(+3 rating, 3 votes)
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Feature_6230
Springfield Armory – the name invokes images of a few historic firearms. Two are their M1A rifles and 1911s.
However, we’ll be discussing the new thumb safety version of the Echelon.
What the Gun Is
The Echelon is a polymer-frame, striker-fired, high-capacity 9mm pistol from HS Produkt in Croatia. It is built around a serial numbered Central Operating Group – chassis and fire control assembly.
A belt holster I bought from Concealment Solutions – an Orem, UT-based holster company – for this review. Their two-layer design produces a solid holster.
The pistol ships with three different-sized back straps, which allow the buyer to adjust the frame to fit their length.
The hinged trigger has a safety lever built into its center. If the center lever is not pressed, the trigger will not travel rearward.
The ambidextrous slide stops are positioned far enough rearward that even my thumbs can easily depress them.
The dust cover’s accessory rail has four slots. Also, the trigger guard’s curve aids in mounting lights.
Its magazine release is ambidextrous. The design allows it to be pushed inward from either side.
The slide stops are far enough back that even my short thumbs can manipulate them without adjusting my grip.
Thumb Safety
Along with a good view of the slide serrations, here are the thumb safety, slide stop, and take-down lever.
I continue to be a fan of ergonomic, frame-mounted safeties. Except for Glocks and the M-2 Browning’s heavy machine gun, every firearm I have carried on duty has had them. Unlike the thumb safety on the 1911A1 et al., this one does not have a ledge for the thumb to ride on. The outside surface of the safety is stippled, like the frame. It appears the thumb safety was designed to mirror the rest of the frame.
The best way for me to use it is by resting my thumb on the narrow ledge atop the paddle. I would like to see a more traditional after-market design.
Sights
The iron sights do not co-witness with the dot. At best, they are a bottom 15% co-witness. This means that instead of the reticle aligning with the rear and front sights, the backup iron sights (BUIS) sit at the very bottom of the optic window. I could just see the top of the front sight over the bottom of the optic’s glass. The BUIS is functionally usable, but it is just not super obvious. I shot back to 15 yards with only the BUIS and had no issues hitting close to my point of aim.
Vortex’s Defender-ST has a 3MOA that is easily visible. The backup iron sights have a high-visibility yellow insert and an outlined U-notch rear.
Optic
When I unboxed the pistol, it already had a Vortex Defender-ST optic on it. I was familiar with this line of optics, having reviewed their CCW model previously. The ST met my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised when I fired the first shots through the combination, and they impacted at the point of aim. Zero adjustment of the optic was required.
They have designed a variable interface system for mounting optics. A series of pins and holes allow the user to match the footprint of their optics. Plates are available for different mount designs, like Aimpoint’s Acro P2.
Throughout the trips to the range for this review, the optic held its zero. Any shots that didn’t go where I thought they were going were a direct result of too much input from me.
Magazines
The standard capacity magazine holds 17 rounds. The extended version holds 21.
Two came with the pistol, and I bought two more for this review. The standard capacity magazines holds 17 rounds. There are also 21 round magazines available. A four-shot extension came with the pistol.
Accuracy & Ammunition
A bench rested five-shot group from 15 yards. That one flyer was called.
Several years ago, my old agency was having a significant function issue with our issued duty pistols. At the time, our Assistant Sheriff—not a gun guy—insisted that we field a 100% reliable handgun that was accurate and fired an effective projectile.
The Echelon meets that mandate. During the 700+ rounds I fired through it, there were no failures to fire or eject, and I did not experience any failures to extract.
However, when I shifted to a match load for accuracy testing, I experienced two chamber failures. Once the match round was seated, however, the pistol ran fine and shot a group I was happy with —even if I had to call one flyer. It was difficult to manually extract a chambered round without forcing the slide or firing it. These match rounds were designed for another manufacturer’s pistol.
The outcome of Justin Dyal’s 5-Yard Round-Up – 10 shots in four strings.
The rounds I fired included:
- Brass-cased Blazer 124gr ball
- High Desert Cartridge’s 124gr ball
- Sim-x 90gr Range Core
- A 125gr match load using a jacketed hollow point projectile
Adoption & Support
When any new pistol is fielded, let alone adopted, I have concerns about the support structure around it. Spare parts? Extra magazines? Duty and concealed carry holsters? And the like. One local holster maker – Concealment Solutions – handmade a belt holster for the Echelon that I used during the review.
Safariland’s 6390RDS holster fit the Echelon with an optic and a Surefire X300 light just fine.
Safariland reached out to me just after I got the Echelon and asked if I needed anything for articles. I asked, and they sent a Multi-Cam Black holster for the Echelon with an optic and Surefire weapon light. The model, 6390-RDS0-572, is an ALS design with a thumb lever and a shroud to minimize unauthorized access to that lever. I replaced its UBL with a QLS fork, and off we went with no issues. As I have come to expect from Safariland, the holster functions as designed.
Are any agencies using it? At least one good-sized Midwest agency is about to transition to the Echelon with an optic. Regrettably, I can’t say more now because I don’t know what they have released publicly.
The magazine catch is on both sides of the frame, no switching is required. Just press it inward to release the magazine.
Randy Lee and Scott Folk with Apex Tactical are already producing after-market parts for the Echelon.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I would not have any concerns about recommending the Echelon to an agency or carrying it on duty. The inclusion of a thumb safety and a truly ambidextrous magazine release add to that position.
