Springfield Echelon 4.0 FC: Compact Slide, Full Grip, Faster Splits

Springfield Armory's Echelon 4.0 FC pairs a compact slide with a full-size grip, and according to a hands-on review from Travis Pike at Ammoland, that mismatch actually works better than expected.

Snapshot

Pike's review walks through the 4.0 FC's modular build, including the removable Central Operating Group and VIS optic-mounting system, then puts the gun through split-time drills, accuracy testing at 15, 25 and 50 yards, and a 500-round reliability run. His conclusion: the shorter, lighter slide tracks flatter and faster than the full-size Echelon, while the longer grip adds control and easier reloads.

Key points

• Faster splits: Pike reports shooting .20-second splits at 7 yards on an 8-inch circle with the 4.0 FC, down from .23 seconds with the full-size Echelon, and even hit one .18-second split.
• Accuracy numbers: He shot roughly a 2-inch group at 15 yards, went 7-for-8 on a reduced IPSC target at 25 yards, and cleaned 8-for-8 on steel at 50 yards after a dot adjustment.
• Reliability: Across 500 rounds of remanufactured 9mm, Pike logged two failures to fire, which he attributes to ammunition rather than the pistol.
• Ergonomics: The full-size grip eased magazine insertion during reloads, though Pike notes the slide lock felt small under his thumb and wanted a trigger guard knuckle cut.
• Modularity: The VIS optic system and swappable COG let the same slide and internals move between full-size and compact grip modules.

Quick take

Pike says the 4.0 FC changed his mind about crossover pistols, calling the combination of a nimble slide and full-size grip more controllable than he anticipated. He frames it as a case where modularity, not just specs, makes the gun worth a look, especially since Springfield builds it to let owners reconfigure between carry and duty setups.

Read the full story: ammoland.com