Springfield Echelon 4.5F: Testing the New Manual Safety Echelon

There are few companies that can even keep pace with Springfield Armory. Their focus and commitment to constantly pushing the firearms industry is second to none. Nowhere was this more evident when they released the Springfield Echelon. The pistol was a game changer for Springfield, and the market welcomed it with open arms. The gun’s performance drew wide acclaim, and it quickly became obvious Springfield hit another home run. But in standard Springfield fashion, they simply went back to work, looking for more improvements to this new winner. One area that received quite a bit of buzz was a request for an external safety by many end users. While some may think the external safety is unnecessary, there are individuals and even law enforcement agencies that prefer them. Springfield listened to the feedback and is now offering a model with an external safety, the Springfield Echelon 4.5F.

Springfield Echelon 4.5F with Manual Safety

For those who may not be familiar with the Echelon, it’s worth a quick overview. Springfield’s new striker-fired duty pistol, the Echelon carries a host of patent-pending features. This modular and adaptable handgun’s design centers around a robust stainless steel chassis and unique optics mounting system. What makes this new pistol so unique, however, is its new Central Operating Group (COG). Employing advanced manufacturing techniques, the COG is entirely self-contained and serialized, allowing it to be easily moved between grip modules in seconds.

The Central Operating Group can be installed in any Echelon grip module, allowing shooters to create a firearm that fits perfectly in their hand. This modularity allows shooters the opportunity to essentially have multiple gun sizes with just one COG. The COG is easily removed after a basic field strip and can be dropped in a new frame in less than a minute. The frames are available in small, medium, and large, and each grip module accepts the Central Operating Group. The Echelon also ships with three backstraps. Backstraps are universal and can be installed using the integrated armorer tool.

The new Springfield Echelon 4.5F answered consumer demands.

Optic-Ready Solution

Springfield has looked at one other area that is near and dear to many shooters’ hearts: optic mounting. Springfield has included a unique solution with the Echelon. Under the slide cover plate is the Echelon’s patent-pending optic mounting system. The Variable Interface System (VIS) allows users to mount over 30 optics directly to the slide without the use of adapter plates. Simply configure the self-locking pins for the footprint of your desired optic to achieve a low, direct mount for an improved sight picture. This includes everything from the Trijicon RMR and Shield RMSc to the Steiner MPS.

The Echelon’s slide features four distinct engagement surfaces. A trench cut forward of the action gives shooters a natural index location for press checks and charging the firearm. The back of the slide is flared for positive purchase while deep forward and rear serrations are carried through the corners for a firm grip from any angle. Sight-wise, the gun comes standard with the tactical rack U-Notch rear sight and a tritium front sight with a luminescent ring. A tritium 3-dot configuration is also available.

A new grip design accompanies the Springfield Echelon 4.5F.

Suppressor-Ready Platform

Springfield is also offering suppressor-height sights for those who want to run the gun suppressed. The Echelon comes with a solid barrel as well. Springfield uses the hammer forging process to produce a stronger barrel with a smoother surface for excellent accuracy and service life. It is then Melonite coated for corrosion and wear resistance. You can choose between a 4.5-inch standard or a 5.28-inch threaded barrel with ½x28 thread pitch.

The unique texture of the grip caught my eye. Called “Adaptive Grip Texture,” it was developed for the challenges of concealed carry. The Adaptive Grip Texture feels smooth to the touch until you apply pressure and engage the more aggressive texture just below the surface. In short, the unique grip design provides more purchase as you firmly grip the gun. This texture goes beyond just the grip and is included on several common indexing points. I have seen a couple of attempts at a grip like this in years past, but Springfield has found the voodoo to make it work well.

The frame also has an oversized undercut trigger guard that fits gloved hands well. Finally, as a tip of the hat to serious shooters, the gun is equipped with an ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release for intuitive use. This is not a “can be moved” design but a true ambi setup, which I personally appreciate.

The biggest new addition to the Echelon 4.5F is the manual safety.

New Magazine Design

Springfield has also given special attention to the magazines in the Echelon. The gun employs a newly developed magazine for rugged durability, hard use, and reliable operation. Blacked out in a new scratch- and wear-resistant coating, the magazine features a capacity of 17+1 in its flush fit configuration and 20+1 with the extended base pad installed. Field stripping the Echelon is toolless and requires no pull of the trigger. While the gun certainly checked a lot of boxes on paper, the truth of performance could only be found on the range.

I had the luxury of running the first Echelon, and Springfield was kind enough to send the new model out for a closer look as well. My first impressions of the gun were solid. The fit of the gun was good, and it had good tolerance. Optics-wise, I would use the Vortex Defender ST. It sat nice and low in the optics cut and was super clear.

Shooting the Springfield Echelon 4.5F pistol.

Running the New Echelon 4.5F

Ammo-wise, I would run the Federated Ordnance 124-grain FMJ. The gun shined when I chambered a round. The slightly flared rear of the slide made racking the slide a breeze. Then, the unique trench cut forward of the action really gave me a solid and comfortable purchase on the slide for the following press check. The gun sat well in my hands with the backstrap that came on the gun. The first shots were good, and at 10 yards, I had a nice single-ragged hole made by five rounds. At 15 yards, it turned into a 1 1/2 in slow-fire groups, and at 25 yards, it was 2 1/2 inches.

At speed, the gun performed equally well. While I used the Vortex Defender ST as my primary, the sights sat in the lower third of the optic. If you were to run the gun without an optic, Springfield’s U-Dot sights would serve you well. In my experience, these sights work extremely well for both fast acquisition and precision aiming.

The Echelon is a new chapter for Springfield, and the new Echelon with manual safety offers options to customers. The modular nature of the gun and the shooters’ ability to swap frames is a solid market decision in my humble opinion. Throw into that the performance of the gun and you have a winner in your hands.

For more info, visit springfield-armory.com.