I got to fondle one of these tonight at my LGS. I have owned a few XDMs they were nice but I mostly run glocks. They put a lot into this gun. The grip work is feels amazing. The slide cuts are deep and scooped perfectly for slide manipulation. Nice sights like the hellcats and no adapters for optics need. The trigger is pretty darn nice probably the best stock one I have tried in striker pistol. I almost bought one but I will wait a while to see if there's any bugs or come out with a FDE model. The firing control come out like sig so you can change grip modules. I have to say they did a darn good job on this. Anyone have one o planning on getting one?
Springfield Echelon
Grizzlygunner999
I got to fondle one of these tonight at my LGS. I have owned a few XDMs they were nice but I mostly run glocks. They put a lot into this gun. The grip work is feels amazing. The slide cuts are deep and scooped perfectly for slide manipulation. Nice sights like the hellcats and no adapters for optics need. The trigger is pretty darn nice probably the best stock one I have tried in striker pistol. I almost bought one but I will wait a while to see if there's any bugs or come out with a FDE model. The firing control come out like sig so you can change grip modules. I have to say they did a darn good job on this. Anyone have one o planning on getting one?
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for me, the exposed "bar" and location of the slide release on that and the vp9 mean I usually override the slide stop with my grip and dont get consistent lock back.
"problem for me" is what id say.
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9,199 Posts
great guns. Ergos just didnt hit me right because of the slide release.
im not a big striker guy. Other than a left over g17 and my hellcat pro, i dont have any. But man. Sometimes in hot summer months using a polymer frame striker gun to not deal with weight and rust is pretty convenient. I got the Echelon because it accomplishes that and fixes every complaint ive had with other striker guns.
others will have differing and equally valid opinions, but this is my go to striker. I really hope we see g45 and 19 size frame kits and a 45 option.
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6,644 Posts
I got to put my hands on it just now. Feels like the Frankenstein of strikers. Lots of things I like from lots of different guns. Trigger, not the best striker feel, not the worst either. I like the location of the slide stop. Good cutouts for manipulation. The grip was comfortable. Not modular but as they are taking a page from sig, there will probably be alternatives. I say my HK VP9 is a better gun, but I put this 2nd. If I was starting new in firearms or LE, this would be my side arm cause of the price.
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731 Posts
I had the chance to look deeper into this pistol yesterday. I stripped it down and then compared it to several other popular poly guns we sell.
I take back my previous statement about being a re packaged XD. Its nothing of the sort. As mentioned earlier its fire control looks very similar to the SIG P320. stamped sheetmetal rails and all. I didn't go so far as to try and remove it, but it has a similar design. Those sheetmetal rails have been problematic at times in some designs. Mostly for accuracy. I would have preferred to see machined rails like the P365, XD or M&P 2.0. But our example did not have the same tolerance issues as some P320's I've had. If HS can keep a hold of the tolerances, it should be accurate.
Physical size was identical to a G17, including bore axis. Much improved bore axis over the XD. The grip is certainly improved over a Glock, but I still find the M&P 2.0 to be better, For my hand. The mag release of the Echelon would be a huge non starter for me. I have normal sized hands, and I can not get the mag to release with out considerably more fiddling around than almost any handgun.
The slide cuts for optic are nice and the sights aren't some giant suppressor style. I hate those huge irons on some handguns.
The trigger is ok. It is much better than the factory M&P or Glock, Not quite as good as my P365. I could live with it as is. But its no 1911 trigger, no one should expect it to be.
Overall its a big improvement from the XD line.
I take back my previous statement about being a re packaged XD. Its nothing of the sort. As mentioned earlier its fire control looks very similar to the SIG P320. stamped sheetmetal rails and all. I didn't go so far as to try and remove it, but it has a similar design. Those sheetmetal rails have been problematic at times in some designs. Mostly for accuracy. I would have preferred to see machined rails like the P365, XD or M&P 2.0. But our example did not have the same tolerance issues as some P320's I've had. If HS can keep a hold of the tolerances, it should be accurate.
Physical size was identical to a G17, including bore axis. Much improved bore axis over the XD. The grip is certainly improved over a Glock, but I still find the M&P 2.0 to be better, For my hand. The mag release of the Echelon would be a huge non starter for me. I have normal sized hands, and I can not get the mag to release with out considerably more fiddling around than almost any handgun.
The slide cuts for optic are nice and the sights aren't some giant suppressor style. I hate those huge irons on some handguns.
The trigger is ok. It is much better than the factory M&P or Glock, Not quite as good as my P365. I could live with it as is. But its no 1911 trigger, no one should expect it to be.
Overall its a big improvement from the XD line.
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9,199 Posts
the mag springs and recoil spring look like heat treated steel. The internal COG components are mostly steel as well.
[ 3 glock + higher material quality + ambi features] + [p320 - safety issues] + ergos + intelligent slide cut = Echelon (imo)
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[ 3 glock + higher material quality + ambi features] + [p320 - safety issues] + ergos + intelligent slide cut = Echelon (imo)
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I'd really like a compact, G19-size .45. S&W made an M&P Compact years ago in .45 with a 4" barrel and compact frame that was an eight-round gun. Something like that again would be nice, there are not many options for that caliber and frame size these days.
I like a lot of the Echelon features, and if it was executed well, they did steal all the right features from the other polymer guns on the market to make the Echelon. They just need subcompact and compact frames and slides.
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9,199 Posts
agreed
This is exactly the reason I sold all the XD's and Hellcats I had. Didn't happen to others but always happened to me.
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9,199 Posts
Ran a few hundred winchester nato 9mm +p+ the other day. It runs like a gen 3 g17 with a full zev trigger.
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120 Posts
Hoping they come out with a compact frame and barrel.
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9,199 Posts
same. be dumb of them not to.
I haven’t had the opportunity to hold one yet and play around with it. I am pretty sure I will pick one of these up eventually but I will more than likely pick up a tricked out one just because. Looks like a solid release though with also not a whole lot different than was is already out there.
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3,777 Posts
Was at LGS today... Echelon for $680 🤣👎
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873 Posts
Yeah my LGS was the same. They would sell more around the $550 mark
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873 Posts
I would buy one but I own several glocks and one colt 1911 and one S&W revolver. I only train and carry glocks. Less mags styles and parts to keep on hand. Plus I learned my lesson on running out and buying a new design right away. Maybe someday but probably just buy more glocks.
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3,393 Posts
$569
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16,306 Posts
I finally was able to handle on in my lgs.
Felt really good in hand.....or hands, I should say, as the left support hand welded up to it really, really well.
No objection to the trigger....felt good, although, I hate to admit it but the Turkish Canik race model has everyone beat on factory striker triggers right now.
The sights were nice...keepers as far as I'm concerned.
The ease of optic mounting is really nice. They seemed to knock this out of the park.
One turnoff for me was the slide release. It seemed to be a pronounced protrusion that my right thumb was gong to hit & cover. I somewhat have this issue with my VP9SK, however I can naturally block it off with my left hand. On the Echelon, I was also pressing against the slide release with left hand. This may be an oddity that is unique to my goofball handling/mishandling.
I'm thinking it won't be long and my range will have them for rental use, too. I can get free rentals of anything they have and it's a dangerous thing to my wallet, lol. I do not need another striker....unless it is another G19 or M17-M18 so I can have redundancy on mags for home defense use.
I think Springfield certainly did some homework and put a lot of good features into this one. Worth trying if you are in the market.
I'm good with my few Glocks, M18 and VP9SK.
Felt really good in hand.....or hands, I should say, as the left support hand welded up to it really, really well.
No objection to the trigger....felt good, although, I hate to admit it but the Turkish Canik race model has everyone beat on factory striker triggers right now.
The sights were nice...keepers as far as I'm concerned.
The ease of optic mounting is really nice. They seemed to knock this out of the park.
One turnoff for me was the slide release. It seemed to be a pronounced protrusion that my right thumb was gong to hit & cover. I somewhat have this issue with my VP9SK, however I can naturally block it off with my left hand. On the Echelon, I was also pressing against the slide release with left hand. This may be an oddity that is unique to my goofball handling/mishandling.
I'm thinking it won't be long and my range will have them for rental use, too. I can get free rentals of anything they have and it's a dangerous thing to my wallet, lol. I do not need another striker....unless it is another G19 or M17-M18 so I can have redundancy on mags for home defense use.
I think Springfield certainly did some homework and put a lot of good features into this one. Worth trying if you are in the market.
I'm good with my few Glocks, M18 and VP9SK.
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51 Posts
Had an opportunity to check the Echelon out at LGS about two weeks ago. A good shooting buddy bought one. He likes it (but I don't think there's a handgun or rifle he doesn't like or have at this point). When I return to AZ in a week we have a full shooting day planned. Looking forward to putting some rounds down range with the Echelon. Maybe even buy one.
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