Compensating Are We? Echelon 4.0C Comp

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Springfield Armory has been releasing compensated carry guns for a while going back all the way to the V10. More recently the Hellcat has had compensated offerings, and the full size HS Produkt Echelon, but now the HS Produkt Echelon 4.0C has added it to their line up. Now I have shot the Springfield V10 years and years ago an remember not being super impressed by it. Compensated guns just never had much appeal to be because of the accentuated concussion from them. But I might be changing my tune on that. Not because of the Echelon Comp so much, but because of other more aggressive comp style. Now comped guns are hardly unique to Springfield. Sig Sauer has the Macro Comp, Smith and Wesson the Comp Carry line, Canik has the Prime line, FN with the 509 CC Edge and Glock has had compensated guns for a long time. Specifically the the Glock 19 C comes to mind. Of course this isn't an exhaustive list of compensated pistol. This is a video about the Echelon, not compensators. The Echelon is a mild shooter before you cut a compensator into it, and the comp results in a mild mannered compact pistol with hot ammo. With Hornady 135gr +P Critical defense I could notice a perceivable change in muzzle flip. Now with 115gr, 124gr and 147gr range ammo, not so much. For someone who is an excellent pistol marksman and can manage splits below 0.20 seconds, I think there could be a good argument here. But I'm not even remotely that good. there is always of course a trade off. And here it's pronounced increase in muzzle blast and concussion. I shoot 99% of the time in outdoor ranges, but at a class with Aimpoint, we were in and indoor range and it was quite noticeable how much more the shooter is exposed to the concussion. But I won't say it was nearly as bad as the 5.56s we shot at the class. Springfield is very committed to the outlined U notch rear sight and believe me when I say I hate that sight arrangement. My subconscious is way more interested in the rear outline and I struggle to remain focused on the front sight. I much prefer the 3 dot iron sights. All that being said, the the optics mount on the Echelon is ingenious. With the replacement of pins in optics cut, the Echelon can accept RMR, Delta Point Pro and RMSC footprint optics. I mounted a Holosun Ronin EPS Carry and had no issues throughout my shooting. I feel I should not the Aaron of Sage Dynamics fame has leveled some criticism against the optics mounting solution of the Echelon and of all people you should listen to, he is the one. Reference Aaron Cowan for a much more complete discussion on that aspect. The Echelon has an 18 degree grip angle, and splits the difference between Glock's 22 degree, and the 1911's 13 degree grip angle. I'm far more accustomed to the 1911 grip angle and as such I did have a high presentation with the Echelon. But dry fire trained it out pretty easily. In conclusion, the Echelon 4.0C Comp did manage to leave me with a very positive impression and the Echelon is moving to the high end of my list of suggested pistol. I'm excited to see what the Springfield and HS Produkt come up with next.

Thank you to Cameo Shooting and Education Complex for the use of their range Facility.