.
People with small hands are usually small-framed as well and recoil becomes an issue.
The polymer frame has an over-molded soft grip. This is smooth to the touch. When you apply pressure, it gives. The underlying texture then gives you a more secure hold on the gun.
SWAP PARTS
From a gun geek point of view, the ability to swap parts is just amazing. Springfield makes this even easier by serializing the Central Operating Group (COG). The COG is the firearm, the part regulated by the BATF in the United States and possibly other countries.
This is amazing because the striker-fired COG can move from gun to gun while the polymer grip and the slide and barrel are separate parts. The COG is also steel, except for the two-part trigger.
If you want to swap these out, look on YouTube for some videos showing the process. Yes, it is simple to do, but seeing someone do it is sometimes better than reading an instruction manual.
The two-part trigger is a safety feature now found on so many semi auto handguns. That and gun awareness are the only safeties on this handgun. A thumb safety is not available and Springfield has not announced plans to have one.
MAG
The gun comes with a regular carry 15 round mag. You get an 18-round magazine with an extended basepad and a spare, extended basepad in the box as well.
If you live in a place with magazine restrictions, Springfield offers 10-round mags.
The mag well is beveled. This makes slamming home a fresh mag a bit easier since you do not need precise alignment to make it slip in.
SLIDE
The slide has cuts, making it easy to rack a round even with gloves. Springfield goes a step further. The rear of the slide is .075 inch wider than the front. It may not sound like much, but it does make a real difference.
SIGHTS
The standard sights are Tritium yellow on the front and a white U-notch on the rear. You can expect to get about 5 years of use from the Tritium before the glow is too low to see except in the darkest situations.
OPTICS
FINALLY! A gun maker that realizes shooters want optics and optics options on a handgun. The Echelon 4.0C has a patent-pending Variable Interface System (VIS).
The VIS is a dual front pin mount system that lets you mount a wide variety of red dots without needing extra mounts or hardware. The VIS actually shifts to fit the red dot mount. Then, each pin locks into place.
If you have tried to mount red dots to a variety of guns, you may notice some slop in the plates.
A shifting red dot means missed targets. Holding it in place as firmly as possible means staying on target shot after shot.
Shooters have to deal with slight variances in the red dot's bottom mount tolerances. The VIS has self-locking front pins to deal with this. The pins will adjust to your sight's specific attachment needs. Any slop is eliminated by a set of self-locking pins that hold the front in place.
The gun comes with a set of Trijicon RMR screws in place. Extra screws for the different plates are in the box, so look carefully before you throw anything away.
TRIGGER
Striker-fired guns have a deserved reputation for rough triggers from the factory. The Echelon's trigger is not perfect, but it is much better than many competitors.
The trigger should break around 4.5-5 pounds. It has a little creep, only to be expected in a gun with the trigger inset safety.
Springfield actually delayed the release of this gun for a bit to improve the trigger.
ACCURACY
Field tests show this gun delivers accuracy in a variety of ammo choices. This is not a precision tournament gun and it is not meant to be. At self-defense ranges, it performs exactly as it should.
CARRY
You can carry inside the waistband or outside, depending on your preferences. The smaller-framed autoloader will fit in a variety of softer-sided holsters.
Several companies are offering Kydex holsters for the Echelon 4.0C with and without a cutout needed for a red dot.
A MINOR DRAWBACK
The Springfield Echelon 4.0C was designed for the holstered concealed-carry market, a very minor drawback for some. Holster-carry because the front iron sight is almost suppressor height. This is not an issue for most people.
The front is beveled. The back is a 90-degree angle. That angle will snag on anything loose.
That said, carrying a semiauto loose in a pants pocket or any kind of bag is an invitation to get dirt and grit into the inner workings. Of course, a holster won't stop that gunk buildup, but it hugely reduces the amount of action-jamming that does get into the gun.
CONCLUSION
The Springfield Echelon 4.0C is the perfect concealed carry weapon for many. If you want a solid, compact 9 mm with a low profile compared to a full-sized gun, this will serve you well.
Further Reading
