First Look: Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha

Springfield Armory has just launched the Echelon Alpha, a more affordable version of the Echelon 4.0C.

The Springfield Echelon 4.0C is one of the top concealed carry pistols currently on the market, but with an MSRP of $710, it’s pretty pricey. To make the 4.0C more accessible and affordable, Springfield Armory has just introduced a more budget-friendly version called the Echelon Alpha 4.0C.

Thankfully, at its core, the Echelon Alpha is the same great pistol as its full-priced counterpart. That includes its serialized Echelon Central Operating Group that allows for interchangeable grip modules, its interchangeable backstraps, its Variable Interface System optics-ready slide, its 4-inch hammer-forged barrel and its 15-round capacity magazines. So, what did Springfield change to bring the price down? Not much. Namely, it has a simpler slide that deleted some of the aesthetic profiling of the original, and it ships with one magazine instead of two. Don’t worry, the slide still features aggressive forward and rear slide serrations.

Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory, said this about the new pistol:

At its launch in 2023, the Echelon immediately established itself as a top-tier, duty-grade 9mm … This new compact Alpha model expands accessibility to the modular Echelon ecosystem to an even broader range of users.

The standard and Lo-Cap (10-round) Echelon Alpha models both have an MSRP of $600, while the California-compliant version has an MSRP of $650. Also, keep an eye out for more Echelon models to join the Alpha line in the future.

For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

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