Springfield Armory announced that the Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol received the gold ranking in the National Tactical Officers Association's Member Tested and Recommended (Springfield Armory's press release) program. The 4.0FC is the newest hybrid variant in the Echelon line.
What Was Announced
The Echelon 4.0FC scored 4.65 out of 5.00 in NTOA testing, placing it in the gold range of 4.50 to 5.00. The NTOA says its members evaluate and recommend products intended for law enforcement use. The company says the 4.0FC joins the full-size Echelon 4.5F and the compact Echelon 4.0C as gold-ranked pistols.
Key Details
- Caliber: 9mm
- Design: 4-inch barrel and slide assembly paired with a full-size grip module
- Model: EC9409BFC-U, with U-Dot optic
- UPC: 706397000813
- MSRP: $710
- NTOA score: 4.65 out of 5.00 (gold range)
According to the release, the Echelon platform uses a stainless steel chassis, swappable grip modules and interchangeable backstraps, and a mounting system for more than 30 red dot optics.
What It Means for Gun Owners
The release quotes two NTOA reviewers who called the pistol a strong duty option and said it works for plainclothes carry. Full NTOA test results are available only to NTOA members in the organization's online database. Buyers outside that group will need to rely on the manufacturer's summary and independent reviews.
Bottom Line
The 4.0FC carries a gold NTOA ranking and a $710 list price. Anyone considering it should compare the compact-slide, full-size-grip layout against the 4.5F and 4.0C before buying.
