Echelon 4.0C Review for Real-World Carry

Estimated studying time: 16 minutes

I carried the Echelon 4.0C for a 12 months by desert mud, frozen peaks, and lengthy vary days. It stayed dependable, carried comfortably, and earned an actual spot in my rotation.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve climbed mountains, backpacked by the desert, explored frozen mineshafts, and motocamped Texas trails, all whereas carrying my Echelon 4.0C. Learn alongside as I recount my adventures and share what I realized in regards to the Echelon alongside the way in which.

Inside Springfield’s Manufacturing facility: The place the Echelon Is Born

It was about this time final 12 months that I took a visit as much as Geneseo, Illinois, to go to Springfield’s headquarters. The plan was to attempt a number of of their new firearms and see their up to date manufacturing facility. With my day job being in heavy business, I at all times itch for the chance to discover any kind of producing course of. Fortunately, the parents at Springfield fortunately provided to point out me a number of of their manufacturing traces. Though I could have made them remorse it shortly after, as I constantly lagged behind the group, asking Larry (considered one of their engineers) extra questions than he had time to reply.

The expertise didn’t disappoint. The 180,000 sq. foot facility was large. But, past sheer dimension, the considerate format of the processes and gear impressed me most. Every part was arrange for maximized effectivity to profit from every of their 400 workers’ time. Each machine operated one after the subsequent alongside a path, so any accomplished half wouldn’t have to maneuver various yards to achieve the subsequent step in its course of.

After the tour, we headed to the vary to attempt the brand new Echelon 4.0C, Prodigy Compact, and the Kuna. Every was quite a lot of enjoyable, however I notably loved the Echelon and Kuna. I requested each for evaluate, and Springfield obliged, sending a Kuna on mortgage and giving me an Echelon to maintain. It’s not typical for me to maintain the weapons I evaluate, so it’s price mentioning for transparency’s sake.

🛒 Verify Present Worth for Springfield Echelon 4.0C on GunsAmerica

Day by day Carry Actuality: Why the Echelon Jumped My G19

With no mortgage interval driving me to finish a evaluate by a selected deadline, I tossed the Echelon to the again of my precedence checklist. All spring, summer time, and fall, I carried and shot the pistol to the extent that it practically changed my G19. The one distinction was that each from time to time, I’d snap a cool image of the Echelon, understanding in the future I’d get round to writing this text.

Motocamping Texas: Grime Roads, Unhealthy Turns, Good Holsters

One of many first adventures I took the Echelon on was a solo motocamping journey by the Texas Hill Nation. I began within the Fredericksburg Walmart parking zone after first shopping for a few ready-made corndogs from inside. I determine if I’m going to depart my automotive in rather a lot in a single day, I ought to at the very least be a paying buyer.

For this journey, I used to be carrying the Echelon within the appendix place inside my waistband (AIWB) with a T-Rex Arms holster. It carries effectively in my thick driving pants, however I might have been higher off if I had gotten one other holster from Tier 1 Hid, like I’ve for my G19. The Tier 1 holster appears extra refined, and I desire the narrower spacing of the belt clips. Both approach, it will get the job performed.

From there, I headed out of city and shortly hit a mud street. I deliberate to loosely comply with the Texas Hill Nation Overland Route. Whereas not very technical, this path promised a calming journey and good views. Too dangerous it was already darkish, and I used to be greater than able to get to camp. Many hours in, nearing 9 pm, I discovered myself totally in the midst of nowhere. I rounded one more of the innumerable broad curves that lightly wound by the darkness, my headlight revealing yard after yard of gravel street as I clipped alongside at about 45 mph. Then, instantly, the close to entirety of my headlight’s view shifted from gravel street to finish void, and simply as shortly, I spotted I used to be in hassle.

Arduous Lesson Realized: Brakes, Gravel, And Gravity

Within the few milliseconds that adopted, I deduced that the street had not, in reality, led Bugs Bunny model off a cliff, however as a substitute made a steep dive with a pointy proper flip partway down. It would as effectively have been a cliff. I began braking, but it surely was ineffective. The gravel below my tires may as effectively have been marbles. I dipped over the hill, nonetheless going far too quick to have any likelihood at making the flip. My solely hope was to leap the ditch, ramp the far embankment, and are available to a cease within the brush on the opposite facet.

That plan held collectively simply lengthy sufficient for my entrance tire to hit the unfastened ditch dust and bury itself to the spokes. The bike did cease, however I stored going. Up and over the handlebars I went. Weightless within the darkness. With the bike’s headlight buried within the embankment behind me, I may see nothing as I flew. It virtually felt like I wasn’t shifting in any respect. That’s, till my face additionally discovered the embankment, after which the tumbling bike got here to search out me as effectively.

I lay there for a second, taking inventory and assessing the state of affairs.

Bike: busted and mendacity on my leg.

Leg: not busted however has a motorbike on it (I’m glad I wore my moto boots)

Head: busting headache, however not truly busted (thank God)

Helmet: truly busted, effectively, the visor at the very least.

Pistol: nonetheless holstered and in place (perhaps that holster isn’t full crap)

With no life-threatening accidents detected, I pulled my leg out from below the bike and sprang to my ft. I used to be actually engulfed in darkness. Fortunately, I had my tiny Princeton Tec headlamp strung round my neck, so I used to be capable of shortly shed some gentle on the scene. Apart from a bent lever guard and the headlight dangling by its cable, the bike was in good condition. I made fast work reattaching the headlight with my Leatherman, snapped a selfie to make sure my pupils had been evenly dilated to verify for a concussion (ugly however even). And identical to that, I used to be again on the path. After one other hour or so, I discovered an honest sufficient spot to arrange camp and referred to as it an evening.

Campfire Shakeout: Ergonomics, Sights, And Actual Carry Consolation

The following morning, my head was nonetheless killing me, so I hung across the river and performed with the Echelon a bit earlier than packing up. One of many first stuff you discover when dealing with this gun is the ergonomics. It suits my fingers exceptionally effectively, and I like the extent of grip texture it supplies. Not so clean that it’s slippery when moist, and never so aggressive that it’s uncomfortable rubbing in opposition to your pores and skin for hours when carrying it contained in the waistband.

One other function I admire is the textured shelf simply above and ahead of the set off guard. This delicate “gasoline pedal” permits me to push ahead and down with the thumb of my left hand to assist handle recoil. I stippled that space on my Glock for that reason, so it’s good to have it included in an OEM design.

The Tylenol had begun to kick in, which gave me simply sufficient autism to complete taking the photographs I wanted and pack out. The remainder of the journey was far much less eventful. I’m simply grateful it didn’t price me greater than a headache and a lever guard to be taught that unknown dust roads and impatience usually are not combo.

Backpacking Massive Bend: Chest Rig Carry That Simply Works

My subsequent journey with the Echelon was a backpacking journey to Massive Bend with the dudes from my Bible examine. All six of us piled into my buddy’s Expedition and headed west. I had been carrying the Echelon for a number of months at this level, so I used to be fairly comfy with it. The holster was nonetheless working effectively, and I had been appreciating the general dimension of the Echelon. Much like the G19 or an M&P Compact, the Echelon is the proper dimension for on a regular basis carry. It’s giant sufficient to be a real combating pistol, however sufficiently small for me to comfortably conceal.

For the journey on the market, I used to be carrying AIWB as ordinary, however for the hike, I swapped to my chest rig. I really like carrying in a chest rig whereas backpacking. It retains the pistol readily accessible on my chest and clears my waistline for my pack’s waist strap. Plus, I like having some weight on my entrance to steadiness my pack.

One other profit to carrying this manner is that I at all times have the pistol with me. Individuals who carry of their pack sometimes take for much longer to entry the pistol if wanted. Moreover, in addition they go away their pistol behind any time they drop their pack to take a relaxation.

There may be one downside to this carry technique, although. Until you carry the pistol in a holster contained in the chest rig, I might not suggest carrying with a spherical chambered. For the Massive Bend journey, I wished to shave all the burden I may, so I made a decision to depart the holster within the automotive and carry and not using a spherical within the chamber. Fortunately, the Echelon has a number of design options that assist with fast slide manipulation.

First, the rear of the slide sports activities machined cutouts that provide help to pinch the slide and pull it to the rear. Second, the entrance of the slide has aggressive channels which might be nice in case you desire to govern the slide from the entrance. Lastly, the strong optic mounting system provides me the boldness to rack my slide utilizing the optic. That is my most popular technique because it appears to be the quickest, and I’ve skilled no shift in zero.

I attribute the zero retention to Springfield’s Variable Interface Optic System. This technique can mount a number of optic footprints with out using adapter plates. It additionally makes use of cammed pins that apply torque because the screws are tightened to solidly lock the optic in place.

Photographs In The Distance: Fast Map Work And A Reminder

It was the ultimate day, and the journey was going effectively. The group had separated for the final stretch again to the trailhead. Simply a few miles out, my buddy and I heard a gunshot within the draw to our proper. We paused for a minute and heard one other. I sometimes wouldn’t have thought a lot about it, however being in a nationwide park gave me a bit extra pause. After listening to nothing for a few minutes, we continued down the mountain and to the trailhead.

The world on the base of the mountain was abuzz with exercise. Two or three park staff requested us if we had heard the photographs earlier than we even reached the parking zone. After confirming that we had, they directed us to the 2 officers who had been strolling up. They had been asking in regards to the location and time of the photographs. Whereas my buddy was giving his assertion to 1 officer, I whipped a map from my pack and plotted the place we had been after we heard the photographs and traced a line within the path it got here from.

Simply as I used to be doing this, one of many park volunteers walked up who had heard the photographs from the trailhead. We repeated the train, plotting location and path. The place the traces crossed gave the cops place to begin to verify for foul play.

Whereas these photographs weren’t possible malicious, it’s a good reminder that you might have to be your individual first responder. If somebody had been getting shot at by a loopy particular person within the backcountry, they might have been ready far too lengthy for the cops I handed to be any assist. Regardless of the place you might be, no response is faster than your individual.

Colorado’s Decalibron: Skinny Air, Chilly Metal, Regular Pistol

The ultimate huge journey for the Echelon was to the Colorado Rockies on a path often called the Decalibron. If accomplished in its entirety, this path summits 4 mountains: Bross, Lincoln, Cameron, and Democrat. Every measures over 14,000 ft in elevation.

After discovering a spot to park on the decrease trailhead, we equipped for the trek and had been off. I might sometimes carry my 10mm G20 when mountaineering in Colorado, however because the majority of this hike could be above the treeline, I figured an encounter with a bipedal predator was extra possible than a bear. The Echelon tucked in my chest rig would cowl that contingency properly.

Mineshaft Detour: Pitch Black, Ice, And A Useful Weapon Mild

A couple of thousand ft of elevation achieve later, we had been out of breath however decided. The air was skinny, and it felt as if we had forgotten half our lungs again in Texas. Throughout one of many relaxation stops, we noticed an outdated mineshaft piercing the mountain a couple of quarter mile away. It’s not every single day I see a mineshaft, so I had to have a look.

After scampering the quarter mile or so by the unfastened scree, I reached the opening. Making my approach inside, I discovered that it had collapsed just a few yards in from the doorway. Nevertheless, the detour didn’t disappoint. All the remaining shaft was stuffed with large icicles stretching from flooring to ceiling.

Whereas I used to be not removed from the doorway, it obtained darkish quick, and my headlamp was in my foremost pack, which I had left with my associates on the path earlier than making the detour. However I did have my chest rig, and in it, my Echelon geared up with a Streamlight TLR-7X. The pistol gentle pierced the darkness, reflecting and refracting off the ice constructions and illuminating all the cavern.

Three Summits And A Good Name

Again on the loosely outlined path, we summited Bross, then Lincoln, then Cameron. Standing atop Cameron, we knew we weren’t going to summit the fourth. Not solely had been we bodily spent, however the climate had began to show. Being caught on the mountain in a storm could be story, however one I might relatively not have. We handed the path main as much as Democrat and hoofed the 2 hours again to the automotive.

Skipping Democrat was a troublesome resolution, but it surely was the clever one. Bypassing that path saved us a few hours, and with a storm on our heels, I stand by the choice. Plus, now I’ve an excuse to return.

Vary Proof: Low-cost Ammo, Hole Factors, Zero Malfunctions

This pistol has carried out flawlessly. Even after feeding it tons of of rounds of discounted Winchester white field seconds which have been identified to trigger malfunctions in different weapons, I didn’t expertise any from the Echelon. I additionally fed it a wide range of hole factors and subsonic rounds, all with out subject.

The set off is fairly good for a striker-fired pistol. It doesn’t have a lot pretravel, and there may be minimal creep earlier than it breaks at slightly below 5 kilos.

The recoil feels a bit snappier than similar-sized pistols, however solely barely. Total, it is extremely comfy to shoot.

Closing Verdict: A Compact 9mm That Earned Its Preserve

All of the journeys carrying the Echelon had been enjoyable, however what issues extra is the day-to-day. Over the past 12 months, carrying and capturing the Echelon, I discovered it to be possibility. I’ve helped a few associates purchase their first carry gun just lately, and I included the Echelon 4.0C in my suggestions every time. I haven’t traditionally been a fan of Springfield’s pistols, however this one appears to have modified my thoughts. It was thoughtfully designed, and with a road value round $580, I believe it’s a strong selection.

Head over to Springfield’s Web site for extra detailed data on the Echelon 4.0C or to discover a seller close to you.

Springfield Echelon 4.0C Specs

Professionals And Cons

Professionals: Dependable with combined ammo, nice ergonomics, robust optic mounting system, ambidextrous controls, straightforward slide manipulation, carries effectively AIWB, and ina chest rig. Cons: Recoil is a contact snappier than some friends, holster match and clip spacing preferences might fluctuate, and road value varies by area.

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Garrett has all kinds of abilities and pursuits. His career as an engineer within the metal business aligns together with his lively method to hobbies. Whether or not going to the health club, capturing, searching, driving his bike, or simply tinkering within the store, Garrett at all times strives to be his greatest.

Expertise:

Mechanical Engineer – Supervises a small group of reliability professionals who ship sensible options and maintain the plant operating.

Sensible Taking pictures – Former member of Oklahoma State’s Sensible Taking pictures Workforce, and continues to carry himself to a excessive commonplace in defensive capturing.

Adventurer – Mountain climbing, moto tenting, backpacking, searching, capturing. Life is simply too brief to take it straightforward. Garrett is at all times searching for the subsequent alternative to get outdoor.