Springfield Armory has expanded several of its handgun lines with models that feature integral muzzle compensators, notably on its Hellcat Pro and 1911 DS Prodigy lines. Now, the company is expanding the integral-compensator concept to its next-generation, striker-fired pistol with the Echelon Comp 4.5F.
Featuring the same length, width, height and profile as non-compensated models, the Echelon Comp 4.5F incorporates a single-port compensator milled into the forward portion of the barrel and slide just forward of the front sight dovetail. Redirected propellant gases exit the port to counteract muzzle rise from a fired shot, and the location of the port forward of the front sight is designed to prevent any sight interruption from gas or debris exiting the port.
Like previous Echelon models, the Echelon Comp 4.5F is topped with Springfield's tritium-illuminated U-dot sight system, featuring a white-outline, U-notch rear sight that aligns with a bright, yellow front dot that can be seen easily in low light. Just ahead of the rear sight dovetail is a milled section of slide that accommodates Springfield's Variable Interface System for optics mounting. When the slide cover plate is removed, it reveals a selection of holes that accommodate pins that align with the footprints of most of today's red-dot optics.
The heart of the Springfield Armory Echelon is, of course, the Central Operating Group, which is a self-contained stainless-steel chassis that houses the fire-control group. It is this central component that comprises the serialized portion of the gun. The textured grip frame accommodates a flush-fit 17-round magazine and an extended 20-round magazine, and one of each magazine style ships with the pistol. The Springfield Echelon Comp 4.5F retails for $749. For more information, visit Springfield Armory's website here.
