The Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C: Innovation and Performance in a Compact Package

Springfield Armory released the first of its Echelon series in 2023, calling it the “most advanced striker-fired pistol” of its time. The gun’s unique and impressive design features made it a highly popular duty and defense handgun, and rightfully so.

A year later, Springfield Armory announced they had taken this design and shrunk it down to a duty-grade compact pistol specifically engineered for concealed carry – and it does not disappoint.

The Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C packs all the same elements of its full-sized counterpart into a compact frame with a shortened muzzle, making it easier to conceal carry. This fully ambidextrous pistol comes optics-ready, has a mag capacity of either 15 or 18, and features Springfield Armory’s innovative Variable Interface System and Central Operating Group.

“The full-size Echelon 4.5F was engineered from the ground up to be today’s most advanced striker-fired pistol,” Steve Kramer, Springfield Armory’s vice president of marketing, said in a statement. “The new Echelon 4.0C takes everything that made the original so popular, and sizes it down to offer users an exceptional and concealable duty-grade EDC pistol.”

In this article, we’ll break down all the features of the 4.0C to help you determine whether or not it’s the right choice for you. Let’s dive in.

Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C Specs

Features

The Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C boasts several features that make it a top contender for compact handgun enthusiasts. Let's dive into the specifics.

Size & Capacity

This Springfield model is specifically designed to be compact and concealable with a shortened frame and muzzle. It weighs only 24 ounces and measures 5.1 inches tall, 1.2 inches wide, and 7.25 inches long with a barrel length of 4 inches.

The 9mm 4.0C comes standard with a 15-round flush-fitting magazine and an 18-round extended magazine, both finished with a protective blacked-out coating.

Frame & Grip

The 4.0C is designed with a compact black polymer frame. It comes standard with three interchangeable backstraps and multiple grip module options are also available to accommodate a variety of hand sizes. Whatever size you need, the grip comes with generous stippling.

One of the standout features of the Echelon 4.0C is Springfield Armory’s patent-pending Central Operating Group. Housed inside the frame, this operating system is entirely self-contained and is made of a serialized stainless steel chassis, making it easy to swap between grip modules in a matter of seconds.

Trigger

The Echelon 4.0C’s trigger features the same flat-faced, clean-breaking design as its predecessor. According to firearms instructor Chris Eger in a Guns.com article, the trigger has a short take-up, breaks at around 5 pounds, and has an audible reset.

Slide & Barrel

This Echelon model features a 4-inch hammer-forged steel barrel and a billet machined slide, both finished with a protective Melonite coating. The 4.0C is also available in a variant that includes an extended threaded barrel if needed.

The Echelon 4.0C is also built with Springfield Armory’s unique Variable Interface System, designed with patent-pending self-locking pins that aid in a reliable point of aim. The pins can also be repositioned to fit the footprint of most optics, making it easy to directly mount them to the slide.

Sights & Optics

In terms of sights, the Echelon 4.0C comes in numerous variants, allowing you to choose between either a U-notch rear sight and a tritium/luminescent front dot or three-dot tritium night sights.

If you’re interested in adding an optic to your pistol, you’re in luck. Like the 4.5F, the 4.0C is designed with Springfield Armory’s Variable Interface System, which makes it easy to directly mount a variety of sights.

According to a video introducing the Echelon 4.0C, “The beauty of the Variable Interface System is by getting rid of the plates we are able to not only mount the sight lower, it also mounts it more rigidly. It’s by far the best way to mount an optical sight.”

Safety

The 4.0C does not come equipped with a manual thumb safety. However, it does feature an integral trigger safety lever that has to be depressed before the trigger can be pulled.

About Springfield Armory

Springfield Armory traces its roots back to 1794 when the original Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the U.S. military in Springfield, Massachusetts. For nearly two centuries, the Armory was a leading supplier of firearms for American troops, producing guns used in every major military conflict from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War. The original Armory was closed in 1968.

In 1974, Springfield Armory Inc. was established in Geneseo, Illinois to revive the legacy and branding of the historic Armory. Though not directly related to the original company, Springfield Armory Inc. has become one of the largest American firearms manufacturers, producing popular handguns like the 1911-style XD pistol and Hellcat micro-compact.

They also manufacture modern sporting rifles like the Saint and Hellion series built on the AR-15 platform. After nearly 230 years, the Springfield Armory name continues its long legacy as an iconic American gun maker.

The Bottom Line

The Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C is a compact handgun that offers outstanding performance, versatility, and reliability. From its unique Variable Interface System to its optics-ready slide and patent-pending Central Operating Group, the 4.0C is designed with the modern shooter in mind. Whether you're carrying it for personal defense or using it at the range, the Echelon 4.0C delivers a seamless shooting experience.

You can find the Echelon 4.0C for sale at Guns.com or at your local firearms dealer.

If you’re looking for a new IWB, OWB, or pocket carry Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C holster, head to our Holsters by Gun Model page for Kydex holsters that are custom-made for your weapon of choice.

Interested in items beyond holsters? Take a look at our Resources Page for links to recommended products like lights, lasers, first aid, maintenance, and more. Or, browse our selection of apparel, gun belts, and accessories. And be sure to visit our sister company, GeoGrit, to view our collection of durable, RFID-blocking minimalist wallets.

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